How a Cuban Cigar Sparked a Revolution

El Grito De Baire & The Historic Cigar: "Tampa historian Tony Pizzo writing In the (Ybor City) newspaper "La Gaceta" In a 1952 article titled "The Historic Cigar" vividly relates how the declaration of revolution was successfully relayed to Cuba"

Extract transcribed from the book "Ybor City: The Making Of a Landmark Town" by Frank Trebin Lastra

"With the message In hand that Jose Marti had handed to him,Gonzalo de Quesada departs to Tampa (From New York)

At the station he Is met by Fernando Figueredo, the local party chief & other Cuban patriots

The Junta meets at the Blas O' Halloran Cigar factory In West Tampa, where Blas rolls five Panatelas - all Identical.

The one concealing the message Is distinguished by two tiny yellow specks on the tobacco wrapper.

A few days later, Gonzalo de Quesada, with five Panatelas well concealed on his person, sails for Key West.

There he Is met by Miguel Angel Duque de Estrada, the man chosen to deliver the message to Juan Gualberto Gomez, The Insurgent chief of the Island of Cuba.

On a moonlit night  on Feb 21 1895, Estrada, with the cigars In his coat pocket, boards the "Mascotte" for the seething Island.

Arriving at the port of Havana, the courier calmly proceeds through routine customs Inpection and passes out four cigars to the authorities.

Then Estrada holds the "loaded cigar" In his mouth and pretends to light It. He puffs several times. The cigar refuses to stay lit. He picks up his luggage and walks Into History!