The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-10-09
Cmba's Patriot Leader,
General rHaXimO Gomez.
Man of Iron With a Heart Instantly Re-
sponsive to Suffering Influences.

I matter how insignificant the offense
| might be in the eyes Of the world, with
| Gomez 1t is a matter of principle, and
| there is no forgiveness for such a crime.
| For this reason he has forbidden all 10y
| al Cubans to accept money for any SER
vice rendered or any commodity FUR
| nished during the revolution.
| While travelling through the interior
with an escort of seven men the writer
| once offered poor "paciiico" (non-com-
| batanO 80 cents for q cheese. The man
| smiled his thanks but refused the money.
| saying: IF ! were to accept that silver.
sir General Gomez would send me TO the
| salt mines for six months"
| Any man, Cuban, American, soldier, or
| 'pacilico,' may travel from one end of
| Cuba to another without a cent He will
| receive food, shelter, and whatever cOur-
| tesy may be in the power of his host 10
| extend, but he will find no one who will
accept pay for service rendered. Scat
| tered through the central and eastern
| portions of the island are insurgcnt fac
| tories where hats. shoes. saddles. and
| even clothes are made. If a friend of
| Cuba Libre" you are welcome to fit
yourself out, but no money will be taken
| in payment.
The writer will never forget the rebuke
| administered to a certain brigadier in
| southern CamaEueS. 1t is not necessary
| to mention his name, for he has since re-
| deemed himself by courage displayed in
| battle. Needless of General GomeZ's or
| ders, he had been, not only permitting
| 'paciilcos' in his district to sell raspa-
| dura drown sugar in cakesD to some of
| the Spanish garrisons. but it was proved
that he had received 800 for allowing the
| forbidden traffic.
General Gomez sent for him. AS the
| officer appeared the buglcr sounded the
ASSEMBLY" Turning to his force, Cen
eral Gomez said:
| "You see before you a man who has
! been known as Brigadier -. He Is
| Brigader no more but 'Brgadier Raspa-
dura' tsugar cake. From this time forth
] want no man in Cuba to either address
| HIM or speak of him other than as 'Bri-
| gadier Raspadura.' " Then turning to
| the culprit he continued: Take off those
stars. Give them to me, quick. You dis
grace them. You have sold yourself for
| 800. You can he bought for a cake of
| brown sugar. You are not Il patriot; you
are common pcddler of privileges. You
| are not fit to command men. Down to
| the ranks, afoot where you belong, and be
| grateful if my soldiers condescend to
march alongside of you"
| General Gomez is q disciple of the old
French cardinal in many respects. With
| him there is no such word as fail. For
| the man who fails he has no further use.
| Nor will he listen to excuses from any
| one.
"If you have not succeeded. make ex-
| cuscs to yourself; | have no time to listen
| to them"
| lie seldom invites counsel: he may lis
| ten to opinions, hut he invariably acts
! upon his own Judgment and no man liv-
| ing knows his plans for the morrow. He
is erratlc in his marches. and may order
a halt or an advance at any hour of the
day or night.
ENACTING BUT GENEROUS.
General Gomez is exacting in his re-
| quirementS Of younger officers, but most
generous in his praise when it is merited
| Although known to the world as a man
of iron, beneath his mask of sternness
| beats a heart as tender as a womans
lie worshiped Marti, as one inspired. The
trust placed in his hands by the dead
| martyr is to him more sacred than any
| thing else on earth. Not less did he love
| Antonio Macco. Maceo was his right
! hand. Maceo could comprehend Gomezs
| plans and execute his orders through
| Kind of military tolepathy which never
| failed. Those two leaders never misun-
derstood each other. The shadow of a
| personal jealousy never crossed their
| lives Gomez derived far more pleasure
| from Maceo's successes than did the vic
| tor himself. One of the saddest hours
| of his life was when the news was
| brought him of the death OF this patriot
brother, who knew no fear and of the
son whom he loved better than life.
| The old commander-in-chiCf is equally
| fond of CaliXto Garcia. on returning
| from the "Oriento." after ACCOMMODATING
| General Garcia in his triumphal march
| through the Holguin district, the writer
| met General Gomez at Santa Ana in the
province of Camaguey. He asked many
| questions in regard to Garcia's strength
| and vigor, and when assured of Garcia's $
| health and desire to once more embrace
him in Cuba Libre" tear of pleasure
| stole into Gomez's eyes. "Ah," he sighed
| with CaliXto and plenty of CARTRIDGES
| We could soon free Cuba"
| These two old veterans of the ten-
years war are exact opposites in appear
| ance and in temperament. but they are
| one in thought soul and desire. They
both live for one purpose alone, the free
| dom of their beloved country, and the
| future of Cuba is today in their hands.
General Gomcz'S weakness, if such IT
| would be called, was his love for his son
| Francisco. To his father and friends he
| was known as "Panchito." 4 dozen
| times a day General Gomez would turn
| the topic of conversation to his beloved
| boy. The possible recognition of bcllig-
ercncy did not interest him half so much
| as whether "Panchito" enjoyed his visit
| in New York. Did he go with YOU to
| the theaters? Did he tell you of the pa =
! per he is editing in Monte Cristo? Are
| his eyes as bright and his face as brown
| as of old? lie has not forgotten his Eng
| lsh? Tel! me Of him and you are my
| friend"
| And when the writer told the general
| of his sons one great desire to join his
| father and help fight for Cuba the old
| man grew sad and silent.
II am not a coward" he said, "but
| have not sufficient courage to go into
| battle knowing that my boys breast "a
| exposed to the bullets of the Standards
| If he should fall in my sight it might
| unuerve me. If Panchito' must come to
this island, let it be to fight with General
| Maceo or some other force than mine"
| Fate decreed that the boy should fall be-
| side that hero.
| PERSONAL APPEARANCE.
| Although General Gomez cnnfesses 70
| ~ years, it is hard TO believe him more
| than 60. He is about feet inches In,
| height and straight as an arrow, with
a slender, strongly knit frame. The ball
| which passed through his leg year ago
| has caused him but very little trouble.
The glance from his keen penetrating
eyes will make guilty man feel yerv