Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1896-12-26

Both were "DaruOS "-thaC is. ignJ-
colored mulattos-and they were quite
we'll of. Marcos owned and operated
a cattle ranch and pony express be-
tween the town and near by estates.
He was worth about 10000 Antonio
was we'll trained in cOntra-Spanish
ideas His father had been quietly in
terested in the small revolutionary dis
turbances that took place up to 1888,
and Ascenio, his godfather, a promi-
nent lawyer of Santiago City, was one
of the most active promoters OF the
ten years. struggle that began in 1855
EDUCATED IN THE BEST SCHOOLS.
After boyhood spent in the best
schools OF Santiago de u ba. Antonio's
seventeenth year found- him engaged
in business for his father. The prepe-
rations for the war were then secretly
going on, and young MaceO, being
thought to possess a discretion beyond
his years, was initiated into the move
ment. BE lsboreG hard for the cause
then, as he has done ever since. and
the time came for action he prom pity
took the field, at eighteen years of age,
with few men whom he had armed
and organized.
A YOUNG BRIDE.
He left a young bride at home. For
ever ten years Maceo and his few pa
triot companions fought an uphill fight
against tremendous odds, The mea-
gre news of the ruthless savagery en-
ployed by the Spaniards to garrote the
rebellion startled the civilization OF
twenty-eight years ago.
CHRISTIAN NATIONS SHAME.
Maceo saw the shameful sight oI
Christian powers making the barba-
rism of the Turk an excuse over which
TO fight each other. To-day he sees
the same nations allowing, without q
protest and with full knowledge Of the
fact, a state of affairs to continue in
Cuba that surpasses even the cruelties
of the Turk. There is no political end
to be gained, and humanity pleads in
vain.
LEARNING NON FIGHTING RACE TO FIGHT
1t was in the ten long years of the
last war that Naceo got his knowledg &c
Of how to get fight out of non-fight.
ing race, He certainly has been doing
it lately.
Naceo's ten long years of training
have served HIM SO well that to-day
his brilliant conduct of an enforced
defensive campaign places him higf
upon the roll of military merit.
At twenty-five years Of age Genera
Antonio Naceo must have been a whir
wind fighter. Indeed there are many
tales OF his personal prowess.
CAUGHT IN An EMBARRASSING SITUATION
While bathing one day at some little
= "a W nrf rf,r
by five Spanish guerillas-ihe same
species that is now killing ''paciiicos'
in Cuba Maceo disregsrded his ward.
robe and jumped for the nearest man
Struck between the eyes, the soldier
reeled, and his "machete" passed over
TO Maceo, who cut the second mans
neck in two by sidelong cut. The
third did not come TO close quarters al
once, but put 9 bullet-hole through
Maceo-it's one OF his twenty-three
But the Cuban got one stroke at hin
and the Other two He'd.
STRONG RIGHT ARM.
| Although with a great arm tina
should be crippled, it is said that Gen
Maceo cut through three strands o
American fence wire at Nal Tieng'
with one cut from his heavy sword
knife. As the wires were several inch
es apart. and as the General is nov
pretty nearly fifty years old, it may b
| estimated what he must have been Il
young manhood.
Maceo is really idolized by his men
For one thing, his magnificent person
al appearance and the halo OF man
glorious exploits have great effect Bu
the real reason for his popularity is tn
- 1. u %
lis too poorly OF too little clad to com
right in and talk to the General at an
} time. Maceo talks famiharly with hi
stalwart men, listen patiently to a
lcomplaints, great and small, and eel
tiles them IN a quick, decisive manner
ALWAYS THE FIRST
Particularly, is he an object of affet
ton, to his men, because he is Away
the first rider in a machete charge, h
is always the closest to the enemy in
mountain fight, and is never to
found in a pitched battle anywhere els
: but in the first trench, when there
any firing going on.
: have seen him lead his men full
I fifteen times. / have never seen hi
: follow them. OF course this is part
2 on account of the undrilled conditiC
I of his troops But he has plenty
t brave and skillful officers to do I'll
leading, and should not expose hin
sc in every little engagement.
HIS BROTHER AS A DEAD SHOT.
Antonio's brother, Jose Maceo, ii
J, chef of the Province eff Santiago, is q
4 enthusiastic shooter personally. A
: though not so fond of the trigger as h
! brother, General Antonio occasional
i dismounts from his big, white hors
q slows away his weighty titles in co
t venient bush and takes Mauser ri
It in hand for a little exciting targ
. practice.
= MACEo's POWERFUL BUILT.
For a man of forty-six years OF as
OF twenty-three wounds and OF twel
years Ct wearing war, Antonio Mace'
|, measurements are, with one exceptic
e indicative OF a wonderful good state
= phVsical pPeserv alton. He stands jU
q 5 feet 10 inches high and weighs
hounds. His shoulders are very mt
70 sive, measuring about them not il
n than AZ inches. A very strong neck
"a rather short length and sixteen inch
is in circumference supports a rou
D. head with fighting bumps abnormal
" developed. 1t is the Uranium Of ma
ral fighter.
RS MASSIVE FRAME.
10 Below his forty-two inch should'
is arches out full chest of forty-t
ar inches in circumference, and his 81
orally conservative mode OF is sho
bx the still fine proportions OF
waist. This measures thIrty-six incl
:. and, considering his age, shows n
9 markably good proportion to his CHI
10 ana shoulders. Maeeo's fine torso
in we'll borne up on shapely limbs.
At thigh is twenty-five inches around.
o. calf about sixteen, and his small an
r sets of a small foot.
le THE ONLY SIGN OF HIs RACE.
The hands are small and shape