Daily Arizona silver belt., 1908-02-28
The Seller of Men.
Observation-Disclosures;

within year was To contribute cash
on the spot. He solicited money from
men in every walk Of life. He re-
ceived money from women who wept
as they gave it. To be one of twelve
or fifteen people invited to meet at
some residence and hear the story OF
Lopez was q rare treat in one sense
and q sorrowfu one in another. He
had seen ii all, been through 1t all,
and lie was talkcr to catch your in
terest in the first dozen words. Months
later he knew that he was monstrous
hypocrlte and liar and worse than
that. but when the human heart Is big
with sympathy its owner does not stop
to critlcise.
From its inception to its close the
Cuban rebellion was kept alive by
American contributions of cash. arms
and volunteers Uncle Sam knew all
about ii. but he rolled his tongue in his
cheek. During the last two years OF
the rebellion his vessels were almost
openly fitted out to carry arms and
other supplies. but If the United States
cutters chased them off the coast they
did not overhaul them at sea. The
government inspectors at the New
England arsenals knew where the
arms went to, no matter what the
mar.;a on the boxes. but they winked
at each other and saw nothing
according to Lopez. $4,000 patriots
were ready to rally as soon as sup
piled with arms. \ large sum Of mon
ey was collected and spent for mus
kets, revolycrs. cartridges and machine
guns. Then there were blankets. ra-
tons and other things needed by the
soldiers. a steamer was chartered and
| thirty Americans enlisted. Spanish
| spies in New York reported the pur-
chases TO Uncle Sam. He replied that
I he would attend to the matter and did
nothing. The same spies reported the
steamer. She was not even looked
/ over by sthe revenue officers. To be
/ sure she was chased down the coast
/ by revenue cutter that belched bar
rels and barrels of black smoke. but
when the filibuster was at last over
hauled IL was TO ask II the captain
hadn't forgotten his nightshirt on leav-
ing New York.
Lopez was aboard. He had been in
defatigable. He had been at Washing
/ ton. He had directed all while sleep
ing in garnet and living on one meal
day. A patriot on a pedestal! An
| object lesson 10 the world.
The steamer was to touch ut GER
tain point on the coast. Word had
gone on ahead and thousand Cuhans
would he at hand to swiftly unload
I her False alarms would he given and
( the Spanish gunboats called away
from the spot. No precaution had been
neglected. Nothing had been left TO
/ chance When once the steamer got
! headed for the spot she slowed down
/ at half speed she was 10 reach the
/ landing under cover OF darkness. At
| o'clock in the afternoon nothing was in
! sight from her bridge At ) o'clock Il
heavy fog settled down. This was all
the better for the success of the expe-
! dition. Five hours slow run would
! take them to the bay selected. and bon
! fires and torches would illuminate the
discharge of the cargo.
The fog had not lifted at o'clock
nor at {. At 8 one could just make out
the form Of man seven or eight feet
away. The captain was a prudent
man. All lights were extinguished and
all noises hushed. With the screw soft
ly turning. the filibuster bored her way
into the fog like some blacker shadow.
The captain. Lopez and half dozen
others formed a group by themselves
and spoke IN whispers. All were ex-
ultant. They were certain TO get in
safely.
OF sudden the thunb. thunk. thunk,
of propeller was heard from straight
ahead. 1t could not be mistaken for
any other noise. Then came the same
noise off the port bow Then it came
from the starboard quarter. The group
listened with beating hearts.
"Porpoises or whales"' whispered 10.
PEE In the captains ear.
Spanish gunboats." was the reply.
BY the speaking tube and not by the
bell the way of the steamer was check
ed, and she floated idly on the sea
Three gunboats were converglng on
her. Three bloodhounds were hunting
their game in the fog. They had not
heard her, and they could not see her
but it had been planned that she wonld
be in that locality at certain hour
Lopez and the Spanish had planned It
The gunboats felt their way here and
there. They almost rubbed sides with
their victim. From the filibuster's deck
men could be heard cursing and NUT
tering
Only one man was watching Lopez
an American volunteer for the Cuban
ranks. The struggle Of the weak
against the strong had appealed to
him. lie saw the man suddenly draw
himself up, suck in his breath and
open his mouth, and then he leaned
forward and clutched the boDy throat