San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-11-14
. STRONG CUBAN ALLY
Passed Through San An
tonic Bound For Fl PaSO
HAS A ROMANTIC AND NOVEL
CAREER. NOT YET
ENDED.
Julius Won GerSt. An Exilei Baron
Of Germany. Tells Of The Cuban
Struggle And How The Texas
Boys Are Doing Credit To
The Lone Star State,

On Friday last there passed through
our city a member of the Cuban insur-
gent hospital corps direct from Cuba
via Central America, the Atlantic sea-
board and Galveston.
From him a Light reporte robtained
quite an interesting account of him
self and the condition of affairs in Gu
ba and also of the brave defense and
gallant fight for Cuban independence
which has been and is being made by
the recruits enlisted from Texas.
Two years ago Julius Won Gerst, a
machinist and chemist of st. Louis,
but originally from Germany, invented
a powerful explosive and after testing
it in company with a friend about
twelve miles out from st. Louis, in the
forest, he made known the immense
power of the new agent for destruction
and with the aid of influential friends
he picked men from along the Mississ-
| ippi Valley to go to Cuba and take part
in the war of independence.
Won Gerst had previously been in
Cuba. His relation of the causes of
his going the first time is tinged with a
bit of romance. He had, when a stu
dent in Germany, by a mischievous
prank caused a fellow student such
severe injury that he believed he had
Killed him and he fled to France. He
then sailed for America, but the ships
officers learned that he was a fugitive
from justice and he had been put in
irons to be sent back to Germany by
the next ship. A friend on board, how
ever, released him when near New
York and when in harbor he was sec
retely let down the ships side in big
bucket and swan to the pier. He went
to st. Louis, obtained employment and
prospecting, was to have been married
to charming widow, but few days
before the wedding he lost his posi-
ton and disappeared from the city.
He went to Cuba, and engaging in the
tobacco BUSINESS soon became some
what well to do and returned to st.
Louis, but his intended bride received
him so coldly that he decided to return
to Cuba.
He left st. Louis with 27S men and
material for his powerful explosive and
landed after a safe journey, by way of
Spanish Honduras and up the Delta
river, which is not navigable to Spanish
warships
His explosive worked to a charm but
mostly was more effective at short
range. His men were enlisted in the
Cuban army and are yet there doing
good service. Mr.. Gerst, on account
of being a practical chemist was
assigned to the chief hospital corps
and worked there faithfully until his
health began to break down and he left
for Central America to recuperate in
the mountains of that country. He ar
rived there in the wrong time, how
ever, just when the revolution was
breaking out and on it being insisted
up on him that he take sides in the
quarrel, which he was unwilling to do,
he left the country took passage for
America, landing on the Atlantic coast
and from there he arrived at Calves
ton and afterward in San Antonio. He
is now on his way to Ell Paso, where he
will receive instructions from Cuba.
Mr.. Gerst was much interested in
receiving American news particularly
some late st. Louis papers which he
has not been able to secure for the past
two years. He says he wrote six
letters home during his stay in Cuba
but received none in reply on account
Of the strict watch that is kept by the
Spanish officials over all mail from the
States. He is confident Cuba will win
her cause as Spain is merely pouring |
1er soldiers into death trap by send
ng them unacclimate6 into 'Cuba's
leadly climate. The insurgents have
plenty Of money and plenty of arms
md ammunition and good steady fight
FRS only are needed.
OF the 500 Texans who secretely en-
listed and Joined the insurgents the
.hemist said: IF the Cuban army was