THE SCHANTON TRIBUNE WEDNESDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 10, 1890.
11
WHERE SPAIN SENDS
HER CUBA CONVICTS
Soaetbloj About One of Spain' Island
Aodersoovlllet. '.
THE DREAD LITTLE ISLE OF CEUTA
In It Cruelties Beyond Conception
Are Practiced Dailyllundredi
Mould Welcome DcathUraplilc
Description of the Horrors of Span
ish Sovereignty in the American
Hemisphere.
From the New York Herald.
A bald, gray island, set in a rim of
blue Bea. A spectral town, white, like
a graveyard, walled like a convent and
circled with Impassable moats. Such
is Ceuta Spain's pet colony for con
victs. Here, from dawn until starlight, day
by day, three hundred Cubans wield
their heavy hammers over the granltt
stone heaps, with the hard faced keep
ers hovering1 ever -near with ready
lash and horrible blasphemy.
Here, night by night, from the heart
of El Hacho the prison hell there
arise strange cries and moans and the
hiss of the descending. lah. . The Span
ish priest, black robed and sombre,
hears It and smiles, muttering to him
elf, "Dlos gracias; another enemy to
the good king is catching It.
When the half dead prisoners march
out to the stone heaos on the follow
ing day there are livid wounds and
dried blood on the backs of several of
the gaunt ribbed toilers.
Colled about Ceuta, like the convolu
tions of great serpents, are seven gray
walls. They are thick and hlirh and
Impassable, Bave by the arching bridges
that span them at Intervals. Between
each wall there is a deep moat of sea
water, silent, waveless, lifeless, and
sometimes odorous with decay and the
damp drip of the sea ooze from the
slimy stones.
SCAKRED BV ASSAULTS.
The outer wall Is scarred by the as
saults of the Moors, from whom the
island and the old ruined town were
wrested In times gone by. Here Is the
dull white scar where a round shot
from some old bell mouthed brass can
non has splashed and spread against
the stones. Here the parauet Is torn
and shredded away In the desperate
endeavor to tear a path to the heart of
the town.
At present every one of the seven
walls about Ceuta 'Is fortilii'd, and
Spanish sentries roost like vultures
along the parapets, dreaming away the
hours and hoping against hope that
Borne one of the weary squud of prison
ers at the stone heaos may prove In
subordinate or run amuck at his keep
ers. Then pop! the rllles will go, and
the convict will roll over like a shot
rabbit. Then the sentries will laugh
and re-load and talk over the incident
during the rest of the duy.
Here and there along the walls one
sees the frowning muzzles of cannon.
They are never used, however, ex
cept for signals, and there are line
chances of their bursXintr, even with
this exertion. They are ancient and
antiquated and oblique In pattern and
in accuracy.
The modern town of Ceuta is built
at the base of a high, stony hill. When
the Spaniards wrested the town from
the Moors they practically destroyed
the old city, building the present one
some distance away from it.
The ruins of the old city may yet be
seen. The walls of the ancient Moor
ish houses and mosques may be traced,
nnd the ruins of the Sultan's harem.
The new town of Ceuta Is divided by a
great ditch connected by a big stone
bridge. The city was at first built be
tween the ditch and the hill, but out
growing these limitations. It spread
over the ditch, and the walls were ex
tended to fence it In.
All that part of the town built be'
fore the extension was made necessary
is called by the Spaniards Intramuros
and the outside portion Kxtramuros.
Tin Intramuros is inhabited by the
lower class of the population, a great
many of them being fishermen. Their
nets may be seen everywhere, and
tnelr boats bob (around the Island
in squads. The stench of decayed fish
is almost insupportable, until one be
comes used to it.
The htrc ets of the Intramuros are so
narrow nnd tortuous that it Is im
possible for two water donkeys to pass
on the same street until one has
Stepped out at the Junction of the near
est thoroughfare and made way for
the other.
The military duties on the island
are performed by the Third Spanish
regiment of, Africa, under the command
of Colonel Antonio A. Condrera. In
the Kxtramuros there are two parks,
the Plaza de los lieyas and Our Lady
oi Airica.
Outside the walled city the land Is
covered with huge bowlders, gray with
moss and desolate In the extreme.
LASH SCARED CONVICTS.
At present there are sixteen thou
sand inhabitants of Ceuta, including
the garrison and the penal colony. The
Island is twelve hours from Cadiz. A
boat arrives at Ceuta twice a week
from Spain, always landing at night.
when the convicts are all locked in the
depths of El Hacho.
At eight o'clock every evening the
signal gun booms from El Hacho. Then
there is a closing of shops and a slam
tnlng of doors in Intramuros, and Ave
minutes later not a light is to be seen
and not an open door may be discov
ered.
All that one hears in the empty, pel)
ble paved streets after thin hour is the
shrill challenge of the sentry, as he
halts some belated pedestrian. This
evening gun is also the signal for all
prisoners who are regarded as trus
ties" by reason of the divine influence
of money, to return to the prison for
the night.
