The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-02-28
THE SALT LAKE HERALD, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY as. 1897

Francisco. To his father and friends
he was known as 'Panchito. A dozen
times day General Gomez would turn
the topic OF conversation to his beloved
boy. The possible recognition of bel
ltgerency did not interest him half so
much as whether 'Panchito" enjoyed his
to the theatres? Did he tell you of the
paper he is editing in Monte Cristo?
Are his eyes as bright and his face as
brown of old? He has not forgotten
his English? Tell me of him and you
are my friend
And when 1 told the general of .:s
sons one great desire TO join his father
and help fight for Cuba, the old man
I am no coward" he said. '.but
have not sufficient courage TO go .2to
battle knowing that my boys breast is
exposed to the bullets of the Soan;a-ds.
II he should fall in my sight IL might I'M
nerve ne. If 'Panchito' must come to
this unhappy island, let ii be to hght
with General Maceo or some other force
than mine" Fate decreed that the boy
should fall beside that hero.
Although General Gomez confesses TO q
years. it IS hard to believe him more
than GO. He is about ) feet Z inches n
height and straight as an arrow. with
slender. strongly knit frame. The ball
which passed through his leg a year ago
has caused him but very little trouble
The glance from his keen. penetrating
eyes VIII make guilty man feel very
uncomfortable. General Gomez is seldom
thought. The restless, wary look of the
eagle is always present, no matter how
quiet or peaceful may be the surround
1ngs- His bearing is seldom impressive,
but a strange, unaccountabie magnetism
seems TO emanate from this remarkable
little man at all times. No one. can es-
cape its influence 1t puts courage :rto
the hearts of towards. and makes the
culprit tremble in spite of himself He
is d man of moods. When in harry
frame of mind he will look you straight
n, fI.a N ar
you may have to say. But if ANNOYED
his glance is to one side and down. HIS
browS knit and the point of his neatly
trimmed, iron-grey beard receives a pc
culiar petulant beating from his restless
right hand. Go on; / hear you, he will
say. But when encountered in this mood
it is policy not TO go on" but TO retire
with as little delay as courtesy will per
nit.
Upon the possible recognition of Cuban
belligerency by the United States gov
eminent. he is most sensitive. L have
forbidden the discussion of that topic in
my camp" he once said to me. "At one
time We all hoped. with reason We
thought, that your great and glorious re-
public would show little consideration,
if not absolute justice to a people strug-
Cling for the most precious of all boons.
liberty. But we have long ago abandoned
the hope. We realize fully that no mat
ter how uneven the contest, we must
fight it out alone I want my officers
to understand the situation. to expect
only death ana 10 rely on nothing Dul
our own individual efforts to free this
unfortunate island from the cruel grip
of SPAIN
The occasional illusions to Gomez as
an "adventurer seeking fame or fortune
in Cuba" are most unjust and unfounded.
No man ever held a cause more sacredly
at heart. There IS nc hardship. no ex-
posture, no danger which he -oes not
willingly share with the commonest
soldier in his army.
The pomp and glitter of rank have no
charm in Gomez's eyes. Two small gold
stars on the collar of mis- dark blue sack
coat alone indicate that he is commander
in-chief of the Army of Liberation"
His gray trousers are much the worse
for wear, and a vest minus two or three
buttons, partly covers flannel negligee
shirt, laced at the neck with a snail
blue silk cord. Some ones fair fingers,
perhaps the mother of the martyr boy,
''P@schito,' have worked a little tracing
of autumn leaves down the front of the
faun-colored shirt. Perhaps this vest.
the only one I've seen in the insurgent
army, is worn to protect the embroidery,
and thus preserve a link between cruel
war and the peaceful firestde in San
Domingo.
Twelve years of this mans life have
been given to free an oppressed people.
If fate spares him to witness the indie
pendence of Cuba. Gomez will ask for
no greater reward.