The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-05-01

ed to headquarters for instructions. One
governor. If the soldier was in doubt con-
corning anything he Immediately telephon-
of the congressman had a strong desire
to visit a eve near Matanzas, mentioned
by Humbolt in his travels The proprietor
of the hotel told him that he would not be
allowed to pass beyond the lines 1t was
useless to apply to General Molina, the
military governor. Determined to make
the attempt to visit the cave, he was ac-
companied by an interpreter, understood
to be in the pay of the Spanish authors
ties. AS they approached the last block
house beyond the outskirts of the city
they were confronted by three soldiers in
shirts and trousers, and without coats
and arms, who regarded their movements
with lazy curiosity. This was the garri-
son of the frontier fort. The barbed-wire
fence around the ditch was broken down,
and two hens were scratching the dirt
in the little moat.
The congressman stepped over this fence
and began operations by presenting each
soldier with package of cigarettes. They
were accepted with thanks. The interpre-
ter then told them that we wanted to go
to the cave beyond. They shook their
heads, saying that it would be dangerous,
as the blockhouse was the last post, and
there were plenty of insurgents mile or
two away. Meantime the station agent
of the railway came UP and joined in the
conversation. He prevailed upon one OF
the soldiers to go into the blockhouse and
telephone to the military governor for, per-
mission to go outside of the lines. He
telephoned that federal deputy of the
United States wanted to visit the cave,
and asked If there was any objection. 1t
was fifteen minutes before a favorable
reply was received.
The interpreter and the congressman
found the cave mile beyond the lines.
r. hod "a great b.
lie resort, but all the houses had been de-
stroyed, and there were no signs of culti-
walton. All was desolation. "A broken iron
stairway led down into the cave. The In
terpreter and the congressman descended
until the light grew dim, breaking stalac-
tiles and stalagmites to carry away as
souvenirs On their return two soldiers
stood at the entrance. They wore neat
uniforms and presented arms. They; were
two-thirds of the garrisons of the block
house. one being the corporal In command.
They were probably sent to prevent the
congressman from holding communication
with the insurgents. They said that they
had left their post to be ON hand and pro-
tect the party If attacked by insurgents.
OF course they were literally rewarded,
the corporal receiving a silver dollar and
the private half a dollar in Spanish coin.
1t was the first money that either had
seen in nine months.
Upon his return to the city the congress-
man was met at the post by two mounted
civil guards, who accompanied him to his
hotel. The civil governor had learned that
the Federal Deputy had gone to the
cave, and had sent this guard of honor
as an escort on his return.
Deficient In Humanity
No signs of sympathy with the starving
reconcentrados- were shown by the Span
ish soldiers. The starving people Stunned
l. -. 4
The soldiers treated them with the ut
most indifference SO long as they remain