Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-09-24


walls and sloping ramparts Of th'
dreaded Moro Castle, the modern Bas
tile of the new world. From the hug
lescape-pipe steam was kissing, an ex
cited, animated throng were bustlini
to and fro, with boxes, bales, trunks
and packages being hoisted in and ou
at both forward and after hatchways
"In the midst Of the confusion ant
seeming disorder reigning on th'
broad deck of the steamer, a peculiar
shaped box was swung on board, ant
at once lowered down the hatchwa!
! to the between decks.
Sailors are a strange combination
of the grave and gay, the superstition
mixed with an irrepressible vein Of
recklessness pervading their nature
and moods.
"The sight of that box had it's effec
upon the working gang at once-the
news quickly circulating that corpse
had been received for transportation
to New York, creating in Jacks mind
a strong feeling Of repugnance. They
at once determined to wait upon the
captain, for the purpose Of noting q
respectful protest against taking the
uncanny freight.
"The opportunity for the generals
friends to free their long-suffering
half-suffocating comrade from his
.~a-oa ood norro,y o,,o rtarc waa N M
all that could have been desired, for
gentlemen, you have perhaps surmis-
ed that the inmate Of the metallic
coffin, enclosed in the cumbersome
box, was the Cuban refugee.
Eyes, 1t had required fully that
amount Of covering, in addition to
forged certificates and sworn state
ments, to circumvent the officials and
elude the sharpness Of their argus
eyed agents. All breathed freer when
the numbering burden was safely de-
posted beneath the rustling folds of
the American flag; but ere 1t was all
accomplished the thunder Of the sun
set gun aroused the echoes of the har-
bor, announcing the close Of day, and
darkness follows closely in that low
latitude.
"The air was sitting, hot to suffoca-
ton, and inside the box, sparsely but
deftly bored with small breathing
holes, it must have been something
horrible for the inmate to endure,
realizing as he did that a hitch had
occurred somewhere.
1.-The gleam from few hanging
lanterns suspended from the deck
beams threw out dim, uncertain
light, but sufficient to reveal to the
few sailors and hangers on all that
was transpiring.
"a hasty whispered consultation,
the cracking of splitting timber, a
few resounding blows, and the long
suffering general, wet through with
perspiration, faint and exhausted, was
assisted to leave his friendly but some
what grotesque hiding-place.
"a s,nothered exclamation, the echo
of retreating footsteps in the sur
rounding gloom, was sufficient to an
nounce to the general and his friends
that his identity had been discovered.
"A consultation was at once sought
with the master of the steamer, to
whom the situation was briefly but
energetically explained. He was a
bluff and typical American sailor, one
who had seen service under your in
comparable Farragut, and knew well
the odor Of burned gunpowder. He
was jealous of the honor Of his flag,
the rights and protection its broad
folds represented, and his answer was
what might have been expected from
a man Of his stamp. Protection was
asked for and granted, the master
concluding the interview by stating:
AS long as I remain alive and am able
to defend you, you may rely upon my
best efforts
"The general, accompanied by two
of his friends, were now turned over
to the care Of the chief mate, who
had been summoned to the private
cabin Of the master of the mail steam
err. 1t was impossible for the Cubans
to return on shore; all were now i'm
plicated, and nought but change OF
abode to the shores of Columbia
would save them from the doom OF
an ignominious death, meted out by the
baffled and irate bloodhounds Of the
law.
THAT trouble would ensue ere the
steamer was permitted to leave the
harbor was more than probable. and
no time was lost in placing the Gu
bans in as secure a retreat as could
well be devised.
1.-The after part of the lower hold
contained a number of solid, compact
boxes filled with sugar, requiring al
the strength and skill Of trained steve
dores to move and arrange them. A
space was broken out sufficiently
large to hold the three refugees, while
above and on each side they were Sc
curely barricaded by solid tiers Of the
huge boxes. In front lay a narrow
open space, that would admit of the
passage of but one man at a time
Three Winchester breechloading ri.
fles with plenty Of ammunition were
placed in the hands of the Cubans
who were bade to be Of good cheer.
But a short time elapsed ere
large, heavy boat filled with soldiers
pulled alongside. An officer, booted
and spurred, confronted the master
and the instant surrender Of the gen.
eral and party was demanded in nc
gentle terms. He was told in much
the same manner by the square-shoul-
dered seaman that the demand could
not be entertained for moment. The
persons in question were passenger:
on board, had paid a stipulated sum
to be landed in New York, and the
company whom he represented would
not sanction the breaking of com
pact on his part.
Threats and eXpostulations avail.
ed nothing; the officer hesitated tc
proceed to extreme lengths, gazet