Public sentiment grew stronger with every fresh report of an Insurgent victory, or a Weyler persecution.
MISS EVANGELINA COSIO Y CISNERO'S RESCUE helped to arouse sentiment.
This young and beautiful girl of aristocratic Cuban parentage alleged that a Spanish officer had, on the occasion of a _raid_ made on her home, in which her father was captured and imprisoned as a Cuban sympathizer, proposed her release on certain illicit conditions, and on her refusal she was incarcerated with her aged father in the renowned but filthy and dreaded Morro Castle at Havana.
[Illustration: MISS EVANGELINA COSIO Y CISNEROS.] _Appeal after appeal_ by large numbers of the most prominent women in America was made to General Weyler, and even to the Queen Regent of Spain, for her release, but without avail, when finally the news was flashed to America that she had escaped.

This proved to be true--her release being effected by Carl Decker, a reporter on the New York Journal--a most daring fete.

Miss Cisneros was brought to America and became the greatest sensation of the day.

Her beauty, her affection for her aged father, her innocence, and the thrilling events of her rescue, made her the public idol, and gave _Cuba libre_ a new impetus in American sympathy.
SPAIN AND HAVANA felt the touch of these ever spreading waves of public sentiment, and began to resent them.

At Havana public demonstrations were made against America.