Woe to them if they are not back
within a reasonable time after gun
fire. Their backs will bear the marks
of the lash for many a day. Doubly
woe to them If a file of soldiers is sent
to hunt them. Bayonet stabs, blows
over the head with muskets, fractured
skulls and even death are often the
portion of belated prisoners.
This signal gun has nothing to do
with the stone breaking squad, whose
lives are regulated in a far simpler
way, by means of a time bell and the
lash. They march to and fro, they do
not speak, their hammers rise and fall
with monotonous regularity, their
heads are bent In constant toil, and
their convict uniforms are coated with
atone dust. So it goes day by day and
month by month.
Happy the prisoner who has money
at his command. No matter what his
offence may be, for a certain compen
sation, presumably paid to the gover
nor, he is allowed to go about the In
tramuros as he pleases during the day,
attended by a Spanish soldier as a ser
vant, and only reporting to the prison
at the sound of the signal gun at even
ing.
El Pacho, "the hell," as the Cubans
call It, stands on the top of a high
stony hill. Those who visit the prison
ascend a narrow, stone stairway.
emerging in a sort of court, huge, ueso
late and echoing. In the very center of
this court, at your feet, is a square and
. grated hatchway, through which you
look directly into the large and appar
ently doorless .enclosure in which three
hundred prisoners are confined. ' c
AN AWFUL PRISON. .';
The dawn- Is gray on the roofs and
walls of the Intramuros. The huge
ditch stretches like . a black Styx
through the heart of the town. Stand
Ing on the elevated court, you look
down through the grating Into the dim.
cavern?llke enclosure.- One look ana
you turn sick at he horrible stench that
arises. Iu the dim llzht of dawn you
see scores of unturned faces, ghastly,
despairing, passionless. The;', see you
at the grating and wonder mutely what
new lonorje you are avuoui iu fiuuei vu
thentV
Their lieds are dark and foul and
damp. They sleep in a den of filth and
fover. where minds are aestroyeu ana
bodies racked. These are not the pris
oners with money. They are patriotic
Cubans who are Buffering for their pa
triotism. Among them are Alfred Bet-
ancourt. ex-deuuty to the Bpanisn
court, and Juan Alberto domes, one of
the former editors of La Lucrta, a tiav
aa paper.
When the- present Insurrection broke
out Juan Gomel, who was the leader
of the Ibarri party of Cubans, surren
dered to the Spanish authorities on the
promise of protection and. prompt re
lease. He was immediately released.
according to promise, but the release
was a mere form and an evasion, trie
was immediately arrested on "a new
charge, and shortly afterward was
transported to Ceuta, where he has
since labored on the stone heaps for
the Spanish dikes.
When he was arrested Gomes was
plump and fleshy. His best friends
would not know him now. He has
SCENES ON CEUT.A. SPAIN'S
grown as thin as a consumptive, his
ribs and joints are horribly prominent,
and his back is scarred with a pretty
constant application of the lash.
These prisoners In the huge enclos
ure of the lower court are the stone
gang. As they rise from their small
beds, they groan with the anguish of
their stiff joints and the pain of their
wounds. They dress In their soiled
habilmentn In moody and hopeless si
lence. There Is no water In which to
wash their hands, which are caked
with the toll of yesterday.
On one side of the great gloomy room
Is a . small orifice, probably a foot
square, closed with an Iron door. Sud
denly this door is opened and a dark
Spanish face appears.
"Venga! Venga!" Is shouted through
the hole. At the same time a tin plate
is thrust forward, together with a
spoon and a cup of water. Uruel, pota
toes, bread and tepid water are the
sum of the sumptuous repast.
The man nearest the hole seizes the
platter and falls to, ravenously. Other
prisoners who have dressed approach
the hole. Still others hurry up, and a
line is formed. The clatter of tin plates
is Incessant. The convicts snarl at
each other like lasting hounds. There
are a few murderous Spanish prison
ers among them, but It Is as much as
their lives are worth to thrust them
selves forward at such a time.
Just as the last of the three hun
dred gaunt men receives his plate there
arises the sound of a bell from the roof.
MARCHING TO THE STONE HEAPS.
An Iron door on one bide of the en
closure Is thrown open, nnd again
comes the order, "Venga! Venga!" and
a squal of Spanish soldiers tile into the
court. The man who received the last
plate through the hole has barely time
for two huge gulps, when the prisln
ers full into a close locked line with
their hands on each other's shoulders.
They march out hrough the prison
doods Into the outer patio, down the
hill and along the awakening streets,
where the small, dark children stare at
them curiously. Outside the walls are
the great stone heaps where the prison
ers work.
Then the clank of hammers begins,
and it is kept up throughout the day
with the exception of a brief period
during which the prisoners eat More
gruel, ore bread, potatoes and water.
