The times., 1898-12-12
MONDAY. DECEMBER II, 1898.
A Dead Hero.

Dead Hero.
All that remains to Earth of Lieu
tenant General Calixto Garcia, the lion
of Cuba's last and successful struggle for
liberty. lies cold and stark under guard
of honor AT the Raleigh Hotel in this city.
General Garcia's death, which occurred
past 10 o'clock, was shock to the COM
nunity, and will be heard of with grief
by every lover of liberty and humanity
throughout the length and breadth of
Americas continental and colonial terri
tory. Few men of his day and genera
ton have earned the right TO the worlds
honor and venera,ion as calixto Garcia
has
The deceased commander WIS born in
the town of Holguin, in the Province Of
Santiago de Cuba, October II. 1859. He
was one of the first Of his countrymen 10
take up arms for Independence in the
memorable struggle which began in 1868,
and is known to the history of holy
revolutions and of Spanish infamy as the
Ten Years War. In the course of that
resolution, in 1875, he was surprised and
body II Spaniards. Rather than take the
chances OF the enemy's brutality and
possibly torture. he attempted TO kill
hinlse IT, but was unsuccessful and was
captured, taken TO Madrid and kept in
confinement until after the Peace OF
Z..njon, VIXEN he was released and came
To the United States. residing temporarily
ia New York. Very soon after his arrival
ia this country he made a futile attempt
to rekindle the fires of war for emancipa-
ton ia Cuba. But his country was tired
OF strife and did not respond to his pat
late to the Spaniards in order to save his
few devoted followers from butchery. He
WAS again taken TO Spain as a prisoner
and remained there under close surveil-
lance until the outbreak of the Cuban
war in 1885, when he escaped to Paris and
thence made his way once more to Amcri-
ca
Ibis later history is well known. In 1895
General Garcia organized an expedition for
Cuba. which sailed on the steamer Haw-
kins The vessel was wrecked off Barne-
gat The general was the last man 20
leave the ship, and was picked up by 4
passing schooner. Not long afterward he
made another attempt, this time in the
steamer Bermuda, but was intercepted and
arrested with his compapions under the
shadow of the Statue OF Liberty in New
tration at that time was in unholy alliance
with Spain for the purpose of crushing
placed under bail to appear for trial for
violating our precious neutrality laws.
lie forfeited his bond and at length sue
ceeded in joining his comrades in arms
with a small expedition He succeeded
General AIaceo in the command of the
eastern department of Cuba. The First
Second and Third Corps of the Cuban
army were under his orders. After the
betrayal and murder of Maceo under the
orders of Weyler he became lieutenant
general and next in command to General
Maximo Gomez, general-in-chief of the
forces. From almost the day of his as
sumption of authority over Eastern Cuba,
General Garcia kept that part of the 81 IN i
free Of Spaniards, whom he defeated in a
series of engagements and TO whom he
became a living terror.
The dead generals kindliness toward
and confidence in the Government and
people of the United States were eXem-
plified in his unselfish efforts to aid our
army in the campaign against Santiago.
How gratuitously he was abused and in
suited by the obnoxious military character
who contemplated a disgracefnl retreat
from the safety of the extreme rear, is
famiiiarly painful to all decent Ameri-
cans. Let that pass for the present. il
but furnishes all the stronger reason why
the authorities and the populace should
pay greater attention to honoring the
body and memory of the gentleman aEi
soldier who is no more.
His family and his fellow patriots have
at least the consolation of remembering
he was spared TO know that the power of
Spain over Cuba and in the Western Hem
isphere had been destroyed finally and
forever. and TO believe. as he did with un-
questioning confidence. that in Gods good
time the United States would redeem the
noble pledge of the American Congress
end add his dearly loved Pearl of the An