The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-04
COLONEL THOUGH A WOMAN.
CUBAN sENORA WHO SHOWS SCARS
OF BATTLE.

OE' u
Lieut.. Col. Sonora Antonio II. VI. Hol-
lis l. stopping at the Planters Ho-
tei-Came Here to Go to Cuba
Aboard the Minnewnska, But Did
Not-Niu Leave Later Aboard a
Transport-Has Her Pistols, sword
and Lieutenant COloneTs Uniform.
Tells a story of Cuban Campaigns
10 All Bat Newspaper Men-snys
She Does Not Like NOtOrIety-IIas
Made quite an Impression Upon
Those Who Have Met Her.
There is woman ia Savannah before
whom the fame of the Amazons Of
old pales. She has done more than
lead women-she has led men in bat
tie, and her scars bear testimony
that she has been no bastard
in war" She was in the thickest of the
fight at FL Caney, and her wounds received
then were the cause Of her being sent to
this country.
A night or two ago woman stepped
briskly up to the desk at the Planters Ho-
tel. She had just arrived from Atlanta.
She asked for a pen with which to regis
ter As she made the request she threw
back her cloak. Sticking in the belt was
two handy looking revoiyers. These made
an impression, and with even more than
his accustomed grace and alacrity the clerk
responded TO her wish. He handed over
the pen, and Antonio II. NJ. Hollis was in
scribed in feminine characters at the top
of a fresh page Of the register.
Sonora Antonio Hollis claims to have
been a lieutenant colonel in the Cuban
army. She has talked freely to a number
of people at the hotel, but refuses to be
interviewed. There is not the slightest
reticence in her talk and she discusses
her campaigns with considerable zest with
any who manifest an interest. The ladies
at the hotels have been made her especial
conhdants and have been initiated into
many of the mysteries of war, Tales Of
Cuban horrors have been poured into their
by no means unwilling ears, and they
have come to regard Sonora Hollis as the
heroine Of the war. Capt Molly Pitcher
Is decidedly out of il, and her revolution
airy fame can not touch that clustering
about Col. Hollis
lieutenant coioners uniform has been
discovered TO the gaze OF the masculine
curious. The colonel takes 1t down from
a peg and shows it to gentlemen when
they express an interest in her achieve
ments. She has not yet donned her regi-
mentals and appeared in the hotel office
but the ladies have seen her arrayed in
all her martial splendor. In other ways
these ladies have been favored. The
wounds received in war have been laid
bare and they have seen where Mauser
bullets ripped their way. One of these
wounds Is evident to all who see the
colonel 1t Is just under the eye and still
shows clearly.
In still other ways have the ladies of
the hotel, who have become very friend
ly with the colonel, been assured of her
being a genuine article She has shown
them her equipment, her sword and pls-
tolls bearing witness 10 her rank. Her
skill with these weapons has been in
measure, indicated by clever drills and
exercises in her room. which has become
one of the most popular In the hotel for
the ladies'.
Sonora Hollis came here from the hos
pital at Fort Mcpherson to secure passage
20 Cuba on the Minnewaska. It is said
she had made some special Arrangement
through which she could get to the island
on the transport though carrying women,
even though they be Cuban colonies, has
not yet been a practice with the quarter
master department. 1t Is said now that
she will await the sailing of another yes
sci for the port to which she desires to
leave. In the meantime she will stay at
the Planters.
Col. Hollis says she was taken from
Santiago to Key West after the fighting
around Santiago and that there she was
treated for a short while for her wounds
and later was taken to Fort Mcpherson.
IL was at this latter place it is under
stood, that she revealed her sex and that
the attendants at the hospital got their
first intimation that they had been treat
ing wounded woman / took a long
time for her wounds to heal. One of them
indeed, has not yet healed, and at times
it gives the colonel considerable pain.
Sonora Hollis has a husband In the Gu
ban army. He was of some high rank
probably a colonel, as that would seem 10
be the logical conclusion when her rank
was that of lieutenant colonel 1t is relat-
ed by those who have heard Col Hollis
talk that she and her husband were about
to attack an eminence on which a party
of Spaniards had fortified themselves. They
divided their forces. one leading one de-
tachment and one the other. Then they
attacked from both sides the hill. The
husband was killed in the attack from
his side, but the wife was victorious and
drove the Spanish from their position.
Many other tales of her war experiences
have been told her listeners, her manly
and martial traits seeming to be pretty
well-tempered with womanly talkativeness.
In appearance Col. Hollis seems to be
anywhere above 80. But this is a mis-
take. Nothing can be augured from her
gray hair, which she wears short, for she
is said to be but %. In figure she is on
the military style, and it is said she makes
"a stunning officer when dressed in her
co.onel's uniform.