The Washington herald., 1913-06-22

officers could go ashore, get to the hills
overlooking Santiago and learn just how
many of Cervera's ships were there But
the man who undertook the expedition
was not to penetrate the enemies lines
1 volunteered for the service.
81 went ashore with a cockswain and
saw Gen. Cebreco, the Cuban command
er, at his camp not far inland. He said
II was impossible to reach the Santiago
hills without passing into the Spanish
lines. I sent the cockswain back with a
letter to Capt. Deiehanty, explaining the
situation and saying that I should 60 on
unless he ran UP a large nag and fired
gun as signals for me to return.
would be in the woods on high ground
and would see the flag and hear the
gun. Well, I was called in. Admiral
Sampson changed his orders. however,
when he heard what ! had to say.
Tested by the Cuban Major.
The next day. June II. set out
again. Gen. Cebreco detailed Maj Masa-
ba, OF his stan, to accompany me, and
also gave me three scouts. I wore q
white uniform and was armed with a
revolver and a sword. Cebreco thought
I was rather conspicuously dressed. He
offered me some Cuban clothing, but It
had seen hard service and preferred to
wear my own. A tall mule was brought
out for me to ride. MaSaba was a fierce
looking man. He didn't know me and I
didn't know him.
The trail was only an indistinct path
through a jungle of weeds, vines, and
trees. For some distance, was told,
We would be within the Cuban lines and
would come to outposts every little while.
As the crow flies, we were nineteen miles
west of Santiago. BY trail. however. the
distance was thirty-five miles. General
Cebreco said a good Cuban rider like
Major Masaba could make the round trip
in two days. II would take me day
longer because / was a naval officer and
unused to horses or mules.
I'VE hadn't gone very far before
Masaba began firing his Winchester rife
at trees along the trail He did fairly |
well, but couldn't understand his opera
tons By and by he asked me II could |
shoot Now shooting was always easy
for me. ! emptied my revolver and |
barked a sappling with every bullet |
We rode on he asked: DO you know what |
will happen to me IL we are captured by |
the SPANISH?
why. they will cut OF your head with |
a machete,' ! said.
Exactly he replied. You can throw |
your hands over your head and surrend-
er. You are an American. They will |
you up in a dungeon
Then l saw through Masaba's shooting |
and his questions. He wanted to find out |
If 1 could be relied on in a fight or in a 4
tight corner.
1T make you this promise" answer
ed. I shall never surrender so long as
you are alive. II you are shot and killed /
you will not be interested in what fol- |
lows
Brave Cuban Soldier.
1.-The majors face broke into a smile
He had tested me and was satisfied.
Then two of the scouts began to whim-
per. They were married men and their
families needed them. The major called
them cowardly pigs when I said that I
was more than willing to let them re-
turn. He fiourished his rifle and they
meekly fell in behind my mule. We had
left the last Cuban outpost and were in
a dense wilderness Of rank vegetation
when just in front of US, not ten feet
away, We saw the barrels of six muskets
and heard the challenge, Who goes
there in Spanish.
BY this time We were well within the
enemies territory. The guns were point
ed right at US. The men, however, could
not be seen. Masaba buried his spurs
into his horse. Yelling, Cuba forever
he rode straight in among the musket
barrels. 1t was a magnificent exhibition
of dash and courage. But the men were
Cubans. They had been scouting and
were going back to camp. Masaba had
proved himself to be brave fellow. So
l, in turn, was satisfied.
Riding Indian fashion through the
trail We often heard Spaniards in front
of us. Slipping into the jungle, We would
wait until they had passed and it was
safe to proceed again. The country was
wooded and rough and progress at best
was slow. We kept lodging Spanish
soldiers and even got by a number of
them bivouacked on the side of a hill
At times We hid in the bushes and at
other times crept on our hands and knees.
Once, company Of Spaniards tumbled
out OF the forest Immediately behind us.
More OF the enemy were bearing down
from the other direction. We sprang
into a swamp at the side of the road.
For three hours We waded in water up
to our breasts and fell over logs in the
darkness We came out on high ground.
The fresh hoof marks of Spanish caval-
~ were seen in the soft earth.
a Very Bold Adventure.
That night we slept in a Cuban shack,
ieep within the woods At o'clock the
next morning We were on a hill. Santi-
ago Harbor was three miles away IL,
d
;ruiser and his torpedo boats. A head
and shut out our view of a part of the
larbor. Spanish troops were encamped
n the valley beneath. 1 borrowed Ma
'aba's sombrero, descended the hill, and
walked leisurely past the Spanish front
n grass that reached above my Shout
iers. 1 meant to run IL discovered and
attacked. Masaba and the three scouts
watched me from their hiding place in
he woods The Spaniards saw me, no
ioubt. but they must have thought /
vas native on my way to Santiago.
Anyway. my scheme worked, and T
climbed another hill unmolested. and,
ooking down, saw the missing Cristobal
,olon and Cervera's torpedo boats. The
Whole fleet was there. Gen. Shafter, t
Waiting at Tampa, had nothing to fear. '
Dur ships were in front of the entrance !
o the harbor, and Cervera could not I
ONE out and destroy our transports.
The expedition, SO rar, had been a s
uccess. But news of our presence with i
Il the enemy's lines had spread far and G
ear. The scouts told other Cubans b
Fhom they met that 1 was Admiral a
ampson. and was on my way to Santi- I
go. where I meant to blow up the Span I
sh fleet with bombs / carried on my l
erson. The news passed through the :
UNCLE from shack to shack. and We I
1ere afraid the Spanish had heard it.
borrower, movement against the y
,ubaDs was under way that morning.
nd the roads and woods swarmed with
oldiers An old Cuban woman waited
DR. us with the information that the trails
y which we had come were alive with