Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-01-12
A MAN WITH A STORY
What an Ex-Rauchman Saw in
Cuba,
Confidential Agent for tho United
States Governmcnt-Arrc. aud
Thrown Into Prison-His Opiu.
ION OF spaniordsn ana Cubnns.
ATLANTA Constitution.)

eyes and Il habit of talking in a low
tone of voice stroled into the Consti-
tuition Office yesterday morning. He
was at the first glance Il man of stril<-
ing appearance and the unusual tan
that covered his features gave the i'm
preston at once that he had only
shortly arrived from the tropics. In his
make-up. and especially in the man.
ufaciure of his hat, it could be easily
guessed that he had not long been in
the South, and that at some time in the
near past had been familiar with the
Western plains.
The man introduced himself as Henry
n. Mason, formerly a. ranchmln resid-
ing in North Dakota, and more lately
q confidential agent of the United
States Government His presence was
unique and the quiet manner in which
lie told who he was at once attracted
to him considerable attention. He didn't
care he remarked, with Il smile, to get
INTO the columns of n daily paper, and
that he was only just arrived in this
country from Havana, Cuba and had
stopped over in Atlanta on his way to
Washington, where he would make his
official report to the Government. His
sole desire, he said, was to have HIM
self resurrected, as lie had been report
ed dead.
In reply to questions relative to the
nature of his work in Cuba while the
war was in progress, Henry Mason
would say nothing, but was perfectly
wiling. he said, to tell how he got 10
the island and few of the things that
happened to him there.
Mason explained in the outset Of his
story that he had lived for the past
lllleen Years near the town of Bis
marck. n. D., and had worked on
ranch Just over the Montana line dur
ing that time. He was, therefore. per-
iecUy familiar with the work in many
OF it's phases that he was 10 take up at
he outbreak of the war with Spain and
knew well the duties as we'll as the haz-
ards of n spy's life
Leaving Washington in tho eo,lv
part of last spring. Mason went direct
10 fampa, Fla, in company with
George Seymour. n man who. coming
also from the western plains, was to
ala him in his work in Cuba. The two
agents of the government sailed in a
private vessel for Matanzas. Cuba. and
reached that town on the evening of
April 23d Va
THROWN INTO PRISON.
The day after reaching Matanzos"
said Mason, Seymour and | were mr..
rested on the coach of n train bound for
Havana, and We're handcuffed and
closely watched until our arrival i'm
Havana.
TO the best of my knowledge q had
never Deen IN Havana before we wers
taken TO building near the arsenal in
the center of the city and kept there
for two days in chains.
!hailN Il guard came to the room I'm
Whlch We We're confined and blindfold-
ing us and binding our arms 40 that we
coula not resist we We're taken over
the bay in Il boat to n fortress. hn1.c
never 1OuEQ out vel " bat ba
taken 10 Cabanas or to Moro Castle
such was the closeness of our con0ne,
ineht while there. In the cell in the
fortress we remained for nineteen DAYS
ana NJ noon on May 10Th were taken
out OF the fortress and released. II ,vos
evident that no proof could he ohtoine5
against us and when we were turned
loose our goods which had been tal,ap
were returned to us
seymour and 1 remained in Havana
living at first ut one place and then
at another until July LIST. and on thot
day we first heard the news of the ma
val engagement at Manila and the de-
struction of the Spanish fleet. we
heard also at the time. from the same
sources. that Cervera's fleet was locked
UP in the harbor of Santiago
with this news we started to the
South through the country. intending
10 go to Cienfutgos. but reached no
further point than a small place bV the
name of EsperanZas. where we were
taken UP again by Spanish troops and
thrown in prison. This time we We're
carried by a guard to Santa Clara. In
dungeon in Santa Clara we were kent
closely watched until September 18th.
when at midnight We effected our es-
cape from the place"
HOW THEY ESCAPED.
In reply to questions. Henry Mason
told graphically OF The cscape from
prison. He stated that he and Sey-
mour had given the plan much atten-
ton. Filing the bars in two. the two
American leaped out at night on the
guard stationed at the place and dis
armed them without much trouble.
I'VE took the two Mauser rifles be-
| longing TO the guard" said Mason. land
together struck out at random 10 find
the insurgent lines. We Travelled So
for five nights on n stretch. resting dur
ing the day in ciumps OF bushes to
avoid detection. and finally obtained
information that led us shortly into the
insurgent lines. Here we found that
the war with the United States had
practically come to an end.
My companion, Seymour had not
been well during the long walk we
found necessary and. in fact his con-
diton before leaving the United States
was not such as to warrant him in I'M
dertaking the task before us. but he
was all right ut heart and kept up the
pace as long as his strength lasted.
While we were in the insurgent line
Seymour developed malarial fever and
in his weakened condition the malady
had an easy prey. After a short ILL
ness the man died and we gave him
rude burial there on n hillside in the
province of Santa Clara.
I'VE lived during all this time in
deserted farmhouse in the vicinity and
after the death of Seymour l made my