The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-14
NAN|G()ES TO CRUSH
This Is One of Uncle Sans
Big Jobs in Cuba.
ALL SWORN MURDERERS
Their Origin, 200 Years Ago,
Due to Spanish Cruelty.
ALL SWORN MURDERERS

LUZ " - OOllIOII vi uCit1t
Chicago, March 1S-The Havnana cor
respondent for the Tribune writes: There
are many people in Havana who think
that one of the most serious and difficult
which now confront the American auth
critics is the suppressino of the famous,
| or rather infamous, Mango society, For
once more has this desperate band Of muir
derers raised its head in the Cuban CAPT
tai.
During the last three months over seven
hundred Nanigos have been returned TO
Cuba from the various Spanish penal col
onles. Most Of them have settled in Ha-
vana, where they infest the vilest dens Of
the overcrowded city, presumably lurking
in the shadow until they have had the
opportunity to renew former secret a.
liances. And with their coming a black
shadow Of apprehension fails over The
minds Of the most ignorant population as
the past is recalled.
Certainly, the history of the world Of
fers few, if any, parallels to this extra
ordinary brood. History and fiction have
given occasional glimpses Of mysterious
cults alleged to thrive in darkest India
and in the yet unsXpiOred islands Of the
East Indian Archipelago, composed Of
wretched outcasts of sardonic mind and
almost unearthly wisdom, whose trade IS
murder. Kipiing, Joseph Conrad, and other
writer's who nave told weld tales OF these
knights of the silk5n cord and sUbtil poi
son. They seem 10 have, at least TO them
selves, justified their acts by a certain
grewsome philosophy, and to have design
ed them for the ultimate betterment of
the human race-a philosophy to which the
victims and their friends, needless TO say,
do not subscribe. Then Italy mas its Ma
fla, Of whose operations the United States
had a few years ago such a striking eX-
ample at New Orleans; RRussia has her
nihlists. China her highbinders, and Eur
ope and America their anarchists.
But the Mango society may be Ikened
to none of these better known organiza-
atoms except in the secrecy with which
it surrounds itself. So far as rigid inyes-
tigation has succeeded in penetrating the
dark mysteries of the Nanigos absolutely
10 design or scheme of organization has
been discovered. Its members seem to be
held together by no more cohesive force
than a common thirst for human blood,
a strange, maniacal desire to murder. The
origin Of the society cannot be traced. 1t
seems TO date from the bringing of the
first African negro into Cuba. At any
rate. it has been known 10 exist for d
matter of two hundred years, although
it only became formidable within the pre-
sent century. The Spaniards with their
welyl known propensity 10 slave driving,
soon discovered that the unpaid and east
ly nurtured labor of the African could be
used to advantage in the cultivation of
tobacco and surgar plantations, which in
dustrles were then just beginning TO show
great promise Of profit. For many years
there had been carried on lively and
growing traffic in human beings between
Africa and the continent Of North Ameri-
ca, and as the negro furnished best in a
tropical climate it was but natural that
the drift should set toward Cuba.
In this brutal traffic the foundation of
the Mango society was undoubtedly laid.
1t is the old story Of maddened revolt
from the unbearable crueltes. The slave
system in The United States before the CT
VII war presented, heaven knows, enough
gross violations Of human rights, but un-
der Spanish colonial rule 1t was iInmas-
ure!bly worse. From time to time after
their enforced emigration, hardy and de-
termined blacks fed from their cruel mas !
tiers, and many Of them succeeded in es-
Gaping from the plantations into the
mountainous interior of the island There
they wandered like wild beasts, frequent
" hunted with the aid of bloodhounds, |
and mercileasly shot if caught As time
passed these first Adventures were Join |
ed oy others, and they formed themselves |
into bands for mutual safety and protec-
ton. Tiny villages were constructed in
the mountain Businesses or IN the MANY |
mpenetrable canebreaks which even TO |
this day obstruct the progress Of agricul- |
ture III cuba, Gradually semb.ance Of /
order resolved itself out of this chaos. and |
organizations We're formed. The ravages
OF deatl were amply restored by never /
ending tide OF reinf0rcemen1s from the /
plantations.
81 was born the Mango society. that !
strange community of murderers; and. 50 il
srew, fed upon desoldtion. despair. and the /
desire OF revenge, TO be thorn in the side !
o. the spanish government in the Pearl OF /
tHe Antilles. The Mango villages. once /
formed gradually established cammuni-
ea--on with each other. ana il time be- /
came integral paris OF a great secret So /
t-e-E. The same general o5scurltv which /
Ne-.s al the operations Of the Nan.sos COM
ulete.y hides rho -4r-r-i-.-.. ~ -....- $500