The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-04-25

| WdId- Opening announcer door, We step
ped at once into a large room, We.
J lighted, and seemingly well protected
from curious eyes, for it was many
| feet below ground; a score of Cubans
! were gathered there; as soon as my
name was announced, they advanced
| in turn and shook my hand. and
| eagerly inquired for the dispatches
| These ] at once delivered, and at once
/ they fell 10 discussion their contents
| This was the famous Rendezvous -
| taS it was called, of the Cuban sym-
| pathizers in Havana, where all infor-
| nation concerning the movements
and strength of the Spanish armies
was received, and likewise the same
| information forwarded to the Cuban
generals in the field; hunted refugees
| found a haven in this house; plots and
conspfracies were formed; armed as
sassins sometimes stole forth from
this very room on mission of re =.
venge against some VIGOROUSLY cruel
and merciless Spanish commander
Little had [ dreamed that l too was to
become the companion in arms of
these men, who risl1ed everything for
liberty.
fians We're preached for my safe
conduct in the city, and should an,
special Information be desired, |, lii
che guise of newspaper cora'espon-
dent, backed by my credentials, was
20 make the endeavcr TO procure the
same. Thus 1 became a deep-dyea
conspirator, and a Cuban patriot be-
fore 1 could stop the tide which seem
ed to carry me on irresistibly.
What was most desired at this time
by the Cubans in the field was copy
OF Captain General Weyler's war
map which was jealousy guarded;
upon this map, it was understood, was
the plan of Weyler'S fall campaign
Two days after my arrival, and after
my newspaper credentials had been
approved by the Spanish authorities,
l was given an opportunity 20 see this
very map, by accompanying one of the
famous New York newspaper artists
to the Palace. The artist had permits
sion to make sketch of General
Weyler and his staff in their offices
We were introduced to General Wey-
Ter by &c, chief OF the secret
police, and Major V, afterward
assassinated. The General expressed
himself pleased to sit for the sketch
but the details he stated were to be
subject to his censorship before the
sketch could be sent to New York.
The war-map / saw in the next room
and at my suggestion the artist moved
near the door where he could obtain
better view of the General There was
the map; the position of the Spanish
armies, / could make out, was design
ated by long pins topped with red pen
nants; the Cuban forces by blue PEN
nants; l made mental sketch of the
map, supplemented by notes which
We're ostensibly for the use of the
artist; half an hour later had made
sketch of the map; that night it was
IN the hands of the Cuban sympa-
thizers, and the next morning before
daybreak it was well on it's way to
the field. General Weyler's fall cam
paign was well known to the Cubans
when he advanced toward Pinar del
Rio; Weyler found the positions which |
he had anticipated intrenching, al
ready occupied by the Cubans, and in |
stead of ''pacifying" that Province, he |
suffered a severe defeat, From vari- |
GUS reports received later, I am con-
WINGED that my sketch had something |
to do with Weylers repulse.
On the afternoon of the 18th of No
vember l was discussing events with |
several OF the newspaper fraternity in
a cafe ON Obispo Street. One of them
began to quiz me about my plans in
my previous work in Wash
lngton during the political campaign
Of '96, and protested so much know
edge of my movements that 1 became
somewhat alarmed. Finally after
my fears to the utmost as to
he danger | was running in remain
ng in Havana, he produced a copy of
he Washington Post of Nov. 10th
containing am article about myself.
"a send-off by one of my newspaper
friends in Washington) stating that /
was an officer in the Cuban army, as
he following extract shows:
Mr.. T, one Of the Secretaries
If the -- Committee during the re-
ent campaign has gone to Cuba to en-
list in the Cuban army and fight for
he liberty of the Island. Mr.. T
allied Saturday from New York on the
steamer ''Vigilancia'' for Havana
After reaching Havana he will make
his way through the lines of the
nemy to the Cuban army, and take
'ositiOn as Second Lieutenant under ,
he Cuban forces, etc"
l had landed at Havana on the i
18th; the article was published at S
ON the 10th; undoubtedly lr
hat very day the Spanish Minister at In
had cabled to Havana the ;,
Jews of my coming; no doubt l had
'een Swallowed from the moment l ?
lad arrived; yet that was only a pos u
ibility. However, l made up my r
mind to leave Havana that might or :.
he next morning. l told my COM
anions of my intention, and they as t
veil felt it was the best course. o
1t did not take long to pack my Ii,
runk, which 1 intended to stow :.
way. My letters, papers, and unfin-
she'd newspaper articles were bundled a
Up and wrapped in a newspaper. "
vent to the balcony and attracted the a
ttention of a young Anglo-Spanish .
ady who resided just opposite the
lote1 / had met the Senorita, Miss >