The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1898-12-15
GEN. GARCIA.

is on his staff, for the battle which he
supposed was to occur and in which he
understood there were only 400 Span
iards to combat. Just before he died
he embraced his son. Rev. Father Ma
gee, of St. Patrick's church, was called
in during the day and was with Gen.
Garcia until the end, administering the
last rites of the Catholic church. Other
members of the commission and Mr..
Rubens, their council in this country,
were also in the bed chamber when the
end came.
Cuban Omcials Notified.
After Gen. Garcia's death steps were
taken to notify the government Off
Gals here and also the executive CON-,
mittee of the Cuban assembly, which
has its headquarters at Marianao, Gu
ba. Secretary Jose Villalon, of the
commission, sent telegram of notiii-
cation to Mendez Capote, the pres
ident of the Cuban assembly, who is
now in Havana. As soon as the death
became known a number of visitors, in
Guiding many public men, came to the
hotel to express their condolences.
President Mckinley manifested his
sympathy by sending suitably word
ed letter and Vice President Hobart
sent his card. Among those who called
were Senators Foraker, Money. Proc
tor and Chandler and Maj Gems. Law
ton and Wheeler.
Gen. Garcia left large family. only
one of whom, Justo, a captain on his
staff, was with him when he died. HIS
widow and Mercedes, a daughter II
years of age, are at Townsville. Ca,
where the girl is quite i'll; Mario, a son
10 years of age, is with the mother at
Townsville, and Col. Carlos Garcia
another son, IL in Cuba. A daughter
Leonora, who married an American, is
now living in Paris. Gen. Garcia's
mother is still alive and resides in Ha
vana. Funeral arrangements have not
been made.
The members of the commission feel
l1eenly the blow which has befaIlen
them in the death Of their leader. who
they say was a man of intelligence,
valor, energy and probity in whom the
great majority of people had absolute
confidence. The work in hand, they
say, will continue without interruption,
and the ideas and views held by Gen.
Garcia will be impressed on all that is
done. While it is possible that an
other chairman may be chosen by the
Cuban assembly, yet the commission
ers say that it Is not essential, as those
now here are thoroughly equipped to
take up the work where their leader
laid it down.
Career of a Patriot and Warrior.
Gen. Garcia, whose name will be ever
linked with those of other patriots who
have fought against unequal odds for the
freedom Of his country, has had a most ac-
tive and varied life. much Of which has been
spent in fighting for the cause of Cuban
liberty. which he had the satisfaction of
seeing accomplished so short time before
his death. He was man Of culture and re-
|. finement. Of splendid education and came
from, distinguished family Of Jiguani. Of
Santiago de Cuba province. He was born
In Cogquin. October IA, 1885, and was there
fore in the sixtieth year Of his age. Cen
Garcia was educated in Havana and in
Spain. In 1854 he was married to Isabel
Velez. Gen. Garcia was the original con-
sp1rator In the uprising of the Cubans
against Spain in 1868 and in that war under
Gomez he attained the rank Of a brieadier
general In October Of 1868 he captured the
towns Of Jaiquani and Barre and recruited
many hundreds Of patriots. He had COM
mand OF the eastern departments during
that revolution after 1873 and won MANY
notable victories, including those at
Melones and Aures. While the revolution
was in critical state in the other prov
1nces and its outcome was uncertain he
maintained it with vigor in the territory
Under his command.
Preferred Death,
In 1875 while accommodating with his es
cort he was surrounded by 1000 Spania rds.
Preferring death to capture and subse-
quent execution at the hands of his enemy
he attempted suicide by placing his re-
volver under his chin and firing. The bull
let came out between his eyebrows. For
months he lay between life and death, but
was saved finally by Spanish surgeons,
who possibly had owed their lives to his
mercy The spaniards believing he was
about to die gave him pardon The hole
which the bullet made when it entered the
chin and came out between the eyebrows
Was always visible and shows plainly in
the calmness Of death. s.I5
For his participation in the revolutionary
movement Gen. Garcia was sent to Spain.