The toil Is frightfully monotonous. If
only the prisoners could converse the
monotony would not be so great. A
word, however, means a hissing whip
lash over the shoulders or across the
face.
The rattle of heavy hammers is deaf
ening and the dust is Intolerable, but
there Is no cessation. The nun climbs
rapidly overhead and the heat b?comes
stilling. Over on the edge of the kneel
ing squal a small pale Cuban prisoner
reels with every swing of the hammer.
He arrived on the Spanish steamer at
midnight with two others, and this is
his first day.
This young patriot has not yet grown
hardened to the work. His compan
ions, however, are giants in stature.
All three were orllcers under Calixto
Garcia In Kastern Cuba.
"Madre de Dlos!" the small man ex
claims. "My strength Is leaving me. I
shall die." - - '
A huge convict kneeling at the next
heap curls his lips Into a sneer. His
broad back is barred like that of a
tiger with white scars. "Ah, my young
cub," he Is thinking, "you have not
yet cut your milk teeth. I used to
think I should die, as strong as I am,
but that was years, and years ago. I
live still. If I am not mistaken we shall
see some fun presently.'' -
The slim, pale ('titan reeled and al
most fell forward - on his face. It Is
probable that the srlzsled old convict
felt some qualms at pity as he did. a
very unusual thing. Leaning, forward
toward the new arrival he w'hlspered
fiercely, "Look out, young man. Do
you wnnt to eet triced up and flogged
half to death?" .
At that very moment the young Cu
ban pitched forward on his face, half
senseless. Up came the guard, whip
in hand, ready for the fray. He had
seen the old convict say something, and
had seen the other fall. Down came
the whip across the shoulders of the
senseless Cuban, who only moaned with
the pain. .
Again and a-raln the whip descended
with a hiss tike tjiat of an angry snake.
I'p sprang one of the young man's
companions with a jagged stone In his
hand. .
.''My God!" he cried; "If you hit that
man again I'll brain you."
TAKEN TO TORTURE.
By this time other keepers had ar-
I rived and the angry man was disarmed.
The young man, who was still sense
less, was carried avvcy, and both hU
friend and the old veteran who had
whispered the warning were conducted
to solitary cells in the depths of El
Hacho.
Then the work which had been for a
brief time Interrupted went clattering
and clanking on. Not a breath of air
stirred down those rocky copples. The
sun blazed and burned.ihe guards made
their rounds and the hammers swung
with a ceaseless rhythm. Near the
middle of the heaps where the men were
thickest and the dust was densest an
other heat stricken prisoner began to
reel like a drunken man.
This time the guard did not stop
for his whip. After a brief admonition
to the sick convict the Spaniard clubbed
his gun and struck the prisoner a fear
ful blow on the temple, felllns hlin
senseless on the rock heap. The sur
geon came, felt of the unconscious
man's pulse and forehead and ordered
him removed to the hospital not from
humane motives, however.
"The man Is too 111 for flogging."
said he. It was not that he was too ill
to work or In danger of his life from
sunstroke. He was merely too 111 to be
Hogged.
The sun had not sunk below the old
town walls before the prison bell
clanged. The older convicts knew wha'
the early ringing meant. "Somebody
COLONY FOR CONVICTS HOH THE
(Krom the New York Herald.)
to be flogged." Many a horrible whip
ping had they witnessed In the rear
patio of the prison. They had grown
hardened to the sight of welts and
blood. From a heart thrilling tragedy
It had fallen Into comedy lines for most
of them. So it was with something
like anticipation that they marched
back to El Hacho.
In the rear of the prison Is a large
and gloomy yard. In one corner of
which Is a double armed post, set Into
the ground something after the fashion
of a crucifix.
Into this yard came the "stone gang,"
sullen and silent, for the whipping, ex
hibition. The guards who were to do
the flogging were already stawllng
r.ear the post In their shirt-sleeves,
with the long nine lashed whips In
their hands.
The three men who were to be flogged
were brought out together In charge
of a squad of soldiers, commanded by
a lieutenant.
"Number 317," said the officer. r.
The young Cuban who had fainted In
the stoneya 1 was seized by two sol
diers and stt ped naked to the waist.
Then his han were strapped to- the
outer ends of i e cross beam, hM feet
were tied at the bottom, and one of
the men with the whips was called for
ward. PAINTED UNDER THE WHIP.
He smiled as he looked at he white
and scarless back, rolling his shirt
sleeves up to his elbow in the mean
time. Then he swung half around,
poised his whip over his head for a
second, then brought it down with a
"woof" like that of a running hog.
The Cuban squirmed and twisted and
strained at the straps, but never a
sound came from his lips. Great
streaks, dark and discolored, sprang up
under the strands of the whip. There
was no sound from the crowd of spec
tators. Again the lash descended, and again
the welts, red and angry, sprang Into
view. Then with the regularity of a
flail in the hands of a farmer the whip
rose and fell, swishing fiercely through
the air at each stroke. With the tenth
blow the Cuban began to moan mon
otonously, like a sick man. With the
twentieth he shrieked loudly, and hung
supine on the straps unconscious.
