The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-24
MAxIMo GOMEZ.
The Marvellous Generalship of the
Aged Cuban Patriot

New York Sun.
The leader OF the Cnsan revolution Is
man Of large intelligence. Not many days
ago a company of spanish soldiers, who
must have been bSave men, captured his
cook, who Was told that he would be shot
next morning as rebel. 1t was news OF an
unpleasant kind to Gomez, who priced
highly his faithful cook, one able to catch
chickens while on the march and cock
them during battle. The revolutionary
Napoleon, not at all disheartened, deter
mined to prevent the tragedy; He charged
upon a Spanish camp, captured two of
their ileutenants. carried them to his head
quarters In the saddle, and Immediately
forwarded a note to the Spanish officer.
Col Galhis IN possession OF his cook, no
tifying him that unless the cook were re-
turned TO his picket lines by dawn OF
next morning the two lieutneants who were
his prisoners would be shot at sunrise. IL
was hardly yet dawn when the cook rode
up to the revolutionary headquarters.
whereupon the two Spanish Teutenants
were released, with orders 20 report to
Col Galbs. BY a justifiable menace, by
the offer of fair exchange. Gomez had
ransoned his esteemed cook. and we would
not be surprised to leara that he had an
unusually tender chicken, caIrrted 10 per-
fecfion for breakfast that morning. The
coffee. too. you may be sure, was prime.
stronger than any ever grown In Gomez
own Dominica
II there were no biooeshed in the game OF
war il would be an unmitlgated pleasure
10 watch the ruaneuvering Of Gomez n his
contest with Spain. During the month of
January II has been even more skilful than
at any other time since he took the field.
They say that he Is a great chess player,
and we can believe IL without On effort
Each move he makes on the board IS worthy
Of q master, and he has called Check
fix,,a NH Suafu At his front.
This has been his fortune IN all the games
vet played and we trust II VIII endure TIL
he wins in the final contest.
II there were no bloodshed In the case, II
would make one smile TO observe tho way
In which he draws the enemy into the
traps" they set for him. plays with every
''trocha" which they raise against him.
CAPTURES their supplies when he needs them,
esitwfts them when their wits work the
best. frlghtens them when X Is his desire
10 do that fights them when rf3s sunsefFes
his purpose flies from them when BIS end
is gained. and turns up again when they
don't expect him. Al ? place which u bad
been his aim to reach, for purpose ihey
bad never thought or Even such
a soapish commander a. Martinez
Csu,nas had 10 acknowledge that he was
no match for Gomez. though nis troops
were ten or twenty times more numerous
than Gomez. though ne had Spanish irtos-
IRE al his command and Spain herself al
his back. and though Is military expert
enre mad been vastly greater Than that of
Gomez.
Gomez has surprised bis friends. bis
foes and all spectators. Ainsrica ana
F.,,ror,e have. watched his career with in
terest. whatever may be the final result
Of the war. his years campaign IN ''una
VIII constitute a notable chapter in milf
-srr histo-v II the freedom Of Cuba shall
be- gafnaa. his name win be bonored in its
annals. and n world De rot the less hon
oreSi if Spain were 20 overwhelin fIirn-
Gomez Is well along in life, between %
ana =. Years old lie IS a Dominican Of
the Spanish stock He - a man Of genial
spirits. engaging manners. infiexiole VIII.
perfect courage. genuine talent. extr2ordi-
nary powers ef endurance and good edu-
cation. devoted heart and soul 10 the cause
Of free Cuba Ia the sun Of December y
We printed a letter sent by him 10 this
country from the "Headqaarters OF me
Army of Liberation at Sancti spsrltns. -
which, the pewers and qualities Of his mind
we're finely manifested. A. the same time
we printed an address issued hy him 20
The man under his command. which ~ss a
fuli measure OF inspiration u opened IN
this way. as translated:
'.Tn the sublime struggle that the Cuban
people have commenced again, after
iarse or seventeen years. 70 throw OF the
yoke q their eternal oppressor. the sgan-
sards, whenever they find occasion 70 do
so Slth lnpunity. have resumed the same
afrscfoz7s proceedings they carried on
against Us during the ten years war
II closed thus.
let span. in ire last days % - eH-
scrable dominion and with sts dolefsi signs
Of impotence, boast OF its wicked tnstsncfss
but We must not use r-prissls. The cBip~
able vii be punished with All the severity
OF sh. law. but the example Of the Span-
iar5s viii have no frniiatofs among US
To the promise here made Gomez las