Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-12-20

For the seventh time since the present
Cuban revolution began Gen. Antonio
Maceo has been killed, says New York
telegram to the Chicago Times Herald.
The fact that he invariably comes to life
more formidable than ever in no wise de-
tiers the enemy from killing him again.
We'll, indeed, might the Spaniards wish
for the death of the irrepressible Maceo.
What checks has he not given them!
What victories has he not snatched from
them! What pungent warfare has he
not waged in heir very strongholds!
AT no time within the past two years has
there been moment when Spain would
not have paid 100000 pesos, in sore
straits as she is, for his body, dead or
alive What mighty motive has moved
Antonio Maceo in his relentless war on
Spain? A brief notice of the career OF
the Cuban hero and liberator will suf-
flee to answer this question.
The study CT Maceo is as thrilling as
that OF any hero in the World-StruSgle
for liberty. His uneompronsng pa
triotisn, his implacable hatred of the en-
envy, his self-sacrifce, magnetism, cour-
age, his rugged nature and his stern, sol
emn purpose--all these things drew men
to him and held them with force from
which there was no escape, This IS the
second Cuban revolution in which Maceo
has been q conspicuous figure. In the
ten years war he rose from the ranks
to the grade of a major-g general. Then,
as now, he was a fearless fighter. Then.
as now, he was the despair of the Span
iards. But in this revolution Maceo went
into the fight with all the experience of
his first campaign reinforced by six
teen years of study and preparation in
the arts of war.
alaceo is the last of nine brothers who
bled and died for Cuba. And in him is
al the gl1fit of the eight
brothers and their dead father. Antonio
was born in 1S4S on the plantation of his
father, Marcus Maceo, near the little
palfn-thatched village of Baraiagua. He
worked for the family, driving the mules
along the lonely mountain roads. He
saw the slaves toillng, and keeniy felt
the shame of the CubanS degradation.
One day in 1863 Antonio returned from
trip to Halguin, bringing to his father the
news that the Cubans had uprisen and
the island was in revolt. By this time the
family had increased to eleven--rine
sons and two daughters. Young Maceo
desired to fight for his country but Ma
eco, the father prevailed upon him and
his brothers to maintain strict neutral
ity Yet the father deeply sympathiZed
with the cause of the insurgents, and
often lent them secret aid when he could
Perhaps the Spaniarda in some way
learned this fact, and it was that lSnowl-
edge that gave to Cuba her creates lead
er. One day band of Spanish guerril-
las, under the lead of Capt. Campillo,
passed by the Cuban's plantation Maceo
and his elder sons were away upon a triu
to. Baracoa. At nightfall, when they re-
turned, they found their home mass
of blaekened ruins. The barns were
burned the crops destroyed, the mules,
horses and cattle stolen. The mother,
with a broken arm, was tied to tree
moaning from pain. SIX boys Jay on I'M me
ground bleeding and senseless The
two girls were hiding, half dead in the
bushes What should now withhold the
rMaceos from the conflict? The next day
the women of the Maceo household were
placed in the hands of friends and the
father assembled his sons together. He
required them all to register an oath
never to lay down their arms until the
Spaniards should be driven from the land
and Cuba he free How well the sons
have kept that oath has been seen in the
record of blood and flame from one END OF
the island TO the other.
At lifetime that Maceo's plantation was
destroyed Gen. Maxine Gomez was ly-
ing with his forces in the mountains of
the village. One day he was confronted
by a. tail, quaint man, followed by half a
dozen awkward boys. The gaunt man
volunteered his services and those of his
sons. Can you fight?" asked the leader,
with q smile. perhaps" was the reply.
Some time after company OF Spanish
cavalry passed near the camp of Gomez.
They were cut to pieces by the guerillas
Of Gomez At the head Of the rebels rode
the Maceo awkward squad The father
fell in this fight, and within two months
three of the sons had been slain in bat
tie. The remaining members of the Ma
Geo family seemed to bear charmed lives.
They fought reeklessly. Death first over
took Miguel; then Julio fell under the
Spanish fire. and Felipe and Tomas were
disa bled. This left Antonio alone His
brother Jose was too young TO join his
brother in rhe field. For the first year
of his service under Gomez Antonio
fought like n lion. in that space of time.
he was promoted from a common soldier
to a sergeant, and then became success
slveiy lieutenant, captain and major.
Soon after his last promotion he led q
band cf 300 against the upland town of
IT Arriha, and. capturing the forts, drove
tina Srauards 10 Santiago. lie was then
given the straps of a colonel His ca
reer from this forward was one of glory.
Gomez advanced him in very name. His
engagements were all brilliant. Hits vic-'