The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-11
He Is the Bravest Brother of
a Large Family of Patriots.
Entered War of 1868 as Carman and
Rose TO Commander in Chief

statement OF SpaDisrt, made on his
honor as soldier before believing IL.
The military career OF Antonio Maceo
has been very remarkable. Any soldier
OF his courage and genius would make a
distinguished name IN any great war.
But In Cuba, at the head OF q handful OF
patriots, unskilied as they are in military
service, generally without resources and
receiving only the aid afforded by the
few expeditions sent from the United
States, he had faced and outwitted
Martinez Campos and Weyler in commau ~ d
OF 2OO. COO men and possessed of ell the
resources OF modern warfare. To have
accomplished this Maceo must appear to
every Impartial person as an astoDis hing
example of heroims and military ability.
lie was the same hero In the 10 years
war OF ls6S-7s. lie bore on his body the
marks OF "A wounds, 20 made by bullets
and four by the SWORD or mschete.
Antonio Maceo was born in Santiago
de Cuba on July il, 1s3s. His parents,
Marcos Maceo and Mariana Grsjsles, were
both mulatios, living in that city. BY
her fret marriage with n. Rsgueiferos,
Mariana Graisies had four sons, named
Felipe. Manuel, Fsrmin and Justo. By
her second marriage with Marcos Maceo
she had, besides Antonio, six ott er sons,
named Jose, Rafael, Miguel. Julio Fomas
and Marcos. They are all worth mention
ing, for in few countries lighting for
their liberty can families be found who
haH yiy
so great a cause.
The father of Antonio Maceo was killed
In cattle during the ten-years war, fight
ing under the orders of his son. or the
other brothers, Felipe received so many
wounds that he was permanently dis
abled, Justo was killed in battle, Manuel
and Fermin fought through the war of
1858, Rafael, wounded several times, dieu
in exile; Miguel was killed in the battle
OF San Miguel de Nuevi,as surrounded by
spaniards and crying sylvia cuba libre,"
JULIO died in the fight of Nuevo Mundo,
Fomss Is still suffering from bis many
wounds, and Marcos has always been q
ieryid Cubsn patriot.
American readers are familiar witn the
name OF Jose Maceo. the Cuban General.
who was killed a few months ago at the
battle OF Lomsdel lndio. He WAS the last
brother Of Antonio BILE TO follow him In
the present war against Spain.
Antonio Maceo first took the field in
1893. few days after the uprising of |
! ara. lie WAS a poor carman. without |
my education, unabls to read or to write |
his own name. He joined the forces Of |
The insurgent General Donate MarmoI,
bat soon fter employing him as a soldier
dsrmol discovered the aptitude of Maceo
or leadership. In the first engagements
II Marmol with the SRA niards, Maceo dis
inguished himself by his extraordinary
ourage, and after cavalry attack that
ma ie him famous among the Cubans he
vas cppointed chief Of a small banu of
'airicts. lie was soon advanced to the
auk ef trlgaoier general, and soon aftsr
he Cnbsn army. From that day he was
he terror Of the Spanish troops. In Hol-
un, in Florida, Province Of Santaig de
uhs,snd in many other places be routed
be ablcst Spanish commanders.
After Ten years CT war the Cubans
greed to the treaty Of Lsnjon. Martinez
ampos, after many interviews with
uban leaders aud tho Provisional
government of the republic, wen Gomez
to the lranty of peace. The only
ian who refused TO sign was Antonio
,Gceo. On. Feb. is, 1873, Gomez had an
lterview with him at the Asiento de
ilots.
General Maxine Gomez himself, in his
amphlet describing the last year OF the
uhap Revolution, printed In Kingston
J 1878, relates the dignifed answer Maceo
ave him. Without discussing the reasons
ny surrender would be polite he only
lid:
81 cannot believe that you will aban-
on me In the field where both OF us
i've fought so often against our
lemies."
To General Vicente Garcia he said: 81
link the concessions mnde by the
iauiards are not su tsicient 10 satisfy the
ihans, and even IL :noy were worth
bile. our honor compels US to achieve
Y iuhe ptuNSuCe Ol tue lSlaud or de- |
But Macco became more and m ore iso.
ted, and when lie no longer had forces
II TO hght With, he agreed TO leave the
and under condition that Il should be
own that he protested against the
ace. he sailed for Kingston in June,
s,on the steamer Fernando ell Catolico. !
the same month he came to New
'rk and aitewsrd went to Honduras,
lere tho president, Marco Aurello sotor ,
great friend OF the Cubans, made him !
vernon Of Puerto Cortez. After Soto's v
he raturnol TO Cuba ana was de- a
'tei to Spain By General Balance. I
ter, whea-he- -setHfHed- to -trba again :
der the government OF Polsrieja, he 4
: exp lied for a third term. Maceo was I
Ing IN Costa kica when Msrti prepared /.
rre'ent revolution. One night several
'niards iriod to Kill him at the door OF i
heater, knowing that ho was in cor !,
with Msrtl. lie we slightly y