Then he was taken down and carried
away. "A weakling," said one of the
men, who had been there twenty years
or more, and who had forgotten every
thing beyond the seven walled town
and the stone heaps. "His hide will
grow thicker with time," replied an
other. Then the Cuban who had threatened
to btain the overseer was strung to the
rack. His back, like that of his com
panion, was unsvarred by .Spanish
whips, but it was gaunt and bony from
hard life In the hills of Santiago. An
other Hunger came forward. He was
broad shouldered and muscular, and
eager for blood.
There was no hesitation In his ac
tions. He fairly pranced around the
post raining blows on his defenceless
victim from waistband to neck.. The
big Cuban lasted longer than his com
panion. Three dozen flesh cutting
blows had been given before he began
to weaken. Then the horrible mon
otony of the punishment and. the ex
quisite agony of the criss-cross blows
that were cutting his back into rib
bons were too much for him.
He shrieked aloud. He blasphemed
heaven and earth. He rev bed his tor
turer. He cursed the Spanish govern
ment and damned the King of 8pain.
Then with a wild cry of "Viva Cuba
Libre!" he swooned Just as the otner
had done.
The hardened old convicts who had
received Just such doses Intermittently
since the Ten Years' War looked at
one another and gazed about them at
the audience In a theatre gazes when
the hero of a tragedy meets his death
on the stage. They were inured to
scenes like this. (
The senseless man was 'unstrapped
and taken down, and laid on the stones
until the surgeon had felt his heart
and pulse and had forced a dram of
btandy between his clenched teeth.
Then he was carried away and his
clothing was carried after htm.
A TORTURED VETERAN. .,
Then came the big convict who had
whispered the warning. He did not
have to be coached In the etiquette of
the whipping post. He stepped quickly
forward and drew off his shirt without
a word. His back was seamed with old
scars that gleamed white on his bul
locklike hide.
He drew out of his pocket a smalt
piece of wood he had secui-.vi for the
purpose and placed It between his teeth.
Then he was triced up to the rack, more
tensely If pocslble than the others had
been. -
"Now "We'll tVst the quality of El
Toro's hide," cald the lieutenant. Then i
he bade the whipper go -on with his I
cruel work. - All the whipping that had I
gone before was were child s play com
pared to this. The cuts across El To
ro's bread back were deeper, the blows
harder. Wow followed blow until the
man handling the cat-o'-nlne-lulls wus
read to drou with exhaustion. Then a
fresher man replaced him and the whip
ping went on.
All the while El Toro stood there
without a sin of his suffering other
than the hard grinding of his forehead
against the post, the gnashing and bit
ing of the wood between his teeth and
the bloody foam that dropped from UU
lips. There was no moaning:, no cry
ing for mercy. He knew the futility
of a thing like that.
During the pause In the flogging the
surgeon stepped up and felt the pulse
of the suffering man. Then he called
a halt In the proceedings. "El Toro's"
back was like a piece of raw beef when
his fastenings were loosened.
He turned and glared at his tormen
tors with the eyes of a wild beast. Then
he laughed in a maniacal way and be
gan to stamp about the court to rouse
the sluggish blood In his hands and
feet. Next day he drew his shirt over
his bloody back and then the entire
PRISONERS ARE EMPLOYED.
stone gang was marched once more In
to El Hacho, Just as the western sun
sank below the horizon.
Sometimes the miserable prisoners
attempted to escape. Then, if captur
ed, they are either shot to death or
whipped dally, until they are on the
verge of dissolution. It has been as
serted, even by Maceo himself, that
prisoners are whipped to death In Ceu
ta. PLANNING TO ESCAPE.
During the past summer a successful
attempt was made by four Cubans
prisoners to escape from the Island.
Their names were Ramon Jovan, Juan
Mendoza, Carlos Carrera and Pedro
Fuentes. When they concocted the
scheme they belig men of means
were allowed the liberty of the Intra
muros during the day.
Cognac was a potent factor In their
plans. The men used to meet In a
small cafe and proceed to play cards
and drink. They also plied their soldier
servants with drink until they were
stupefied, when thty could talk over
their plans without fear of being over
heard. Outside the prison, and within the
Intramuros, were four small publllnnes,
or houses, in which the four prisoners
were allowed to live, on payment of a
monthly sum to the governor of the
Island. There was no hope for them so
long as they lived In these houses and
Inside the well guarded walls. Seven
lofty walls and six deep moats were too
much for anything human to overcome.
