The times., 1897-07-11
A BRAVE MOTHER.
Sonora Aguirre Wishes Her Daugh-
ters We're Sons to Fight for Cuba.

Sonora Aguirre Wishes Her Daugh-
Il wish that my daughters were sons
the mother of the A guirres said when some
Que sought to offer confidence for a recent
bereavement. The dark eyes gIowed aud
the voice trembled with the fervency OK
the woman's zeal for Cuban liberty. When
the history OF this strugglefor Independence
closes it will tell OF no greater heroism
and sacrifice than that OF the Aguirres.
Five OF the seven brothers have given their
lives for the cause. If it be pardonable to
mention in the same breath the material
sacriiice then it may be said that over
81 900, 900 in money and property has been
laid Uu liberty's altar cheerfuily by this
family. With the memory OF those brave
lives gone out, and with the weight of
mpoverishment upon her tins Cuban mother
can say:
Il wish that my daughters were sons
Felix Aguirre was an aid to Gen. Agra
monte in the ten years war He was taken
prisoner in battle. The Spaniards offered
aim life to betray the secrets or the rev
olutIonists. Every morning they took him
out and told him he would be shot If he
didn't give the Information desired. Fif-
teen 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 yolley was
fired.
Manuel Aguirre was sent with a detach-
ment OF twenty men to receive Spanish
officer who had held out the pretexJ of a
desire 10 join the insuTectiOn. 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 accept his plea. The boy OF
eighteen scorned the offer and his captors
killed him.
Gen. Jose N. Aguirre was thecommander
of the insurgent forces in Havana prov
ince. From exposure, while waiting for
expeditions To land ON the northern coast
OF the island he took pneumonia an d died
Only a few days ago the dis patches from
Cuba told of the atrOcious treatment Of
Charles, the fourth OF the Aguirre brothers
| TO die in active service for Cuba libre- He
was wounded in battle, taken prisoner by
| gueTrillaS, tied to the tail OF horse and
dragged through the streets. This one Of
| the a Aguirres lived thirty years in the
! United States before he went TO fight for
| the freedom of his native land.
Ramon A guirre was wealthy when he be
| came a member OF the junta. He gave bis
| money and his energies and died as much
| patriot as though he had fallen in battle
| One is a bank cas- hier in Gaanauto, Mex
| Some must wait while others fight, or he
| too, would have been with Gomez long agn-
| The scv venth Of the brothers is now in
| Washic eton, devoting all of his time to the
| movement for American Intervention.
| why are You not in Cuba?' one W no did
not know the history of the Aguirres asked
| him recently
| II arn net there was the answer, "be
cause feel that It present I can do more
here for Cuba But, the dark eyes flashed
| and the tone grew stern, Il pledge you
| tha+I win bein Cuba before thisis ended
| i St. Louis GIobe-Democrat-