Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-12-04
Maceo. the Cuban Patriot.


Gen. Antonio Maceo, the commander of
the Cuban insurgents in the province of
Plnar del Rio western Cuba), is a man
with remarkable history, and the story
of his life is as romantic as a chapter in
fiction. He is a native Cuban, dark-skin-
ned aud of splendid physical proportions.
He is now about so years old. During the
last ten-years war in the island Maceo rose
from boyish recruit into brilliant and in
trepid leadership, and was the last to lay
down his arms and disband his men, and
even then his capitulation was upon the
terms that Spanish man of war should
carry him to Punishment in Jamaica.
During his stay in that island he devoted
himself day and night to the study of
books of war and military tactics. Early
in 1879 he landed in New ''ark, alone and
unknown, and soon made his way to West
Point where he obtained employment as a
hostler in the government stables. Day
after day on the parade grounds he watch
ed the evolutions of the cadets, and all his
spare moments he gave to his books. He
was puzzle to his associates, and nobody
was any the wiser as to his identity when
he finally left the stables and returned to
New York, but he had learned meantime
all that he could by close observation of
the tactics of modern generals in time of
war. From New York he went TO Costa
Rica where some wealthy Cubans had set
tied and where, on a plantation provided
for him by them, he still studied war and
instructed band of fellow veterans whom
he had gathered about him.
In 1880 Maceo began to plan for another
uprising in Cuba and he sailed for ia
maica and thence to Santiago de Cuba,
where, disguised as a laborer, he tried to
put his plans into operation; but he found
that the eye of the Spanish government
was upon him and he was obliged to re-
turn to Costa Rica, disappointed but not
discouraged. He saw that other hands
than his must set the ball of revolution in
motion, and with patience, but with an
energy that never slept, he organized Gu
bans and Cuban sympathizers in every
| AhCiiNah NAbg IA W iONol Juhbdoy NOllC
sponded with Gomez in San Domingo, and
when in February, 1895, word came that
the Cubans had again risen and hostilitie:
had begun, he was ready to make his way
again to Cuba with band of 20 persona
follow eIs who had been trained for postt
of leadership under him. Since that time
the history of the Cuban rebellion is the
history of Maceo. Thus far he has defeat
ed every Spanish general who has beer
sent against him. 1t is Maceo against
whom Gen. Weyler has now taken the
field in person and whose troops are said
to have been defeated with great slaughter
in the hills of Pinar del Rid. OF him i
is said that "his men are not well clotheC
or fed. Most of them are ragged and beal
the scars of old wounds. Most of then
would regard AN oppossum or jutea as {
meal fit for the gods. Even their leade
is worn and haggard, but, standing in tn,
Pickering freight, as he turns up the flaI
of his old faded hat and peers earnestl!
down the dark wooded ridges of the mount
aims toward the Spanish campfres, ther,
is in his eyes the light of high purpose
the freedom of his country"