For a month or more they discussed
the situation pro and con. Finally they
ran across an old Spanish fisherman,
with a lust for gold. They pretended
to be deeply Interested In bis daily
catches. They bought such of his UfIi
as they desired, at double prices. They
cultivated him at every opportunity,
and finally, on promise of the payment
of 5,000 pesos, they snared him.
He had two boats, one of which was
sailed by his son. This boat was to be
considered as the property of Carrera
and his companions whenever they
might desire to use It.
Ho far so good, but how to get outside
the city walls was the question. The
four schemers suddenly evinced a
great Interest in the doings nf the stone
gang. They observeiT, in the comings
and goings of the squad, that the rear
guard was always composed of the
same man. He was a tall Galllcian
named Marat.
For several weeks the quartet of
"trusties" had no opportunity to culti
vate the acquaintance of Marat. Final
ly, however, fortune favored them. On?
Sunday morning they met the. gib C!al
lego guard In one of the Intramuros
cafes. At first he was surly and re
fused to have anything to do wlUi the
prisoners.
Hoeing, however, that they were well
supplied with money.and.havinga weak
ness for rum, he finally succumbed far
enough to get drunk. Things had to
be worked very slowly, as the men
could meet only once a week, and that
on Sunday.
Another month passed before Marat
was ripe for plucking. During the time
things had progressed only in hints or
verbal skirmishes.- On the fourth Sun
day the five men met In the cafe and
proceeded to enjoy themselves.
Marat being In the full possession of
his senses, Carreara suddenly said:
"Marat, how Would : ou like to quit
this life and settle down for life on a
nice little farm In Galllcla?"
"Hueno!" exclaimed the Spaniard.
"There Is nothing I should like better.
If I had 6.W0 pesos and my time was
up I would go to Spain and stay there.
Oh, I know a beautiful senorlta who
would be glad to see me come home!"
"Look, Maratl See this gold? Look
at the yellow of It. There Is a thouand
dollars In that little heap alone. Now,
see the strange ways of fortune. I have
more than ten times that much, where
I can lay my hands on It; you have
nothing much, beyond a few pesetas,
with which to buy cognac. Do you
want that gold, Marat?"
BRIBING THE GUARD.
"Do I want It?" the Spaniard replied.
"I should like to meet you on a dark
night, Henor Carrera."
'Well, tt Is yours. Listen."
Then Carrera made the square proposi
tion to give Marat the sum of (.000 pesos
If the guard would help them to escape.
For a brief space the Spaniard hung
In the wind debating the question from
every standpoint. If he refused it was
a case of three years longer guarding
the Ceuta stone gang In the blazing sun.
If he would accept--, enough money to
buy a farm and live comfortably.
Finally, with a great oath, he declar
ed he would accept. The compact
made, the scheme of the four prisoners
was "brought to light.
"In the first place," said Carrera, "we
must g:t on the stone rang, which
works outside the 'wallr. Once there,
with your htlr, the rtst will be easy.
We have provided for a boat, which Is
to be left nt a certain 'paint en thj
western coat cf the Itslund on any day
we. may direct.
"3o fcr so good. You constitute the
rear guard of the stone gang. Now,
when we are placed In the ganjt we will
take good care, with your assistance,
to march 1n the rear of the line. On
some evening when there Is to be a
whipping In the patio, and the gang is
marched to the prison earlier than
usal, again with your permission, we
will drop out and In between the big
stone heaps.
"Here we will change our clothes for
those which will be left there for - by
our fisherman, and as soon as pn9slbl
we will strike across the opvn for the
shore, which, you know. Is about half
a mile away."
Marat fell In with the Idea promptly,
being blinded by the glamour of gold.
"When shall we begin?" he nsited.
"At once," replied the four prisoners
in concert. "When Will the next whip
ping take pluee?'" .
"There Is almost iure to bo one on
next Tuesday. It Is the governor's In
spection day, and he always trices
somebody up just for entertainment."
"Then we have two days' stone
breaking before us, anyway," said Car
rera. A few moments of terwfird the pro
prietor of the cafe w;is startled at the
sounds of a violent altercation in the
dining room. 'Ho rushed in. Marat
was holding Carerra by the coat coliur
with one hand and Mendoza with the
other. "Call the guard," he said to the
proprietor. "These 'trusties' have as
saulted me." The four servants of the
convicts were wrapped In a drunken
slumber at a table in the corner.
The Spanish guard arrived on the run
and four prisoners were drasged to El
Hacho and thrust Into the large gloom
enclosure . where the. stone (rang; was
conliued. I'r-.elf arrival- created ho-particular
comment. "The dull, hopeless
faces of the r?nvlets were again turned
to the wall a inqinnt afterward, and
the new arrivals sat down on the floor
In r.loomy silence, ;
The next moriTlnsr, when the' prison
bell I ftuii, Carrera end his companions
were Very slow hi taking their pans
of gruel from the iron barred wicket,
whereupon they were cursed bitterly
by the guard and placed In the rem
of ."the ;rocesslon that slowly wended
Its way outside the town walls to the
etone heaps.
