The New York herald., 1920-01-04

sensblties had survived the vulcanzing pro-
OF vice." assented Patton. But II is not
clear to me how this systematzed traffic was
successfully carried out in spite of police Wig
ilance. nor how the daily stocks OF cartridges
thus accumulated found their way out of the
city and into the hands of the Cuban rebels.
II am coming TO that part OF the story, re-
piled Doctor Alvarez. III you ever visited lla-
in the old days. you will remember the
Havana milkman. He was picturesque chap
and one not easily forgotten He did not make
his city rounds driving wagon. as they do
here He rode in from the farming districts in
the Havana suburbs astride of his burro and
with his big well filled milk cans clatterinG
on either side OF his saddle Sometimes he had
two or three such beasts thus laden. the trailers
being led behind by halter. There were scores
Of such milkmen serving regularly different sec
tions OF the city. They came in very early
usually we'll before daylight-and made their
rounds. serving their customers until their cans
emptied.
From most quarters OF Havana those milk
cans returned into the country empty. but not
so with those cans from which had been served
the segregated district. Morning after morning
they went out of town at sunrise. past the mil
itary police. all unsuspecting. past the sentres
at the frontier posts of the Gordon surrounding
the capital and not empty but stuffed with
hundreds of Mauser clips. which the ostensible
milkman prevented from rafting and thus be
traying their presence by padding the on
the inside with a saddle blanket.
I'm that particular district these men mas
querading as peaceful purveyors of milk Were
almost without exception, some OF the most
fearless and experienced of the veterans of
Gomez. The work they did required daily tho
courage OF the soldier plus the cunning OF the
spy The organizer and leader of this band was
a long limbed. swarthy fellow known TO the
neighborhood as 'Pancho' or course. in those
days ! never suspected his true vocation
though ! was a surgeon attached to one OF
the Havana battalions OF the Orden Publico
or military police. and had often seen him
riding out OF town after having made his
rounds. his dangling legs almost trailing on the
road as he bestrode his little burro
"Panchos grzzled face made more for
bidding in appearance by the deep scar that
scanned II from the left temple almost to the
point OF the jaw. This livid blush seam. only
partly concealed by his stubble of beard !
learned after his death had been furrowed by
the point OF a Spanish bayonet when the In
surgents OF the Gomez bodyg qua rd one day had
flung a machete charge against a Spanish in
fantry square at Nal TEMPO.
For many months the clandestine traffic IN
this particular brand OF condensed milk, which
Gomez valued most highly. went between
Havana and the suburbs daily. unchallenged
and unchecked. Only n few miles out from the
capital. on the Marianao road which was the
highway traversed by most Of the milkmen in
coming aud going Gomez had an outpost sta
toned and main tained in force. Camped in
well timbered tract short distance back from
the main road to Havana. it was quite for
midable body both in numbers and equipment.
and. curiously enough. the Spaniards for
months left II there unmolested by serious at
tack. although almost daily there were reports
OF Havana carriages being held up the high
road by the insurgents. who often com
mandeered the horses and levied ransom upon
the passengers.
This enterprising outpost was under the inn
mediate command OF clever young mulatto
officer. Captain Jose Villanueva who enjoyed
chief
! ever could ascertain. the reasons for keeping
him there so close to Havana and at no little
hazard were twofold. Vllanuevas post was
recruiting station for the scores of young men
who wore leaving Havana clandestinely every
week to cast in their lot with the insurgents.
IL also the receiving station where each
morning Panchos masqueraders. by only
slight detour. delivered their contraband car
tridges for subsequent distribution to Comes
riflemen and then went upon their bucolic way
unsuspected. That whole sActiop in those days