Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-13
Cuban army, and fought with great sue

Cuban army and fought with great sue
cess against the Spaniards at Melones
and Auras, and when the revolution be-
gan TO wane I'm other provinces he contin-
ued TO maintain the territory which he
had so CALAMITY won.
In 1875. while accommodating with his
escort and in making his way through
wooded tract, upon coming out into the
open he found himself and his little band
surrounded by no less than 1000 Span
iards. 1t was useless to fight against
such overwhelming numbers, and prefer
ring death to capture, he drew his pistol,
placed It beneath his chin. and fired, in
tending to commit suicide. The bullet
came out directly In tie centre OF his
forehead. and he ever afterward bore
two ugly wounds as a result. His cap
tors took him to Santiago. where, under
the care of Spanish surgeons, he finally
recovered He was removed TO Spain
and for nearly four years afterward he
was confined as a military prisoner In the
castles and forts Of Spain, being held
chiefly at San Antonio, in one Of the
northern provinces of Spain, and later
in the famous prison of San Francisco.
Madrid.
AGAIN CAPTURED AND BANISHED.
With the peace of El Zanjon. General
war. was released. and he Immediately
came to New York, and, together with
Jose Marti, the father Of the recent rev.
olution. started for Cuba to renew the
war for Independence. The expedition
landed, after many hardships and trials
in an open boat upon the coast Of Cuba.
The people were, however. tired of war
and DESTROYS of trying the home rule
which Spain offered and the attempt to
revive the war spirit was not success.
With his little band of not more than
fifteen followers General Garcia was cap
tured by Spanish guerrilas. and, in order
to save the lives Of his men, he surren-
dered. He was again banished to Spain
and compelled to remain in Madrid under
government surveillance, where he re-
NAMED until the outbreak of the recent
war.
He then managed to elude the vigilance
of the government officials, and escaped,
with his family, to the French border,
and made his way TO Paris. He came
Immediately to the United States and or
gained an expedition to so TO Cuba. The
Hawkins, in which he sailed, was ship
wrecked in a storm off Barnegat Light,
and General Garcia was the last man to
leave the stranded vessel His next at
tempt to reach Cuba was upon an expe-
tercepted by the United States authorities,
arrested as a filibuster, and taken to New
York. where he was released on bail in
the sum of $1,000. This bond he forfeited,
and later succeeded in reaching his ma
tive island landing upon the south coast
Of Cuba, with one Of the largest and most
successful expeditions during the entire
war. He at once entered with all his
energies upon the struggle for independ-
ence. and participated in scores Of bat
ties and skirmishes. with remarkable sue
cess against the Spaniards.
CAPTURED MANY TOWNS.
He succeeded General Antonio Maceo as
commander Of the Eastern Department
Of the Army Of Liberation, and upon the
death of General Maceo was made lieute-
nant-general Of the entire Cuban army
being second in command 70 General Co
mez. in which position he served until
hostilities were suspended. During his
ccnmard ne took by siege and assault
the towns of Tunas, Gusa Guaimaro.
and others. and cleared the whole Of the
interior of his department OF Spanish
troops After the declaration of war by
the United States, General Miles sent his
representatives to confer with General
Garcia. and the latter co-operated with
the American general in all his plans and
was highly esteemed by General Miles,
as the latter's reports testify.
He was elected to the Cuban Assembly,
and exerted great influence upon its mme-
bers. and was chosen chairman Of the
commission appointed by that body to
come 10 the United States and confer
with the government officials at Wash
ington.
General Garcia was a highly-cultured
and educated gentleman, and perfect
type Of physical manhood. More than 6
feet tall. straight and erect. only hsi
whitened mustache and hair showed the
effects OF his s'StJ years of struggle and
physical endurance.
PECULIARLY SAD INCIDENT.
ATLANTA, GA, December 12.-General
Garcia's wife and two daughters heard
the sad news of the husband and fathers
death under unusually distressing circum-
stances.
The ladies had been invited as the
guests Of honor at a supper in Thomas
Vile, and were In the midst pr the plea
sures of this occasion when the terrible
news reached them. They We're pros
trated) with grief AT the unfortunate oc-
currence. which brought everything to an
abrupt conclusion.