THE PRISONERS ESCAPE.
All that day they sat and broke
Mones with a .wild enthusiasm they
could not repress, In spite of the chok
ing dust and awful heat. In the even
ing they were inarched back to E!
Hacho and locked up. In that march,
however, they mentally selected the
stone heaps behind which they would
drop when the time came and under
which were the (iishermen's clothes.
Past experience has caused the Span
iards to feel secure In the belief that
r.o prisoner could escape from the iron
bound island. That night the four pris
oners could scarcely sleep for .think
ing of their plot. They tossed and
tumbled and mutered until their com
panions bean to curse them bitterly
and threatened them with personal
violence.
Next morning they were marched
out as usual, Marat walking behind
them In the capacity of guard. Tlila
day was a mere repetition of the pre
ceding one. They hammered at the
stones until late In the afternoon, when
their hearts wer thrilled at the sound
of the prison bell.
"The call to the whipping post,"
they thought. Then events came rapid
ly. Marat, the irutml, was as white as
a sheet as the four men fell Into tile at
the rear of the procession and started
on their march for the prison yard.
There was a guard on either side and
one in the rear.
Suddenly Carrera and his compan
ions stopped and stepped quickly be
tween the tall heaps of broken stone.
On went the procession and on went
Marat after them. There was no tally
taken of the prisoners until they should
reach the prison door. They were
simply led Into the outer patio in a
body to witness the whippings.
Carrera and his three comrades knew
this, and they depended upon It to give
them time to reach their boat, half a
mile away. The stone yard was utter
ly deserted after the procession had
passed out. The four prisoners dug In
to the stones In feverish haste. They
soon found the clothes which the fish
erman had left and put them on. Then,
dodging from stone pile to stone pile,
they made for the shore, half a mile
away.
"The boat will be close by the old
ruined mosque,"' the fisherman had
said. The whipping would occupy half
an hour, or perhaps more. Of this they
had already taken up about ten min
utes. When they deemed themselves
secure from observation they ran like
a drove of deer for the ru'ined mosque.
Here they began to run about and look
among the b!g bowlders, black and
slimy with sea moss. A cry from Jo
van announced that the boat was
found. A large hill sheltered "lem
from the prison nnd the town walls.
Just as they pulled away from the
shore the sun sank and the sea crew
purple with shadows. The boat was a
small one, with a short, stumpy matt,
Btepped high in the prow. They turn
ed her head for the coast of Morocco
and sailed away as fa3t as a beam wind
would take them.
They were now powerless to do any
thing further. They could only sail and
pray for the coming of nl?ht. Sudden
ly the sound of a cannon echoed from
the far away parapets of CYuta. It
was followed by a second and a third
and the far away prisoners could sea
the white smoke drifting from the bas
tions of El Hacho.
SUNK CY A CANNON SHOT.
Possibly twentv minutes later they
saw a small, white sailed craft put
out from the shore nnd head In their di
rection. Then they knew that their
mode of flight had Iwen discovered and
that they were being pursued. Hut why
by a sailing vessel?
For this reason. On that morning a
lot of Spanish dignitaries had set reit
in the only steam vessel on the Island
for a visit io Tunis. Thing could not
have fallen out better fur the fleeing
Di Isoners.
Could the purrulng boat citch them?
It was doubtful. The night had crept
on rapldlv and darkness was hovering
about them. Tt was alums, impossible
to see the white sail of too Spanish
boat across the Intervening waters. The
noon was almost full, but occasional
clouds drifted across her face. During
her clear momenta, however, the pur
suing boat could be Been hiiigtiiir on
like grim death two miles hi the roar.
So the chase continued until about
three o'clock In the morning. At that
time the Spanish boat had erepl up to
w'lhln a mile. The low coat of Mornc
cr wai visible In the south, however
the prisoners grew hopeful at the sight
of It.
Suddenly the wind died away. Roth
vessels were becalmed. The Cubing
were half a mile from the shore. The
Spaniards a mile and a half. The four
men trot nut their oars and began to
row. So did their pursuers. Twenty
minutes of this work and once more
the wind struck the Snaniard dead
astern. The escaping prisoners could
hear them cheering as the sails tilled
and the boat came spinning onward,
The .wind would reduce the gap be
tween the two boats to a marked de
gree before the Cubans could catch a
breath of It, When the leading bo it
got under way again scarcely more
than half a mile separated the two
sloops. Then the Spaniards trained a
small brass cannon In the bow of their
boat In a lon-j aim at the white sail
ahead.
The ball flew wide. Again and again
they .fired, with a like result. On the
fifth shot, more by good luck than good
markmanshlp, the ball tore a huge hole
In the boat of the prisoners, knocking
Fuenta senseless and stunning the
others with flying paraphernalia.
