The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-06-27
THE SPIRIT OF COHNELIA.
A Cnbnn Mother Wished Her DnurI,
tors Were Sons
est. Louis Globe Democrat

L wish that my daughters were sons. u
the mother Of the Agurres said when
some one sought TO offer coincidence FOR
a recent bereavement. The dark eyes
eiowed and the voice trembled with the
fervency OF the Woman's zeal for Cuban
liberty. When the history OF this strug-
gle for Independence closes 1t will tell
or no greater heroisn and sacrifice thnn
that OF the Acquires Five Of the seven
brothers have given their lives for the
cause. If IT. be pardonable to mention
In the same breath the material saeri-
fice then 1t may be said that over 81, OO0,-
QUO in money and property has been
lald on iberty's altar cheerfully by this
FAMILY. With the memory Of those
brave lives gone out. and with the
weight of impoverishment upon her, this
Cuban mother can say:
II wish that my daughters were sons"
Felix Acquire was an aid to General
Agramonte in the ten years war He
was taken prisoner In battle. The Span
iards offered him life to betray the Sc
crets OF the revolutionistS. Every morn
Ing they took him out and told him he
would be shot II lie didn't give the In
formation desired. Fifteen times he
was put through this torture Fifteen,
times he looked death in the face, and
went back with sealed lips to his cell
Then the Spanish tired of trying to
break this brave spirit, and the fatal
Volley was fired.
Manuel Aguirre was sent with O. de-
tachment OF twenty men to receive a
Spanish officer who had held ont the
pretext Of q desire to Join the insurrec-
toon. he fell into the ambuscade and
was wounded. All night he lay bleeding
in the woods. The Spanish found him
IN the morning. They told him that if
he would say he wanted to surrender
and claim amnesty they would accent
hos &c ct,
the offer and his captors killed him.
General Jose NJ. Aguirre was the com
mander Of the insurgent forces in Fla
wanna province. From exposure, while
waiting for expeditions to land on the
Northern coast Of the island, he took
pneumonia and died.
Only few days ago the dispatches
from Cuba told Of the atrocious treat
ment OF Charles. the fourth Of the
Aguirre brothers to die in active service
for Cuba librc. He was wounded in
battle, taken prisoner by guerrillas. tied
to the tail of n horse and dragged
through the streets. This one Of the
Asuirres lived thirty years in the United
States before he went to fight for the
freedom OF his native land
Ramon Aguirrc was wealthy when he
became q member Of the junta He
gave his money and his energies, and
died as much patriot as though he
had fallen In battle. One is a bank
cashier in Guanauato, Mex. Some must
walt while others fight, or he, too, would
have been with Gomez long ago The
seventh of the brothers is now living
III Washington, devOting all Of his time
to the movement for American inter-
vention.
why are you not In Cuba" one who
did not know the history Of the Aguirres
asked him recently.
II am not there" was the answer.
because I feel that at present l can
do more here for Cuba. But" the dark
eyes flashed and the tone grew stern. II
pledge you that 7 Will be in Cuba before
this is ended"
Many men who are architects OF their
own fortune never got the fnunda in,,