The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-01-13
: The Seller of Men.

Copyright. 1901. by p c. Eastmentl
Lopez was his name. and be was
Cuban patriot TO hear him argue that
If they had the. proper equipments they
would drive the Spanish from Cuba
within a 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 give 1t. TO be one Of twelve
or fifteen people invited to meet at
some residence and hear the story OF
Lopez was rare treat in one sense
and n sorrowful ono in another. He
had seen 1t all, been through IL all.
and he was talker to catch your In
terest in the first dozen words. Months
later he knew that he was monstrous
hypocrite and liar, and worse than
that, but when the human heart is big
with sympathy its owner does not stop
to criticise
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 it, 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 II 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
marks 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 A large sum Of mon
ev was collected and spent for mus
kets. revolvers, cartridges and machine
guns. Then there were blankets, ra-
tions and other things needed by the
soldiers. A steamer was chartered and
thirty Americans enlisted Spanish
spies in New York reported the plr-
chases to Uncle Sam. He replied that
he would attend to the matter and did
nothing. The same spies reported the
steamer She was not even looked
over by the revenue officers. To be
sure she was chased down the coast
by revenue cutter that beched bar
rels and barrels OF black smoke. but
when the filibnster was at last over
hauled it was to ask if 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
a day. A patriot on a pedestall An
object lesson to the world
The steamer was to touch at a GER
tain point on the coast. Word had
gone on ahead and a thousand Cubans
would be at hand to swiftly unload
her. False alarms would be given and
the Spanish gunboats called away
from the spot. No preeaution 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 to reach the
landing under cover Of darkness. At A
o'clock In the afternoon nothing was in
sight from her bridge. at o'clock a
heavy fog settled down. This was I'll
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 6 o'clock
nor at Z. At 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
~ turning, the tilibuster bored her way
into the fog like some blacker shadow.
The captain, Lopez and half a dozen
others formed a group by themselves
and spoke in whispers. All were ex.
ultant They were certain TO get il
safely.
OF sudden the thunk. thunk, thumb
Of a 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 starhoard quarter. The group
listened with beating hearts.
s'Porpoises or whalesg whispered I.o-
PEI in the captains ear.
Spanish gunboatsm was the reply.
BY the speaking tube and not by the
bell the way Of the steamer was check
I'd, and she hoated idly on the sen.
Three gunboats were converging on
her. Three bloodhounds were hunting
their game In the fog. They had not
heard her, and they could not see her.
but had been planned that she would
be in that locality at certain hour.
Lopez and the Spanish had planned it.
The gunboats felt their way here and
here They almost rubbed sides with
heir victim. From the dIibuster's deck
men could be heard cursing and INIT
ering.
Only one man was watching Lopez
IN American volunteer for the Cuban
anks. The struggle of the weak
igainst the strong had appealed to
linn He saw the nan suddenly draw
himself up, suck in his breath aad
pen his mouth. and then he leaned
Onward and clutched the bony throat
n fingers of iron.
"He was going to call out to them