The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-05-07
DIAz, THE BAPTIST MISSIONARY.
WHAT HE HAS ACCOMPLISHED
IN CUBA.
Shot at In His Pulpit, Arrested aud
Jailcd-Hc Has Organized Churches
and Sunday Schools and Started
Cemeteries.
New York Sun.

New York Sun.
Alberto J. Diaz, the Baptist mis-
sionary, has been driven into the sea
by Spanish troops, put in jail fol
preaching tho gospel, his clothing
torn from him by q mob and has been
verted 5000 people in 10 years. His
history is q remarkable story of mis-.
siOnary work.
He was born near Habana al years
ago and was one Of "a children, his
mother having married at the age OF
IL. His father was Habana apOthe-
cary of some means, and $4,000 was
spent on Alberto's education. He was
graduated from the University of
Habana in both literary and medical
departments and began life as q physi-
clan. Shortly after he was graduated
tho "Ten Years War" broke out and
Dlaz went into the camp Of the rebels,
and was made a captain Of cavalry.
Ono afternoon ho was sent ahead of
his command to find a camping place
for the night. The Spanish troops
cut the two men off from their com
panions and drove Diaz and his COM
panion to apoint of land that made out
into the sea. When darkness came on,
the two rebels drove their horses into a
thicket, dismounted and lashing their
beasts, sent them ahead, hoping the
Spanish troops would pcrsuo the rider
less horses in the dark. But the
Spanish troops halted at the thicket
Tor the night, knowing that they had
tho two men on the point of land and
could capture them at daylight.
Diaz knew that capture meant
death, and during the night he and
his companion dragged q log out of
the woods and pushed out to sea upon
it. They calculated that current
would carry them down the coast out
OF harms way, but at sunrise thcy
found themselves at sea out of sight of
land. They drifted about without
food or drink until Diaz's companion
became unconscious, fell into the sea
and was drowned. Then Diaz became
unconscious from exhaustion, and
wbile in this condition he was picked
up by a fishing vessel and transferred
to another craft bound for New York.
lie arrived here penniless and friend
less. He found support as reader
In a cigar factory employing Cubans.
lie boarded in Brooklyn, was stricken
with phneumonia, and it was thought
no would die. Miss Alice Tucker, a
house with Diaz, left New Testament
in his room, which resulted, so he says,
IN his conversion, and impellcd him to
missionary work.
Upon his recovery Diaz was bap-
tlZed in Gethsemanc Baptist church,
Willoughpy avenue, Brooklyn, and
was sent by. tho congregation
rebellion having ended-as q colpor-
teur to Cuba. Later he was aided by
the female Bible society of Philadel-
phia, after which the Hons Mission
board of tho Southern Baptist conven-
tion supported him. He left Habana
with u box Of Bibles for missionary
tour In the country. On the train u
Spanish official arrested him, suspect
ing that as Diaz had oeen rebel |, the
box contained dynamite and not Bibles
DlaZ was taken to tho nearest prison
and placed in one cell, while the box
OF Bibles was carefully deposited in
another. Notwithstanding contrary
orders from the jail Keepers, he
preached, prayed and sang loud
enough for all the other inmates to
hear him. He protested that he was
an American citizen, having becn
naturalized while in tho United States;
he sent word to the American consul
of Habana, and in three days Secre-
tary James G. Blaine effected his re-
lease. Afterwards the captured Bibles
sold at a premium, one having been
bought by the mayor who had con.
victed Diaz, and Diaz later had the
satisfaction Of converting tho mayor
and the jailcr.
On another occasion Diaz and two of
his assistants. GodineZ and Herrera
went to GuanabacOa to hold an open
air meeting, when the three were
arrested and taken before the mayor
on the charge that they had not given
notice OF the meeting, as the Spanish
law requires. They were followed by
throng OF sympathizers, infuriated
and ready to mob the officers in charge.
The crowd surrounded tho prison, and
Diaz was obliged to appear on the
jail balcony and deliver an address
dissuading his adhcrcnts from an at
tempt at rescue. A day after, tho re-
quired notice of the meeting was
lound in the mayors office, whore it
had been mislaid.
One day while Diaz was preaching,
SO he states, shot from bohnd and
above was fired. The ball, passing
close to the intended victim, struck q.
boy in front Of him. The screams Of
the wounded boy aroused cries OF xiii
the PrOtestants" "Shoot the hcretic!'
Diaz and his brother was mobbed their
clothing was torn off, and bruised and
bleeding, they were carried before the
mayor. He ordered his police to see
them safely on the cars for Habana.
Later priest was convicted Of firing
the shot into the meeting and sent to
Spain for punishment
On q holiday as Diaz was passing
along the seashore near Habana, he
met two men fishing. He began
talking OF Christ to them. A party
OF merr.ymakers stopped to listen
Others joined the party and soon pco
pie came from distance. Diaz warm
ed to his subject and the crowd be-
came still larger. While ho was speak
ing two policemen stepped up to his
stand. Encouraged by their presence
and thinking they were there to protec
him, Diaz waXed eloquent. When he
had finished he was placed under
arrest, charged with preaching in the
open air, and he spent several davs ir
jail.
He has organized in Cuba 80 churche,
and stations and 20 Sunday schools
He has rs assisting clergymen. Sever
OF his churches have q membership o
1000. He has over 5000 teachers ant
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