The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1898-11-04
GENERAL ANTONIO MACEO.

One more characteristic indecent in
the life of General Antonio Maceo. As
the years roll by he will undoubtedly
loom up as the heroic figure in the
long and bitter struggle for Cuban free
dom. His patriotism was entirely I'M
tanned with selishness. His heart beat
for Cuba, and Cuba alone. His whole
family persisted in the war. No cuelty
stains his record. Of unquestioned
military genius, his ceaseless energy
was second only to his tact and fore
cast. In recours he was ~boundless; in
bravery unsurpassed; in prudence a
marvel. Obeying orders himself, he
commanded obedience from others. Out
RACES upon non-combatants were re-
morselessly punished. The black SOL
diers of Flor Crombet quickly learned
to fear and respect him.. Two of them
were charged with assaulting Defense
less Cuban women on the outskirts of
a town garrisoned by Spaniards. The
evidence was clear and irrefutable. On
the finding of a court martial they were
sentenced to death. In vain lie Crom-
bet and Quintin Bandera urge Maceo
to pardon them. The orders against
such outrages were imperative. The
strictest discipline must be maintained,
and it was not a case where justice
could be tempered with mercy. Both
men were hanged in front of the camp,
and h~encefOrth Maceo'S men were as
orderly and as obedient as soldiers of
Sparta. Nc one was accepted in camp
regulations. Even the newspaper cor
respondents were cid to as strict ac-
count in the line of march or elsewhere
as the humblest soldier. Maceo vas no
respector of persons when orders were
~disobeyed, he had few or no favorites.
Always Thoughtful and way, he never
slept unless he fancied himself in per-
feet security.
Any story that sheds light upon the
character and career of this extraordin-
airy man must prove of more than or
binary interest. This incident occurred
after the battle Of ParalejO, where San
toclides was killed, and Martinez Cam
pos escaped to Bayamo, leaving his
routed army behind him. Flor Crombet
la fallen in battle several days before
his fight, and Marti had been killed in
an insignificant fight at Dos Ross. Co.
mez had passed into Camaguay to add
fire to the insurrection in the province
of Santiago. To him was Campos in
debted. for his defeat. He escaped cap
lure as if by intuition. A new snare
had been spread for him Maceo after
the death of Santoclides, and he was
already within it's meshes, when intui-
lively divining the situation, he came
to an about face m fled to BayamO by
an unused road, covered by an impass-
able thicket in the rear of Maceo's VIC
torious troops.
The Spaniards were rapidly rein
forced after the escape to Bayamo, and
Maceo with Quintin Bandera began to
fall back to his impregnable mountain
retreat It Jarahuica. This was in the
heart of Santiago de Cuba, over a hun
dred miles northeast of the port of
Santiago. His war-worn army needed
rest, recruits, and supplies. Once in
his mountain fastness he was perfectly
secur as no Spanish army would trust
itself in the rocky range. News Of his
movements had reached Santiago, and
a tremendous effort was being ma5S to
head him off at San Luis a railroad
town fifteen miles northwest Of that
city. Nothing, however, escaped the
observation of the Cuban general. With
wonderful prescience he anticipated the
movements Of the Spaniards. His troop
ers were armed with machetes and the
infantry with rifles and ammunition
captured at Paralejo. Bandera COM
manded this band Of blacks. The march
had been terrific, and horses and men
were nearly tagged. With sparse sup
plies the pace had been kept up for
hours. The sun had gone down, and
the moon was flooding the fronds Of the
palms with pale, silvery light. Maceo
held a short conference with Quintin
Bandera, and not long afterward the
blacks wheeled in column and disap-
peared. Meantime the Cuban cavalry
continued its course. BY midnight it