The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-05
FIGHTING FOR CUBA.
Bandits and Outlaws in the Pa
tri0ts' Ranks.


The Spanish authorities have stated that
the insurgents were led by men once BAN
ats and outlaws. Brgandage in Cuba
has been carried on without interruption
| lor IL -centgFF notwithstanding repeated
efforts of tho government 10 put it down.
Despite active pursuit, the chief bandits al
ways escaped
| The principal operations Of the outlaws
| In recent years consisted in levying tribute
| on tho wealthy sugar estate owners, and,
| according to Spanish reports, the money
| was forwarded TO the United States 10
swell tho revolutionary funds. Those who
refused 10 pay tribute were kidnapped and
held for ransom, or their fields were burned
and cattle and horses stolen.
The majority of the principal bandits. on
the breaking out OF the rebellion, espoused
the Cuban cause. Their services have
proved of great value 10 tho Cubans as
scouts, and some Of them have been pro-
moted 10 high commands for personal
bravery. The Spaniards have also admit
ted these mon TO commands in their army.
Ihe bandit who figured most prom.
nently in Cuba before the rebellion was
Manuel Garcin, who operated In tho PROV
inec OF Havana, imposing and collecting
tribnto from nearly all the sugar estate
owners. His last achievement was tho
burning of the sugar estate Portugalete
the property Of Manuel Calvo, and tho
kidnapping Of Fernando do Castro. Julio
Sanguilly, tho American citizen imprison-
ed In the Slorro Castle, is charged by tho
Spaniards with completely In this affair.
IL Is said that Garcia held the rank Of
lieutenant colonel in the Cuban army, and
the tribute money collected by him was
sent TO tho junta. Garcia was killed by
two agents of Fernando dc Castro
His lieutenant, Gallo Scsa, assumed |
command OF tho baEd after Garcia's death |
and joined tho Cuban force of Rafael do |
Cardenas, whero he was granted tho rank |
of lieutenant. Sosa is nc present chief of |
scouts with jose Maria Aguirre A short |
time ago ho was wounded on the field and |
promoted To tho rank of major for bravery.
While be was In the hospital / had talk |
with him. Touching on Sanguilly's case,
he assured me that lie believed that tho
charge hrourfIt a-Ituyc MN was trnmpod 7
up to Keen Sanguilly In prison. He had,
he said, never met or held any conference
with Sanguilly
One Of the bravcst Cuban cavalry leaders
was tho former bandit, Basillo Guerra.
On the entrance OF Gomez into Las Villas
he joined the rcgimento of Remedies, under
Perico DicZ, and served with distinction.
lie was promoted Co the command of tho
Batabano cavalry regiment of Diaz's bri-
gade Guerra was killed during tho fight
ut Mornlito
Brigadlgr Roberto Dermudez IL also n
former bandit. Ho was ono of the brayost
chiefs under Macoo, ard his rank has been
won by hard work. He received wound
m the leg that has made him cripple for
ifo.
Colonel Perico Delgado. who established
he hrst camp at Rubi, tho scene Of the
'ccent operations against Maceo, was also
IN outlaw.
Lioutenant Colonel socorras, who mo.
lis death az tie battle Of Cacara;icara.
vas the founder Of this celebrated encamp.
nent, where 10 had lived with his family
or 10 years ilo was outlawcd for somo
rival cause, Arising from n lawsuit no had
ost
MataRns, RoGino Alfonso and Clotjldo
'arcla helcuacd Go band that operated .
MntGnza9 N!atacas and Garcia were
illed w hattie, the latter recently.
Regime Alfonso l. a mojor in command
cavalry squadron operating under
.acrot
The bandit Cajisotc Joined tho inSur- 6
cnts under Cardonas md was commits
oncd as captain. He was aftorwnrd tried d
nd convicted y his supcriors for hoinous
lines and sentenced TO be hanged. BE.
'fe the order was carried out he escaped :
airing a fight and surrendered 20 tho =
f-'rt-f1rrfsI WIZ JTTTOyG1 his services as
.ptain 81 guerrilla force lie was Killed
battle n
The well known bandits Of Puerto Prin. o
pc, Limo ana Nlcasio Nirab8l, both rose .
the rank "a lieutenant colonel in tho
nban army The first was killed while :
ncing charge IN Havana provirce I'm
2 month oi October. and the other "a ir
mmord Of a regiment of cavalry With r.
axlmo Gomez. New York Herald