The Washington times., 1904-11-27
DREAD hANINGOES
ARE LIKE MAI "A
Professionals in Crime Or
ganize at Havana.
WICKED SECRET SOCIETY
Applicants for Membership Must Fur
nish Proof of Committing
Capital Crime.

The wickedest band Of criminals in
existence has its headquarters in the
slums Of Havana, Cuba. The band in
cludes professional murderers. thieves,
burglars. childstealers, and criminals
otherwise OF the lowest type, most Of
whom have been released or escaped in
Iecent years from various Spanish penal
colonies. The members of this wicked
secret band are called Naningoes.
Naningo is a name familiar only 10 stu
dents OF West Indian laws and customs
Naningoism is simply a name for organ
lied crime. Naningoism Is the Mafia Of
the West Indies. In Italy a member OF
the Maia is not more dreaded than is
The Naningo Of Cuba
The Naningo's secret society is as old
as Cuba itself. Its founders were At
riean slaves, who gathered at night In
an obscure canebake 10 practice the
rites Of their savage religion. These
meetings finally became mere orgies. and
out OF such a condition was developed
the additional feature of plotting crime.
Low whites were admitted TO member
ship, and now the society IS composed
almost entirely OF white men
ASAAAbAC OAAlS u AAAA4dAGUUs
Applicants for membership today are
put through the most horrible forms OF
initiation. They are required TO furnish
proof OF having committed some capital
crime. Then. watched by Naningoes
of long standing. the candidate has TO
90 forth at night and waylay and rob
the FIRST passerby. The dagger. the
moose. the club. the slugshot-in the
use OF these he must be adept By the
most dreadful oaths ne must renounce
religion, morality, and all ties Of kin
and affection.
One custom OF the Naningoes will il
lustrate their wantOn ferocity. This is
to place on the sidewalk an old shoe.
The first nasserby who kicks that shoe
out of his path is marked by the Nan
lingo sentinel who is lying In wait The
man who kicked the shoe Is followed:
his habits. his abode his daily walks
are made known to all Naningoes. That
man Is doomed 20 death because he
kicked the wOTn-Out shoe of a NaningO.
He must be murdered within a week.
Began Blazing Away.
when I was young man." said a
staid Cuban business man. Il went TO
a public ball one night with a friend II
was late when We started home We
took a carriage and instructed the driver
10 keep a sharp lookout for robbers-for
at that time Naningoism was at it's
worst. and even members Of the police
were said TO belong 10 the secret society.
My friend and / each carried two revol-
vers. one IN each hand The late l.our.
and perhaps a drop too much, made us
both sleepy. When he reached my house
the coachman found US both asleep. But
he dared not awake Us. for there We
were with our cooked revolvefs. To
arouse us-expeeting trouble as We did
might make us begin shooting indis-
eriminately. So the cOachman went To
the rear OF the carriage. gave me a
rap on the head with a strap. then
dropped TO the ground. 1t was fortu-
nate for him that he was behind US. for
IN the first moment of wakefulness We
both began blazing away with all four
revOlvers. That was only an amusing
and harmless experience. But now let
me tell YOU what happens at the pres
ent time 10 many In this city.
Suddenly Feels Points of Steel.
a citizen walking along the street at
night. toward his home. meets three
pedestrians. They look quiet and peace
able. and. with apparent politeness. they
step apart TO let the citizen pass along
the narrow pavement. Suddenly the vic
tim feels points OF steel through his
clothing. prieking the flesh on either
side. while before him stands the third
robber. with a giittering knife at his
breast.
Thus. the situation. in the twinkling
OF an eye. has passed beyond argu-
ment. A single movement a single out
cry. means that three blades will pene-
trate the victims body. and as he falls
the three assassins will swiftly and ST.
iently disappear. Perhaps they viii
form part OF the crowd that gathers
around the bleeding corpse. Uncon-
ditional surrender is the only alternative
20 such a fate. Usually. therefore. the
victim makes no complaint for he knows
that no protest viii avail. Robberies
Of this sort are perpetrated In brilliant
ly lighted streets along which many
people may be passing
Making Up for Lost Time.
When the Americans occupied Cuba
all the Nanin~oes seemingly CHsappear-
ed. At last Cubans felt that Naningo-
ism had Withdrawn from their island
No sooner was the Cuban republic
formed, however. with CubaAs, instead
OF Americans. IN power, than ali the
NaninEoes seemed 20 return-if they
had ever really been aWay-perDetrat-
ing IN rapid succession a number Of
murders. rObberies. assaults. as II TO
make up for lost time.
The most startling fact OF all is that
Cubans and Spaniards OF apparent re-
spectability are suspected OF belonging
20 this NaningO secret society, and OF
aiding and abetting many Of the crimes
that are committed
II is estimated that in Havana alone
there are as many as 100 Naningoes-
not 70 speak OF the hundreds OF Others
forming this wickedest band OF crimi-
mails on earth. IN Madrid, Barcelona.
and the canaries.-kansas City Journal.
BETTER BARGAIN.