Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1869-07-27
The Romantic Story of Cuban Gentle
man.
An Execution-A Duel at Fifteen-A Common
ssilor-In the British Army-stabs q Boston
Barber-UndeF Heap of Dead Mem An
dersonsille-Sot Born to Die.
From tho prsrideroe Herald

!
From the Providence Herald.
For the past three days there la
been staying in our city q Cuban
Gentleman, whose history, properl,
written, would be more romantic thar
any novel Of the day. He was born
in Mantanzas, in 1924, and from child
hood has been bitter hater of Spain
His father was Spanish nobleman
but for suspected treason, when /.
youth, was arrested and CONDEMNED
TO death. lie fed, and ultimately
came to America, residing in New
Orleans for several years. He final
| ly went to Matanzas, under an as
sumed name, where he married. In
1880, Senior Mendez, for that was his
name, was arrested, sent to Spain
and, after time, executed His wife
died soon after, leaving the child
Carlos, in the charge Of his uncle. a
merchant in Havana. At the age OF
fifteen young Mendez was sent to
Spain to be educated. Here he re-
manned for nearly two years, con-
tinually in trouble with his teachers
and fellow~pupils on account of bis
political views. His career culmina>
ted here in a duel with the son of a
Spanish Cabinet Minister, whom he
ran through the body, killing him in
stantly. lie escaped almost by a
miracle, and shipped as a common
sailor on board an East Indiaman,
then lying temporarily for repairs at
Cidiz. Leaving the vessel at Call
cutta, he obtained position in u
Spanish commercial house, but soon
firing of that he enlisted into the
British army, several regiments of
which were stationed in and near
Calcutta. A year later his regiment
was sent to England, and from thence
to Canada. Tired Of the army, he
deserted and made his way over the
line into Maine, and in December,
1914, he reached the city of Boston.
Finding several Of his countrymen,
he concluded to remain there, and,
assisted by them, he commenced as
teacher of the French and Spanish
languages in young ladies' academy
IN Pemberton square. Having an
alteration one night in front OF the
fremont house with q Spanish hair
dresser, he stabbed him, and fearing
the consequences fed to New York.
Here he was arrested, but when be-
ing taken back be sprang from the
car platform in the pitchy darkness
OF rainy night, breaking an arm
and two ribs. Hemanaged to escape,
however, and by means of fishing
schooner got to Nantucket, where he
stayed until he had recovered from
his injuries. Shortly after, the Cuban
excitement broke out, and allying
himself to party Of flibusters, he
at last landed on his native soil, after
an absence Of nearly ten years. In
skfmish few days after, he was
taken prisoner, and with several 9TH
ers was shot down without ceremony
With two bullets in his body, and
another imbedded in his right leg,
he yet retained sufficient life to crawl
out Of the heap Of dead where be was
cast during the night, and will the
aid Of sympathizer found refuge
and shelter until his wounds were
healed
Six months later we find him again
in this country, but in New Orleans.
From there be went to California, and
in 1853 sailed for Japan; was ship,
wrecked on the passage, and spent a
little more than year among the
barbarians of a cluster of islands
north of the Philippines, known as
the Bashee Islands After his rescue
he returned to New Orleans, where
be remained till 1861, at which time
the war breaking out, he went to
New York, raised company of Gu
bans and Frenchmen, was commits
stoned as Captain, and did good SER
vice in the field, rising to Colonelcy
before the close of the war. He
tasted Of the horrors of Libby and
Andersonvile, was shot twice-once
through the shoulder and once
1uIOuSb ehS Sub Ill III AOSt GWO Ill
gers by q saber cut on cavalry raid,
besides having been blown up by the
explosion of mine near Richmond
in 1865. One can well imagine that
he is ''one Of the few, the immortal
ones who were not born to die. =
Since the commencement of hostili-
ties in Cuba he has been exceedingly
active in raising men and money,
and has actually visited Cuba twice
with vessels bearing arms and volun-
teers, getting safely away again
He was with Colonel Ryan on the
last expedition which came to grief
the first Of the week. He landed in
New London on Tuesday night, with
nearly 100 men, who scattered at
once-some returning to New York,
and others where their fancies led
them. For several reasons We do
not need to recount, Colonel Mendez
came to this city, where he viii pro-
baby remain for the present.