The craft heeled over ani sank Im
mediately.. Jovan clui; to the aids of
It. .holding the senseless Fuente above
water. MenUozii.and Carrera prompt
ly '-truck out for fha shore; '. They were
followed a minute later by Jo van and
Fuentes, who hud recovered.
Carrot a left his companions' and
gradually Inclined to the left, where
the shore was more distant.. Being a
strong swimmer, ha forged rapidly
ahead of his- companions. An hour
later he waded wearily up the sandy
beach and fell on the sands, half sense
lets. Here he slept until morning,
when he breakfusted on some oysters
which he groped and dived for In a
small inlet. Then he struck off down
the shoie toward Algiers, keeping as
mue;h out of sight of passing vessels as
possible.
Ten days later he was picked up by
a Frenchman and taken to Alexandria
by slow Blagos. Here he sailed for
France nnd from France he came to
New York, where he arrived' a month
ago.
Carrera has never seen his three com
panions uinee he separated from them
when the boat sank. It is likely that
he will soon return to Cuba and resume
his tight for Cuba llbre.
BROUGHAM'S JOKES.
How a Veteran Actor Hoaxed ao Audi
ence and Also Riggjd a Pompous
Manager of a Theater.
Fifty years tn Journalistic harness
brings a man In contact with most of
the celebrities of that period, scientific,
literary, political, art dramatic. Curtis
Uulld, of Hoston, editor of the "Com
mercial Bulletin" of that city, in giving
his experiences in "A Chat About Celeb
rities," just published, tells the follow
ing good story of one of John Broug
ham's characteristic Jokes:
I was witness to one of Bunugham's
dramatic practical Jukes, which, with
Its sequel, is quite amusing and worth
chronicling In these papers. It was
during Brougham's engagement at the
Howard Athenaeum that he announced
for his benefit two attractive comedies,
and between these the announcement
was made that a new and original pro.
ductlon would be brought out, entitled
"This House to He Sold.".
As usual at Brougham's benefits, the
house was crowded.
After the representation of the first
comedy, and when the orchestra had
played an entr'-acte, the audience were
surprised by loud voices and an un
wonted disturbance behind the curtain,
which Increased, and the stage manag
er rushed In an excited manner before
the curtain.
"Ladles and centlemen," he raid. "I
regret to state that a member of the
company who was to appear In the next
piece hns come to the theatre In such an
after-dinner condition that"
He got no further, for a well known
member of the company rushed upon
the stage In an excited manner with:
"Ladles and gentlemen, am I in an
after-dinner condition?"
"No! no!" "Yes!" Go on with the
play," and various other responses
came from the audience. Then entered
the manager, who, addressing himself
to the speakers, said:
"Gentlemen. I Insist that you retire."
"Not till I have an apology from
him," said the Irate actor.,-
"Oo off, nil of you," said a respectable
elderly loklng man, rising In the private
boxes; "this audience came to see the
play, and not to settle actors' quarrels."
"Oh, father, sit down, do!" said a
young lady with the speaker who at
tracted the attention of the whole audi
ence. For myself, I recognized In the voice
of the elderly gentlemen W. H. Curtis,
one of the stock company, and the
daughter as Miss Josephine Orton, an
other, and I at once began to scpnt a
Joke. Just then an uproarious, evident
ly Intoxicated Irishman in the parquet
jumped up and flourishing 'a .stick
shouted:
"ftedad, I'll perform a part meself
If yo don't bring out Brougham."
"Will the officer remove that man?"
said the manager from the stage.
A policeman came down, seized the
offending Pat by the collar, and began
to drag him away, when the elderly
gentlemnn again Interposed:
"The Irishman Is all iiuht; let him
alone!"
P.y this time the audience were be
glnnlg to get in confusion, cries of "Go
on," Put him out," resounding, some
of the ladles begging their escorts to
leave for fear of a disturbance. At
this juncture, the manager, addressing
himself to the elderly speaker, said:
"Perhaps you would like your Irish
friend to appear here."
" I have no doubt he would make a
better iob of It than you do," was the
reply, amid a nenl of laughter.
At this point the Hibernian, who had
extricated himself from the officer's
clutches, ran down the aisle, climbed
over the orchestra, hitting the kettle
drum a tremendous thump en route,
and, amid laughter and shouts of the
auditors, mounted and stood upon the
stage, hat in hand,. In an easy attl
tude.
The moment he did so. and uttered
the words "Ladles and gentlemen," the
confusion ceased and gave way to
shouts of luughter and applause, as
he was recognized as John Brougham,
who spoke thus:
. "Ladles, and centlemen, I promised
you an original production, on the
occasion of my benefit: it was, 'This
House to be Sold,' and if this house
has not been sold, please inform me,
and the sell shall be more complete on
some other occasion."
The sequel to this Is quite amusing.
