The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-07-22
GENERAL GARCIA DEAD
No Details as TO the Circumstances
Supposed to Have Been Killed In
Battle Near ManzanillO.

New York, July 20.-A Kingston.
Jamaica, cable to The Evening Post
says:
"Cubans arriving from Siboney
bring reports Of the death Of Garcia
They make a mystery Of it, saying that
it should not be known in Cuba yet or
in the United States, for reasons OF
state, and give no particulars except
that he was shot. Spanish refugees
here who are officially connected with
General Blanco, believe the story"
New York, July 2o.-The last word
directly received by the Cuban junta
in this city from Garcia was dated be-
fore Santiago, July 18th. It was a ca
BILE message and stated briefly that he
was well and that the progress OF
events was satisfactory. At that time
Garcia "a to the west of Santiago,
guarding the approaches from expected
achievements to the city.
Horatio S. Rubens, counsel to the
junta, when given the information con-
tanned in The Evening Posts dispatch,
said this afternoon that news of Car
cia's death had not been received at
the junta; but that, at best, commun-
ication with the Cuban forces in the
field was irregular. Il am greatly sur
prised," said he, but I do not find it
hard to credit the dispatch. During
the assault on Santiago, Garcia was in
the west with his command. with the
special duty of intercepting reinforce
ments and cutting off the retreat Of the
Spanish soldiers. When the city fell,
his duty there was at an end. But it
appears, the attack on ManzanillO
was then planned. Manzanillo lies
to the west and it is, there
fore, probable that Shafter de-
tailed Garcia's command to cut off re-
Inducements there. HOlguin lies near
this city, and was garrisoned by a
considerable force as the American
general must have known. 1t is not
unlikely that Garcia and his men came
into conflict with a body of Spanish
sOldiery bound from Holguin for Man
zanillo."
Calixto Garcia was in his 60th year
and was regarded by the Cuban insur-
gents as one of their most intrepid SOL
diers. In the ten years war his skill,
bravery and energy won him contin-
ued promotion unit he received d gen.
Il CI oil > SIdI. III LII oLIIoI III IcAf, obL
| cia was surrounded by Spanish troops;
| rather than surrender he shot himself
through the chin with suicidal intent.
He recovered and was sent to Spain.
! He was released in 1877 when the peace
| of ZenjOn was declared.
| Garcia at once set out for New
York and organized an expedition to
| Cub He lande in Santiago de Cuba
! where he was taken prisoner a second
| time. He eluded the prison guard in
| Spain one night after fifteen years i'm
| ~prisOnment and fled to England.
| Garcia was the promoter of the
Hawkins expedition, which left this
| city in January, 1896, with 300 men and
a large quantity of supplies and am
| munition. The vessel sunk. He next
| fitted out the Bermuda, which was
| seized upon the eve of her departure,
in February, 1896. by a United States
| marshal and his deputies. Garcia was
arrested and released in 81. 500 bail. He
at once mad another start and land
ed in Cuba several days before the
day set for his trial in this city.
For the last two years he has beer
engaged in conducting the campaign
of the Cubans against Spain in the
province of Santiago de Cuba.