Evening star., 1898-12-12

eral was surrounded on Monday morn
ing in September. iS13 by more than five
hundred SpaMiariS. one by One his faith
al folioweEs fell before the marciess
bowers of bullets. The end was uuavoid
able; he must become prisoner Of
To Garcia, who had faced death daily
for years, sooner than become once more
a subject of Spain this was unbearah'e
Rather than surrender he fired his revolver
into his mouth and fell apparently dead
among his comrades. His body was car
ried in triumph to Manzanillo. where. 40
the an&zeInent Of the physicians. he re-
vived. The hole which the bullet made
when it entered the chin and came out he
tween the eyebrows was always visible
and shows plainly in the calmness of death.
Upon recovering ne was sent to Spain.
where, i'll 1871, Premier Canovas freed him.
Trials and PrivatiOns.
General Garcia then came to the United
States and resided in New York city. Once
here, he took advantage of the first op-
portunty to join General Antonio Macao
in Cuba in what was known as the little
war Once more, however, he was de
fcated and captured. This time he was
sent to Madrid and kept under police sur
VeillanCe
War and its trials and privations had
commenced 10 tell on the stalwart young
fighter. His hair rapidly turned gray and
his health gave way. For some time his
life was despaired of. But he was yet to
return to Cuba and help his loved country
in her final struggle for freedom. Poverty
and hunger now faced him daily as death
had formerly done in the fed of bait e.
by giving lessons in French and English he
was able to lead a hand-and- mouth exist
ence. Even during this struggle he man
aged to save few dollars, Ito reach my
country when she calls for me-" he would
say.
At last that hour came. In February
lSeo Cuba rose once more and threw off
the shackies which had bound her for
many centuries. General Garcia arrived in
New York In the fall of the same year He
at once commenced his preparation to
reach his countrymen. At first he was un-
successful. He arranged the ill-fated OK
pedition in the Hawkins in January 1886
He fitted out the Bermuda expedition in
the following month and was arrested by
this government. Before the day of his
trial, however General Garcia forfeited his
bail and managed to land with an expedi-
ton in Cuba In his proclamation upon
taking command of his men he said: Your
o.d general comes to die by your side If
necessary. Let there be no armistice 10
treaty, unless based on the negotiations Of
Independence -
After landing he succeeded General An
tonic Maceo in command of the troops of
the eastern department., holding the rank
of majcr general, General Maceo marching
west with his men. AT Maceo's death Gar
cia was elected lieutenant general of the
Cuban army, which position he held to the
assaulted and took by siege Tunas, Guisa
and Guaimaro. ana cleared the interior of
his department of Spanish troops.
Ate, aiter declaration of war between the
United States and Spain General Miles
commanding the American army sent his
representative to General Garcia and SUBJ
sequently The American and Cuban gener-
ais co-operated in their movements against
santiago. All the officers who participated
in the active work around Santiago bear
testimony to the great aid, assistance and
loyalty manifested by General Garcia dur
ing the campai
First TO Offer Services.
When the American army invaded Cuba
Garcia was the first to offer his services to
General Shafter. A slight disagreement oc-
Cured between the two generals, Garcia
taking offense at not being allowed to be
present at the surrendering of Santiago
He marched his troops to Holguin and then
resigned from the army. But. the old SOL
der could not remain quiet when there was
anything to be accomplished for his coun-
try. september % he decided to return to
Santiago, and was enthusiastically received
in the city. In response to a speech of well
come, he said:
People of Cuba. we owe a great debt TO
those heroes for their efforts in behalf of
Cuban independence efforts which would
nave been uSeleSS-no, not useless for We
would have triumphed, though not speedily
efective-if the American people, that CO.
lossal republic. with its famous fighters,
great ships and dauntless army, had not
sent its own sons to shed their blood with
ours. A grand nation it must be when the
sons of millionaires, who had nothing to
gain in Cuba but a soldiers glory should
come here to die side by side with Cubans
10 this great nation. to this noble country
which has always fought for the rights of
liberty, we owe the achievement of our in
dependence and the consumma ton of our
ideals. Our gratitude will long live for
America"
The assembly at Santa Cruz del Sur an
pointed General Garcia president of the
commission which came to this country
three weeks ago. Happy at being able to |
render another service to his country. he |
accepted. One Of the first questions asked |
General Garcia when he arrived was the |
length of time he intended to remain here
The answer was characteristic of the old |
soldier:
During forty years. he said, "I have
been trying to drive the Spaniards from