Several months afterward Brougham
was' interested with Burton in the
management of the Chamber street
theatre. New York, where they were
both very successful, especially In a
dramatisation of "Dombey & Son," In
which Burton did Captain Cuttle:
Brougham, Joe Bagstock and Jack
Hunsby: Mrs. Vernon. Mrs. Skewton;
George Jordan, Cracker, etc.
When Brougham's benefit : night
came round he proposetl to repeat for
a New York audience his "House to
Ke Sold," but on explaining It to Bur
ton, that worthy objected to It as "a
piece of Illegitimate nonsense." How
ever, nfter some discussion he said:
"Well, go ahead. Brougham, it Is
your benefit, and It will not be m?
fault If you rpoll It with suen trash."
Brougham "went ahead," th? an
nouncement wen made, a full house
was In attendance, and all went on as
previously In Boston.
The audience was thoroughly de
ceived but It chanced that Avhun the
police ofllcers In front was sumoned to
eject the supopsed Irishman from the
audience, that official, not having been
Kulficiently posted, supposed the party
in n.uestlon to be a genuine disturber,
and dragged htm with considerable
violence toward the door.
"Let me co! Let me go," said the
actor in an undertone. "I am Mr.
Brougham.'"
Tb) Li-dig; Dentist. Eight rim'
TOP
ACQ Spruce Street.
"No yer don't," said the officer. "Tott
go. out of here." - ' . .
And It we.i not tint!! the -comedian
was dressed nearly, to the door, and a
couple of ushers had come to his as
sistance, that he was released from th
ClUtClleS Of the officer tell, .in tin In at a
cleverly deceived. j
Next morning in the green room
Brougham. In speaking of the success
of his Bell, plumed himself upon hi
deceit of the officer.
"Fudge," said Burton, "the fellow la
an ass he ought to have known you
were an actor. I can always tell an
actor after seeing him on the stage aa
far as I can see him."
Brougham shrnirveil til- -km.i-a
and said nothing.
Burton was very strict In his prohi
bition of any smoking In or nbout the
theater, and es'ieciniiv in ha
U - . ,, ... ...c chiaitw
'ouy. In thote days me cigarette
yiminuc jiuu noi ueen invented, and
young men did not have to go out be
tween the ftctfl nt lha nlou tn . 1.
" - ' 'W niuuH
them, so that "No smoking" was en-
Auii-cu mm respectetl.
The stage door to the old Chambers
Street theater In Nuiv Vn.b ..i,ki.
twenty pacts of the principal entrance,
two steps led up to It. and a little jog
or niche at one side was at the corner
of ihe building.
A few days after the conversation
above recited Burton came down one
evening to the thenter Inut J,L.
and, as he was about tn aniu, tn
door, found to his surprise the niche at
... .ue uu upiru uy a uuny irisnman
in a bifT. milirh ftmt an, I aln,w,K h
' " DtUUVil net,
smoking a sort, black pipeof all
imi.Ks, curion s especial abomination.
Drawlnir buck in intun.. Hiu(v,,a t
... "."V u u.. ta
shouted:
"Here, my man, get away from here
move away!"
"DiVll n hit!" o-rnuilat Ik. In..
emitting a cloud toward Burton that
made him draw further back in dis
gust. "What do you want here?" ejaculated
the manager.
"Sure. I'm waltlne- f.r Mr nmnsh.
ham," was the growled reply.'
- wen, jur. Brougham does not play
till the second nlecA Cln awav -n,t
come back at 9 o'clock."
"Dlvil a bit," growled the Intruder,
"till I see Mr. Brougham."
"If VOU do tint start T will k
officer," said the now Irate manager, as
ewo or mree oy-standers paused to lee
wuui vun ene maiier.
"Call him, and bad luck to yez!"
This was passing all bounds of en
durance. Steniilnir tn tha mila. mmL
dor of the theater, Burton summoned
the officer, the same one whom Broug
ham had so successfully deceived.
"Here, Btlkem, haven't I told you to
always keep this stage door clear, and
jei iiere is an internal irisnman smok
ing his nasty pipe directly across the
threshold!"
The ottlcer came out promptly. "Now,
then, start out of this," said Burton.
"Divll a bit," was the gruff reply.
"Pllll film nllt " BOM Ull.lnn tn th.
officer, who approached, cane In hand,
hiiu iuiq ms nana upon tne shoulder of
the offender.
Much to thplr tnirnrlaa hnwavap ha
started up, threw his pipe Into the gut
ter, hiiu puiung on ms stuuen nat ana
a wig as he advanced Into the glare of
the gaslights, said to the astonished
manager, in well-known tones:
"Mr. Burton, do you think, after see
ing him on the stage, you can always
tell an actor as far as you can sea
him?"
"Upon my word," said the surprised
Burton, "that was very well played."
"Thanks," replied Brougham; "some
times a manager can be sold as well as
an audience."
' Brougham died June 7, 1S80, In New
York, He was burled in Greenwood
cemetery.
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