The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-17
DIE FOR CUBA L|bRE"
IN ONE FAMILY ALONE
--GG Cen
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Nearly All Of Sonora Macias' Male Relatives Have Given
Up Their Lives for Liberty-Estates and Treas
ures Lost-A Heartrending Story.
hcation

war, and as a child she saw her father
and brother-the latter but little older
han h~erself-hunted like Wild beasts.
and on two occasions her glib tongue
and quick wit saved them from capture
and certain death at the hands OF the
Spaniards. That was TO come later.
One Of her cousins. Carlos de La
tovre. a mere boy, who had just begun
hts studies i'm the Havana Medical col
lege. was shot as IAN example" because
Of some trivial breach OF the peace OF
which the students had been guilty.
With his school fellows he was lined up
and. as the Spanish officers counted
them off. each NTH boy stepped from
his place in the white-fsced, ~breathless
file to he led away to his death. Carlos
MAS N Of those on whom the fstaul
number fell.
Two OF her uncles on her mothers
side. Juan and Francisco Modsigai.
were confined i'm one Of the Cuban pris-
ons reserved for political offenders un-
I'll their sufferings drove them mad.
when they were liberated to die. for they
were harmless and would never plot
again.
II is not to be wondere at that
Sonora Macias' dark eyes blaze when
she speaks OF the Spaniards and of the
wrongs of her countrymen and kindred.
As she tells IL her story becomes
wonderfully vivid and real. illustrated
as II is by gesture and the constant play
Of expression.
Il do not know who OF my family
ave been killed since ! left Cuba. for.
OF course. II Is impossible for me TO
hea direct from the island. But there
cannot be many more TO die. When |
came to the United States those OF my
relatives who survived me were in the
hills with General Gomez or scattered
- - -
Fortunately I with my four daught-
ers and my mother were able to quit
the island soon after the war began"
In response TO the question IL the re-
ports of Spanish %outrages have been
exaggerated in any particular, she
said:
Il do not think exaggeration would
be possible. They do things hat blister
the tongue to even tell OF. and IL il the
Spanish officer. the gentleman. who is
responsible for these outrsges. The
common soldiers are poor peasant boys,
who know nothing OF Cuba or the Gu
bans. They are told that we are Wild
beasts. and that we must be treated
as wild beasts. so they kill and muir
der. and do even worse, encouraged by
their officers"
Sonora Mscias has much to tell Of
her brother. Valerie de Latovre. one OF
the most gallant OF the many gallant
Cuban heroes. whose love OF liberty has
cost them their lives. Though he was
still a very young man at the time OF
his death. he had made his name a ter
ror 10 the enemy. Spain finally offered
a reward of 5000 for his head. and he
was betrayed by one Of his w men.
At the time de Latovre was ~recover-
ing from a wound in the thigh and
was unable TO walk without assistance.
His adjutant took him out beyond the
patriot lines Pm some pretext. and into
the midst Of a small Spanish force hat
was in waiting.
The traitor put his hand on Valerio's
shoulder. saying: This is the man you
want. see. I have brought him to you
The doomed man made but one re-
quest Of his captors. hat was that he
should not be taken into Matanzas
for execution. as many OF his relatives
still resided there. This wish was
granted him by the Spsniards. who in
stantly fell upon him with their ma
chetes and literally hacked him e
pieces.
II was Sonora Macias who enter
tanned General and Mrs. Grant at Ma,
tanzas when they made their famou.
tour OF the world.
General Reina was governor OF the
province at the time. but his wife was
abroad in Spain. and he asked Sonora
Maciss TO act as hostess in her place
and for three days the great American
soldier and his party. which Included
Generals Sherman and Mcclellan. were
her guests.
Not only has Seniors Mscias lost rel
alive after relative in the Cuban wars
but a great fortune has been wrecked
by the struggle. In February OF las
year the splendid family mansion neal
MatanZas. known as the Palace OF r
Socono. with its priceless collection OF
paintings and statuary, Was burned By