The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-07
A OF CUBA.
A Cavalry Leader Who Avenges the
Wrongs Of His Ancestors.

Wrongs Of His Ancestors.
Tie name of the revolutionary lead
er, General Jesus Rabi, is mentioned
often in the dispatches from Cuba. AS
commander-in-chief of the Cuban cav
airy forces in the east he won renown
not only by his deeds of daring and
his skill as a strategist, but also by
his chivalrous spirit and his devotion
to the cause of liberty.
The interest in his career is increased
by a circumstance made known
through a Cuban letter to The Sun
that he is one Of the few living de-
scendants of the aboriginal race of
Indians who inhabited the ISLAND when
Columbus discovered it in 1892, and
nearly all of whom were slain or en-
slaved by the Spanish ~conquerors. 1t
is against the offspring Of the race who
destroyed his own ancestors that Gen.
eral Eabi now wages war with all the
energy of his nature. Four hundred
years after his people were crushed by
Spain he appeares on the battle field
as SPANS defiant enemy.
The aboriginal race that inhabited
Cuba in the fifteenth century, when it
was invaded by Spain, were known as
Ciboneyes, and they numbered per-
haps 10000. They belonged to the
same stock as that which then dwelt
upon the other islands in the Caribbean
sea, and that have alweys been spoken
of as Indians. The CibOneyes were
singularly docile in their character, and
they received the S%paniards in a
friendly manner; but their gentle traits
did not save them from ruin. In a few
years they suffered the doom that
awaited the natives of most of the
other American countries ubdue by
Spain. The story is a familiar one. The
Spaniards overran the island, massac-
red thousands of it's unfortunate inhab
itants under circumstances. of extreme
cruelty, burned their proud chief at the
stake, and reduced to involuntary Servi
tude those who were left alive, assign
ing to each Spaniard a gang of CibOn-
eyes numbering about 300. The treat
ment to which the slaves were subject
ed by their masters was SO harsh that
nearly all of them were dead within
twenty or thirty years. 1t is a black
chapter in the history of Spain.
A few of the people took refuge in
the mountainous region Of the east,
and q small number Of their posterity
fid pC liz ok lAIo uoJ. liz
are of a light copper color, and they
intermarry, as do the Jews, SO that
their blood Is kept distinct from that
Of the other inhabitants of Cuba.
1t is to this almost extinct race of
mankind, the race of the ancient
Ciboneyes. that General Rabi belongs,
though he is less noted for his do
cility than for some other traits. In re-
cent times he has lone his part in
causing Spain to suffer for the wrongs
that, Spain inflicted upon his ancestors
four centuries ago. He is as bitter in
his hatred of the Spanish tyrant as he
is proud Of his descent from the abo-
riginal Ciboneyes.
1t was in his youth. nearly thirty
years ago, that this historic man first
took up arms against Spain. He par
ticlpated in the ten-year war, after
p which he waited for his next oppor-
tunity; but it came in the second
month of 1895. His military record
since then has been a brilliant one, and
has manifested the finest qualities of
a mind that is inspired by the love of
liberty and justice. He is a man of
broad thought, and he ]converses about
public affairs like a statesman. Under
his command there are five battalions
of cavalry, besides a small force of in
fantry.
There has ben a report hat Cen
eral Rabi would take part in the pro-
jected campaign against Havana. If
he should do So. and if it should be his
fortune to enter the capital bearing
the f1ag OF free Cuba, the story of the
omanc of the hero of the modern
Ciboneyes would be rounded off, to The
dishonor of Diego VelasqueZ of the
year 1911, and to that of valerianc
WavIar IF the year 1S97.-New York
Sun.