The record-union., 1898-05-13
CUBAN HEROES.
Soldiers Who Would Reflect Honor
on Any Country.

Soldiers Who Would Reflect Honor
on Any Country.
No account of the fight of the Gu
bans for independence would be COM
plete without mention of Jose Marti.
He gave up his life early in the pres
ent contest, but in the minds Of all
CubanS who seek to overthrow the SOW
ereignty Of Spain his soul goes march
ing on. At the outbreak of the first
revolution Marti, although but a boy
of 10, was sent to Spain for conspiring
against the Government. For time
he was imprisoned and then released
on condition that he would remain in
Spain for the rest of his life. When
the Spanish Republic was proclaimed
he succeeded in evading the authori-
ties and escaped to France, coming af-
terward to this country. The Cuban
war was then about over, but Marti,
nevertheless, proceeded to Mexico,
where he prepared an expedition. 1t
failed, and he went to Central Amer
lea, where he obtained a university
professorship. He had previously re-
ceived the degrees of doctor OF law
and of letters at Saragossa. After the
treaty of peace, in 1878, he returned to
Cuba, only to fall under the ban OF
Spain again. Once more he was sent
to the old country, but he was not
there long. He escaped a second time
and reached New York in safety. Here,
with Calixto Garcia, he prepared for the
revolt of 1879 and from that time un-
til he fell, almost at the very outbreak
of open hostilities in the present rev.
olution he worked increasingly for the
Cuban cause. Jose Marti has often
been called the Apostle of the Cuban
Revolution and his was the master
mind which conceived and planned the
revolt which has been in progress the
last three years He planned in con-
junction with Gomez and by Gomez's
side he died.
General Maxine Gomez is a native
of San Domingo, and over 70 years old.
His family emigrated to Cuba and set
tied near Santiago. Gomez joined the
patriot army in 1868. By his daring
he became very prominent and was
promoted to the rank of Captain early
in the struggle. In October, 1868, he
fought the famous Colonel Quiros, and
though outnumbered three to one, he
gave a good account Of himself. The
Colonel, and his victories near Jiguani
and Holguin earned for him the rank
of Colonel In 1872, with General Gar
cia, he captured Holguin. General Ag-
ramonte, then Commander-in-Chi
promoted him to the rank of Brigadier-
General and ordered him to Puerto
Principe. There he became known as
"The Terror" for wherever he went the
enemy fed before him. He captured
Nuevitas, Santa Cruz, Guaimaro and
Cascorro, and fought the battles OF
Palo Sico and Las Guasimas. Two
years later, Gomez passed the Spanish
forts and invaded Santa Clara. He de-
feated General Jovellar at Iona del
Gibaro and became a Major-General.
A little later General Agramonte died
and Gomez succeeded him as Com
mander-in-C Chief.
When the revolution died out Gomez
escaped to Jamaica. He remained there
and in San Domingo, living quietly on
a farm until Jose Marti was made Pres
ident of a new revolutionary party in
Cuba, when he joined heartily in the
movement This was in 1895. AS the
commander of the Cuban army his rec
ord has since been brilliant one. Ma
poleon never more completely enjoyed
the confidence of his followers than
does this rare old strategist. General
Gomez is about feet 8 inches in
hight and straight as an arrow, with
knit frame The pomp and
glitter Of rank have no charm in his
eyes. Two small gold stars on the
collar of his dark blue coat alone indi-
cate his rank Thirteen years of his
life have been given to the effort to
free Cuba from the Spanish yoke. If
he lives to see independence achieved
he will die happy.
Calixto Garcia, next to Gomez the
most important Cuban General, is about
80 years old, and is considered one of
the most intrepid soldiers in the Cuban
ranks He was active in the Ten
Years War and in skirmishes which
took place during the rebellion previous.
In 1874 while in action, he was sur
rounded by Spanish troops. Rather
than surrender he shot himself through
the chin. with the intent to take his
life. He recovered, and was sent to
Spain as a prisoner Of war. General
Garcia was released by Spain in 1871,
and came at once to New York. He
organized a Cuban expedition and set
out for Santiago de Cuba. He landed
there, but was quickly captured and
again sent to Spain. After long i'm
prisonment he got away and reached
England in safety From there he
came to New York, and was the pro-
moter of big expedition which sailed
from this city in January, 1896. That
venture was an unfortunate one. The
vessel was wrecked and some of the
party lost, together with the supplies
and ammunition. General Garcia next
fitted out the Bermuda and was on the
eve of departing when the United
States Government seized the vessel
and arrested the leaders of the expedi-
ton. General Garcia was released on
81, 800 bail. He did not appear for
trial, but made his way to Cuba at the
first opportunity General Garcia has
proven himself brave and capable SOL
der and a great aid to Gomez. He has
an interesting family residing in New
York.-New York Herald