The Anaconda standard., 1895-04-07
TWO CUBAN LEADERS.

Msceo and Crombet Described BY
Personai Acquaintance.
| From the New York Sun.
The first time / saw General Maceo
| the dauntless Antonio Maceo y Grajals,
for whose coming the Cuban Insurgents
hiding in the hill ranges from Santiago
all the way up TO Puerto Principe and be-
yond are waiting and praying, was, about
four years ago, in Costa Rica. / was
breakfasting in hotel at San Jose, that
white jasmine-like city that lies in one of
the most beautiful valleys in the world,
the Aserri paradise. extending from the
indigo shadow of the volcano Irazu to the
exquisite sapphire Candelarian hills. A
tall man entered in ordinary citizens
clothes, n mulatto at the first glance. but
clearly person of distinction. As l knew
almost everyone in the city and almost
everyone knew me as an American and a
correspondent, it was not long until /
made the generals acquaintance.
Exquisitely neat in appearance and per-
feet in breeding, with q certain reserve
and modesty of bearing, he could not fail
to interest one who had heard of him as a
brave young leader in a struggle for his
country's freedom 20 years before. Gen.
eral Maceo was in Costa Rica looking
for a colony site and a government con-
cession. ~ - -
The only time he showed any excite
ment was when news came of Flor Crom-
bets escape from Cuba and the confisca..
ton OF his property. Then General Ma
Geo got him self ready in short order and
went down to hot Port Limon to meet his
brother warrior. They came up to the
capital together, and l had the pleasure
of resolving the two big fellows at my
home.
Flor Crombet is n man one couldn't
help liking. Frank as a boy, he admit
ted he didn't care to go into General Ma
ceo's colony scheme, but he thought he
would stop a while and see the country.
His complexion showed nothing of the
African, but suggested Indian blood. He
had a direct, honest glance, and the
pleasantest way in the world. The scar
on his face seemed to want to apologize
for being there ahead of time-that 10, be-
fore Cuba is country. To amuse him.
self and make a little money. he bought a
fishing smack and set to work catching
fish along the coast OF Limon. Now. the
sea along the coast is the nastiest bit of
water for making one repentant that one
could imagine. There is a horrid choppi-
ness all the way down toward Bocas del
4 iofo-out the hsu are certainly nno.
Crombet sold all be would turn his boat
to expeditionary purposes. He was un-
molested, and cheerful as a school child.
Occasionally he came up to San Jose
and Maceo and lac certainly made a fne-
looking pair.
General Maceo was a little older tha N
General Crombet, but the two offered a
strong combination-Maceo reserved, as
tute. far-sighted. of unguessable thoughts !;
Crombet. outspoken. earnest, enthuslas-
tic, daring. From a personal knowledge
OF the pair. should say that IL they are
really on Cuban soil il simply means that
the astounding success OF the revolution
lists may be looked for. say astounding
success, because such q victory against
such terrible odds should astound the
world. Maceo would never waste ms hf fe
or Crombets; IL they are in Cuba. ID
means the beginning of the end.