New-York tribune., 1912-03-24
Narrated by CAPTAIN JOHN O'BRIEN to HORACE SMITH
PART VII.

, in Cuba was made exceedingly angry by my
~ next expedition, the landing from the Laurada Of
great cargo Of war supplies. say nothing Of General
Rolof and his party Bancs. IN full view OF highly
indignant but Impotcnt Spanish garrison and with a
large naval force nnoccnly indolcnt few miles away
on the other side OF In the heat oi his passion he
drew down further discontinue his troubled head
by sending word TO me, through an American newspaper
man stationed at Havana, that he intended to have me
hanged AT the first opportunity. Ihs choIcnc assurance
was not AT all dsQulCtng; for there never was any
doubt in my mind as what my fate would be If were
captured and the manner OF is execution made little
difference But was a little annoyed by his suggestion
that would be so thoughtlcss as 10 allow his men to
get their hands
aCaptain O'Bricn has cvadcd us thus far" said the
dimnutivc commander Of all the Spanish forces IN
Cuba, hall in reply TO some question concerning the
landing at Bancs: "but his very daring will eventually
deliver him into our hands. Sooner later shall get
him. and when we do instead OF having him shot along
with his Cuban companions, am gong to nave nm
ignomniOusv hanged from the iagpOlc at CabanaS, IN
full view of the city. You communicate that IN
formation 70 him if YOU wish. He might be interested
in knowing what in store for him; for we surely shall
capture him some day.
Cabafas is the old fortress, mprcgnable but
now only magnificent ruin, in which Cubans who
known or suspected to be in sympathy with the revolt
were lined up against wall and shot almost every day
during the The rampant along which these eXecu-
ons and murders took place the granite blocks Spat
tered with blood and nlckcd by tens Of thousands OF
Mauscr bullets, was subsequently decorated with
bronze tablet in memory of the patriots who died there
Weylcr boast was promptly conveyed 10 me, WIN
an amusing description OF the dramatic effect with which
it was delivered Through the channel sent back
this reply:
"To show my contempt for you and all who take
orders from YOU | will make a landing within plain
sight Of Havana on my next trip to Cuba may
land an expedition inside the harbor and take you
away a prisoner. If should capture you, which is
much likely than that you will ever capture me-
shall have you chopped up into small pieces and fed TO
the fires Of the DauntlesS."
The concluding section OF this message intended
only ronical reply to Wcylcr's empty threat;
but he took it seriously When it was repeated to him
he flew into rage and denounced me as "boodhirsty
daredevil
On our next expedition, which followed closely on
the heels OF this exchange Of compliments made good
my promise, and II only by mere chance that
Weylcr escaped being blown to pieces by some of the
dynamite which was landed within easy reach of the
big guns that guarded his palace.
THE newspaper man through whom this diverting
correspondence was conducted was one of the most
useful of our secret supporters. While, being an Amcr
can, he was supposed TO Sympathize with the rebels
the full extent Of his iricndlncsS suspected; so
he managed to maintain the pleasant relations with the
Spanish authorities that his work required. He used to
take long sailing trips ostcnSbly only for pleasure;
but more than once he met us of Lobos Key light
house, which OF our OutpOStS. LObOS Key is
tiny coral rock at the Southery edge OF the Bahama
Bank and less than twelve miles from the Cuban coast
a little east of midway of the island.
On account OF its location it a favOrltc loaing
place for the Spanish gunboats, whose commanders
were much given to graft. Instead Of taking on the
three hundred four hundred tons OF coal they
supposed TO consume on cruise, they would purchase
only half much and put the money for the other half
into their pockets Then they would anchor off Lobos
Key, with banked fires, until they had theoretically
sumed the coal they hadn't bought, when they would
proceed the west. 1t nothing unusualfor
four five Of these thevng warships to be riding at
anchor in this soft spot at time.
The Lobos light kept by an old Engishman and
his nephew and one Of the first things did when our
organization got down to business to establish
amiCable arrangement with them; which easy for
they despiscd the cowardce and crookedness OF the