The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-03
WITH MACEO, II DARING.
TWo OFFICERS VINO WE'VE WITH
MN TELL OF HIS FEAhLBSS M rs.
hating Taste In Letters, and n Fighter
of Daredevil Courage and Rough
md Ready Methods Great General.

IL possible that I should ever servo under .
mulatto-even fnr the liberation Of Cnba."
So spoke Major Julio Bas Of the Cuban army
Of independence, temporarily residing In New
York In order 10 recover from his wounds.
He has served rs aido-de-camp to the elder
Maceo. and to him tho death OF that real hero
comes with the force OF q crushing blow.
You know" continued the Major. that
nowhere more than in the Antilles does the
feeling against negro blood prevail. Tho
present war has done wonders toward stamp
ing out color:projudice. however, and, in NJ
case. at least. IL served TO make me thorough
" ashamed of my senscless objection TO the
mulntto as n chief. I first Joined Antonio
Macoo in Matanzas. shortly after his elova-
ton to tho rank OF Lioutenant-General. I
had preferred serving under Gomez, but
duty called and I had to otey. However, I
had only to spend ten minutes with Maceo
TO become completely won over. In the frat
place. he upset all my preoonceived notions
Of his personality. or course, he was brown
skinned, but his features wore handsome. his
eyes fine, and his figure and bearing 30 era 90
full and commanding that one saw In him Mt
once the well.mannerod man as we'll as the
dashing cavalry commander.
His manners, even In tho field. were por-
feet. l have seen him citing on q soap box at
- hss''hs oebbVh t'SaV H'hSA N-s =
fighting. and l do not think that the Duke Of
Tetuan or any other Spanish grandec could play
the host with greater polish and dignity.
He was admirably educated-a Jesuit's bo.,
I believe-and his acquaintance with Spanish.
English, aud French literature surprised me.
For instance, l have heard him quote from
Rudyard kipling's 'Barrack hoom Ballads
He expressed n wish once that somo Cuban
could translate Kipling Into the yernacLlar.
II have been with Maceo In several engage
ments. On ono occasion during an encounter
at Mayana. near where the trocha Of 1896
loses.itself IN tho s.acoast marshes Of Pinar del
Rio, we fell 10 with q body Of Spanish. They
far outnumbered us. but one could toll by the
irregular way In which they made their Mausers
crack that they were not veterans. AS events
proved, they were, in fact, a lot OF recent re-
cruits-boys almost. Maceo had us In the shell.
ter Of some palms. before you could cross your
self. and here w awaited the next volloy. 1t
came the shot rafting among the leaves, and
bowling over very few OF us. Then suddenly
Maceo gave the order to charge. We whipped
out our machetes and went for Them with
whoops AMI yells. | saw Antonio a.sood horses
length ahead OF the next man. lie was not
shouting. but hc seemed TO be calmly knottine
tho cord OF his machcte handle more firmly TO
his wrist. One OF the Spanish officers let fly q
brace of revolver bullets at him, but missed
each time. Next moment Antonio was upon
him, and | heard the slicinx OF n maohete We
sent those Spaniards righ,-about. face. and
chased them within 500 yards OF the trochn. I
was In hot pursuit, for It was my first lively
fight, and I had Just cut n man down. when l
heard n high voice sing out, Alta 1t was tho
General, and when | rode back. hero he was
once moro fuinbling nj his machete cord.
This Internal cord" he said, as | saluted.
1T must have been made In Spain, Captain"
"We took a fey prisoners on that occasion:
mercy; so I'm afraid we were rather incon-
sidcrate with those poor fellows. Toward even
ria. the owner Of which, an American. was our
friend. Maceo had a good dinner and q. couple
1 tho GLASSES ssissn or rS STo %shisk'E Before As'e him to he lo s@S
something OF Wcyler's movements, and very
ready those spaniards were to tell all they
knew. There 10 not much patriotism In n ro-
cruit prisoner thousands OF miles from his ma
tiv. Andalusia. Antonio got plenty OF infor.
nation, ard no felt In high good humor. One
OF tho prisoners was a notwithstanding. broad
shouldered fellow, who seemed TO act as 'pokes-
man. Finally the General asked his name.
aud what was ous surprise when he answered
Antonio Macao.'' He was our leaders name.
sake, and on his account the whole OF that
sorrJ gang was sent back to the trochA under
'Maceo was proud OF both his names. In ,
swoop across the trocha we rode by forced
.narctes to the outskirts Of San Antonio de.los-
Ranos. in Hnbana. II wac n most dangerous
and difficult rip. and that was what the Cen
eral loved. We burned four plantations be-
longing to Spaniards and the wretched non
cOmultantI. and when We finally halted at a
friends hacienda. there was no lack OF good
cheer. .Aftef supper Antonio said. half
jokincly: / haye an idea that ! ought
10 ride into tho city yondcr and pay
tonic lie mused over this foolhardy propo-
sition for n while, md then asked mo II | could
TSmoh: Psla n!m; and nd f tSres others ! lsT.eS w. a ,S "''h
The camp lay between Lake Aguanabo and san
Antonio. and thus north Of the line OF railroads
10 ~llabann. We rode rapidly. ACCOMMODATING rs
wei! AS We could. No signs OF Spanish occupa-
ton could We see when VI lode into the town.
Then / remembered Tint 1t was Sunday night.
The garrison. II there was any, was probably
at vospers, and when We halted on the out
skirts OF the town. and pat our horses up at .
the place asked questions or showed suspicion.
In fact, the citizens believed Maceo leagues
away beyond the troch..
I'VE walked ncross to the Plaza. where stands
the Church of san Antonio. The organ was
peaiing. and we knew the people were at bene-
tice W.. and before ! could say a word. .Maceo
nd scrubbed n few lines on n ,heet OF paper
church doorposts. with his knife, Then lie
took off his hat whllo tho bcnediction was he.
ing pronounced need /, Wtll admit that ! did not
church door with tho incense smoke in my
~nostrils and n hornets nest Of spaniards ready
had sounded for the last time Mscco turned
away and we slouchod after him. carelessly,
rs IL were. across the Plaza. Round. The corner
we quickened our pace. and In fifteen minutes
more we were In the saddle and making tracks
for Lake Aguanabo.
the notice which Maceo had nailed to the
church door read as follows:
Having crossed the Butchers toy ditch TO build
up ny constitution AT tho wonderful mineral
spring OF Aguanabo, ! cannot resist paying my re.
spects To my patron saint AMI his handsome church.
ANTONIO MNCEo,
Lieutenant. General,
Army OF the Cuban Republic.
THAT notice spread CONSERVATION, and the
news Of burned plantations coming close upon
IL next day brought u whole brigade OF soldiers
from Iabana. They hunted for us four days
along the lake shores. but before they arrived
Macco had Sllppcd back into Pinar del Rio.
my parting with Maceo occurred when he
sent nc Win dispatches to Gomez. Ioannot toll
you the method Of intcrcoui SO further than TO
say that | travelled In disguise. To enter into
detail would naturally he TO reveal our plans
% the Spanlards. Mnceo embraced me warmly
at parting. and gave me n brace OF revolvers,
one OF which lost at the engagement In which
was wounded. and the second OF (which now
lies before You.
II deeply and sincerely mourn the mulatto,
Maceo. wish TO the Almighty that strug-
Cling CubR had n Iew white men as good as he"
Lieut.. g. Francisco haran. who is recover
ing from his wounds Mt ] i75 Lexington avenue.
was one OF Maceo's aides. Lieut. Raran Is.
like his gallant hut unfortunate leader. OF
mixed blood. "Maceo sprang on the fathers