Evening star., 1897-01-14

palm straw. coarse, strong shoes of native
leather laced with rawhide thongs.
Around his waist he wore wide leather
belt, apparently an old saddle girth. and
attached to this was revolver holster in
which nestled a pearl-handled Smith &
Wesson 3S-caliber revolver. In the belt
he had also thrust a cuchilla or native
knife, something like shoemaker's knife,
sharp as a razor. He wore black wirey
beard and mustache. Beneath the mus
tache could be seen when he smiled strong
white teeth, which looked wolfish when
angry. His jaw was square and firm,
showing great power and force of will.
His head was finely shaped. His hands
and feet were small and his nails were
well kept. In stature he stood about six
feet and two inches, broad chested and
powerfully limbed. In every glance and
every movement there was command. His
complexion was that of a dark mulatto.
His features were well formed and pleas
ant to look at
by his side sat General Rabi, the cav
airy chief. They were chatting together
when Major Raphael Portuondo, now Sec
retary of foreign affairs in this country
for the Cuban government, touched him on
the arm and directed his attention to our
little band as we came toiling along UP
the slope of the hill. He gazed at me with
interest, as l was the only white man in
the entire assemblage: as 1 afterward
learned, in the entire army. That is real
white. The Cubans are almost all of them
OF light brown. He looked at me as I
o.
ward him in efforts to put some life into
him. but the horse would only groan and
look miserable. 1 fancy he appreciated
the situation, and there was twinkle in
drawing packet from my breast pocket
and saluted with the words:
Dispatches for Generals Maceo and
Gcmez from the junta in New York
News From America.
He raised mis- eyebrows in surprise and
then stretched out his hand in welcome to
me. I felt proud TO have my hand grasped
before all those men by a man who was
the bravest Of the brave. He motioned
me to replace the dispatches until we
struck camp, and I fell in with the escort
behind his staff.
There was no formality about the head
quarters. In front of the door sat Pancho
the bugler, mending pair Of torn trousers,
while his bugle lay on the ground beside
him The armorer was just inside the door
TIL kering with Colts rifle, and little
ways further in the room were three men
loading paper shells for shotguns.
The general politely asked If had
| rested myself and then followed hundreds
OF questions in relation to the personnel
of the tunta in New York; what Congress
was talking about, the possibility or prob
ability of the United States giving Cuba
| recognition, etc. There were tears in the
eyes of General Maceo when 1 told him OF
the public meetings which were being held
all over the country raising funds for the
cause OF freedom, and when I concluded
with statement that I was sure the gov
ernment would recognize the belligerent
rights of the Cubans he placed his hand
on my shoulder and in broken words call
ed a blessing on my head for the good
tIdlngs 1 had brought. He asked a num-
ber of personal questions In connection
with my military training, examined with
Interest the magnificent revolver which
I had brought from the United States
| through the lines of Spanish custom house
officials and then told me that I should
remain with his staff until I had perfect
ed myself in the language Of the coun.
| try, and act as his English secretary. Maj
Portuondo then made hts report on the
cipher messages which had brought and
| the general told me that the information
contained was Of the greatest importance
to the cause as 1t was in relation to the
shipment Of large quantities Of arms and
ammunition from New York.
From that time on for a period of al
most three months I was in the company
| of tho general almost every day. He was
| a man Of many moods. At times when we
would be chatting and laughing softly,
| principally over my efforts at pronouncing
| the liquid words Of their language, he
would sternly give the command 'Silencia.
have seen him ride for hours with his
head bent and brow corrugated with
thought. Not one word would he speak,
and everyone spoke In whispers 80 that he
would not hear word.
MaceO . brave Leader.
Gen. Maceo was always the leader In
action az well a. In theory. He was In