The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-24
AN IssuReESTs cHBIsrmAs EVE.
An Incident of the Final Cuban War Tor
Liberty, Told by n Participant.

he was hne fellow MAUI hi'iooV oho -" wv"
as peace was made did his best TO turn his machoto
into ploughshare lie could not 90 AL az
once and 40 Joined the Rural Guard; but his whole
idea was 10 law aside the martial and again take
up the agricultural
He had gone into the instruction from con
viction, early in 1895; had taken part In what
fighting there was and had come out, with ono
leg somewhat shorter thon the other. the result
Of a wound received shortly before Christmas,
1897 When he finally hung up his macheto
and revolver, and became farming person. he
would come over TO my house nearly every day,
and would there spend his idle hours singing
the Cuban battle hymns. and discussing tho
future, when was 10 be the arst American Plcni.
potcntiary to the Republic Of Cuba. and he Minister
u War OF tho Treasury
Ono day. discussing the campaign in Ma
Anzas province. alluded to ono Gen Molina.
aSpaniard. when Major Alfredo sprang up. hmpcd
UP and down the gallery frng out vollcy after
volley Of explosives. cursing the ancestry and
progeny Of the said Gen. Molina what Is II,
amigo mioy cried. why arc you so exctcd'"
miami Mani Excited, and 30 would you
be, II you had been in my place. and knew that
pig, az 1 know him. Listen thon, and you shall
hear Of my experience
with Cen Rodiisac. opersdne in ,he, province o
Matanzns You have heard OF tho brilliant
action Of Jagua Grande. wheto we surprised tho
tho town went TO the best cafe, whore had coffee
and liqueurs, and afervard supplied ourselves
damned edN the attack and i was who commanded
the vanguard and led the force close 10 the town
! where We made the surprise The Spaniards
In every mannV TO repay us for the humiliation
| We had put on hem. After having supplied our.
| to rest recruit and euro one or two wounded men
and a few with fever.
| ouenEd. who thought more OF bis stomach and his
| family than OF free Cuba, determined 70 sell US
| And what do you think operated in the mind Of
sSSesnR oI Y Es tdp hs
| Infamous az n the freedom Of Cuba was not the
best gift he could give thenll but no, pig az he
| himself and asking an interview with the butcher
Molina told him where we were; and all for doll
PancSo shot the hound. and ended tho matter.
| The next day we missed Pancho and ono
said he has gone TO get sweet potatoes, and an
| until evening. when without warning We heard
the Mauser bullets flying
| Face TO face with the enemy Is one thing, and
be it never so sluggish, the blood boiis and enc
PUSHES in, to do or be done But In the dark.
suddenly 10 hear that waspish sound, and know
| cannot SEQ whero to shoot or where to rum one
Is undone. l drew my machete. my revolver,
and he Sounded the foImsson%"nd he and and
| formed in the dark, solitary and alone!
| And then. my friend, came that internal Mauser
ball which smashed my leg, and brought me
10 the ground. When came TO il WAS sunri sc;
| l was there in the woods and with me. alone,
long and weary night 'o they Fsysa saw fN sSa
wounds from Mauser bullets do not hurt; bu,
DO no; rgS, them ,., M vSy tsgeIng agony
| and found myself deserted by all save tho lit.
lie boy. Where are they ALL gone. wheIeP 4
don, know; they thought you were dead. and
lie dragged me back TO the camp which was
nothing but palm Leaf hut dried and paIched
We found the two or three wounded ones and
those suffering from fever. There we stGid,
| little lad, another Pancho BY name, but so dit
ferent from that traitor
| Christmas Eve. We were there wounded and
sdck. and little Pnncho sitting outside. and sud
denly We heard tho voice of that Judas, OF tina,
heard the voice Of that arch hend aolina giving
orders could no, mG I,S eu, lay there ia my
seized a gun and 'nred, i sh;ieked with 10y
when he shouted tina, he had downcd his name
little Pancho fell dead and the sick aud wounded
who could aSh, Struggling TO rise from my
isInS clear rord into pit sort ROT Of d.po, ~" f"I
ammunition which had been made close 10 the
wall Of the house The pain Of my leg made
| me dpdble OF movement aud thought and II
was a few moments before | WAS conscious OF
Spanish soldiers Nh, above. IN the house | heard
| Inc voice OF molina, ARC Wey AL DEAD and Tie
answer Yes. all. think but since Pancho has
| been killed. we cannot say how many there
| were But where il Alfredo lie is the man
| want above all others. lie Inundated us a,
| Jagua Grandc, and want 10 cut him in pieces
Friend. l. myself listenedlto this lying in thi,
| hole, covered by few leaves, three feet beneatt
him, Had he, moved a few feet 10 the right h,
would have fallen on me,
| My general he Is not here answered tive
| or three officers: we lave looked in every place
but cannot find him The general swore
exclaimed that was wounded in the leg anc
consequently could not run. and must be nea
at hand, They searched again. but all bu
myself being dead, they could get no informn
ton, Al last. after Munas chief OF stall hac
urged him many times 10 move, as IL was ncarl,
daybrcak. this fcud ordered them To burn hi
house. Talk VI Christmas trees and Santa Cla us
That would have b-en cruel Christmas treu
indeed But IL was n Christmas for me after all
| for lust as those wrctChcs set fire Ia the house
| heard the sound Of shOls.-shuts from our side
insurgent shots a. you call Them and the Span
iarls ran Peace ON earth Is not made by shots
but Oh brother American YOU cannot knuy
what good will thuso shots brought me. and who,
that fire was put out and was dragged out 81 M
grave by my friends They told me that Mon
was Tet-eating down the valley You canno
mink ot the thanks and praise ! gave 10 Go
and for our Saviour whose birth has brought IN
lie again"