The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-01-08
THE ADVENTURES OF
REUBEN HEEMAN
Remarkable Experience of Descend
ant of the Famous "Pool" Tribe
Who Deserted His Cavalry.
Special to the Scranton Tribune.

Special to the Scranton Tribune.
Towanda, Jan. THE Towanda Ar
| gus prints the following which will in
terest all who are acquainted with the
| notorious POOL nation, of which the
Heemans are descendants:
Reuben Heeman. horse thief, bur-
glar, army deserter, and all-around
| crook. was brought from Waverly on
Friday night by Deputy Marshal Hol-
| lon and taken to New York Sunday
night, where he will serve a term of
| two years and seven months on Cover
| nor's Island, for deserting from Troop
| l.. Eighth cavalry, in Cuba last March.
Heeman tells the following story: He
| enlisted two years ago last March at
Binghamton with his two brothers and
was soon transferred to Cuba. Last
March he and three others deserted
and Travelled $50 miles through the for
ests OF Cuba, when two of his compan-
ions were captured by the rural police,
when Reuben took to the woods and
made his escape. He was afterwards
caught in a small town and after two
| months Imprisonment in Moro castle,
Santiago, he and thirteen others were
sentenced to two years and seven
| months in Fort Columbus, Governors
Island. N. Y. A few days before the
transport arrived to convey them
north, Heeman and a companion es-
capped from the castle, changed their
clothes and went to work for the gov
ernment as teamsters at $40 per month.
Working six weeks and getting his
pay, he went to Havana, got a certih-
cate Of good health under the name Of
Frank Kaufman, sailed to New York,
arriving at Elmira on Dec. IL, 1900.
The old longing for chickens took pos
session of him and with his youngest
brother, Fred, and two brothers named
Storms. they organized a poultry asso-
citation. The police took n hand and
arrested his brother Fred and the two
brothers Storms, but Reuben again
made his escape. Friday, Erie Detect.
i've Charles f. Gridley, of waverly, ar
rested him at the Erie depot, waverly,
on suspicion of the chicken deal of Ell
mira, and telephoned to Officer Hollon,
who Immediately interviewed Mr..
Kaufman, who turned out to be the
much-sought-after Reuben Heeman.
He Immediately acknowledged his
identity and the fact that he was a
deserter. He stated that Cuba was 4
nice country, that you could get or
anges, bananas, etc.-an armful--for
five cents, but mournfully exclaimed,
Guy, didn't see a huckleberry while
/ was there; they don't grow down
there like they do here Heeman has
served three years from this county for
burglary and three years ago stole a
horse in Michigan. one in Ohio and two
wagons, and with a companion brought
them here. Officer Hollon found lne
owners and Reuben settled with a two
and half year term in Jackson. Mich,
prison. His brother, Francis, who has
also deserted from Cuba and once from
Fort Slocum, n. Y, and his brother.
Henry, who has deserted twice this
year by swimming the bay from Fort
Slocum. are both now on Governors
Island, awaiting the arrival of Reu-
ben-Francis. with a term of four
years staring him in the face. His
brother, Fred is wanted here for car
burglary as soon as he gets through
with the chicken deal In Elmira. Reu-
ben is the tenth deserter Officer Hol-
Ion has landed this year, also four
counterfeiters in Allegheny peniten-
tiary,"