The herald., 1898-12-12
Has Fought His Last Battle for
Cuban Freedom
THIRTY YEARS OF BITTER STRUGGLE
Found Him Ever Ready Suffer for the Cause, Whether in
the Forefront Of Battle or Lying in
Spanish Prisons
Associated Press Special Wire


WASHINGTON, Dec. ll.-General Ca
lixto Garcia, the distinguished Cuban war
rior and leader, and the head of the com
mission elected by the Cuban assembly to
visit this country, died here this morning
shortly after 10 o'clock at the Hotel Ra-
leigh, where the commission has its head
quarters. The sudden change from the
warm climate of Cuba, with the hardships
he ha1 there endured, to the wintry wealth
er of New York and Washington, is respon-
sble for the pneumonia which resulted in
his demise He contracted slight cold in
New York, which did not assume an alarm
ing stage until the early part of last week.
On Tuesday night General Garcia, in COM
pany with the other members Of the COM
mission, attended dinner given in his
honor by General Miles, and it was result
of exposure there that eliminated in his
death.
During the twelve hours or more pre-
ceding dissolution, General Garcia was un-
conscious most of the time.
DEATHBED SCENES.
At intervals he recognized one or more
Of those about him. In his dying moments,
as all through his busy and active life. his
thoughts were for his beloved country and
It's people, and among his last words were
irrational mutterings, in which he gave or
ders to his son, who is on his staff, for the
battle which he supposed was to occur to-
morrow, and in which he understood there
were only 400 Spaniards to combat. just
before he died he embraced his son. Rev.
Father Magee of st. Patrick's church was
called in during the day, and was with Gen
eral Garcia until the end, administering
the last rites Of the Catholic church. Other
members of the commission and Mr.. Ru-
bens, their counsel in this country, We're
also in the bed chamber when the end
came The remains were Immediately pre-
pared for burial, and were placed on a
bier in the room in which he died. A large
Cuban flag served as a covering, and the
head rested on one of smaller dimensions.
The face and bust were left exposed to
public view. The features had remark
ably lifelike appearance, and gave no in
dication of the suffering which the de-
ceased had borne Just above the head
rested magnificent floral piece of red and
white roses and cross palms tied with a
pure white ribbon. By direction of Major
General Miles, a detachment of soldiers
from Battery E, sixth artillery, at the bar
racks here. under command Of Lieutenant
Cox, was detailed as body guard for the
remains.
OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION.
After General Garcia's death steps were
taken to notify the government, and also
the committee of the Cuban assembly,
which has its headquarters at Marianao,
f,k g Al,
mission sent a telegram of notification to
Mendez Capote, president of the Cuban
assembly, who is now in Havana. AS soon
as the death became known a number of
visitors, including many public men, came
to the hotel to express their coincidence.
President Mckinley manifested his SYM
pathy by sending suitably worded letter,
and Vice-Presidcnt Hobart sent his card
Among those who called were Senators
Foraker, Money, Proctor and Chandler,
and Major General Lawton and Wheeler
MOURNING RELATIVES.
General Garcia left large family, only
one of whom, Justo, and captain on
his staff, was with him when he died. His
widow and Mercedes, daughter, II years
old, are at Thomasville, Ga, where the
klli IL duitt a. sui ~ N4tlTS OF age,
is with the mother at Thomasvile; and
Colonel Carlos Garcia, another son, is in
Cuba. a daughter Leonora, who married
an American, is now in Paris. General
Garcia's mother is still alive, and resides in
Havana.
HE SAW CUBA FREE.
General 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 IA most
active and varied life, much of which has
been spent in fighting for the cause of Gu
ban liberty, which he had the satisfaction
of seeing accomplished so short a time be.
fore his death. He was a man of culture
and refinement, of splendid education and
came from a distinguished family of Jai-
quani, of Santiago de Cuba province. He
was born in Cogquin, October Ia, 1889, and
was therefore in the sixtieth year of his
age. General Garcia was educated in Ha-
vana and in Spain. In 1864 he was mar
ried to Isabel Velaz. General Garcia was
the original conspirator in the uprising of
the Cubans against Spain in 1868, and in
that war under Gomez, he attained the
rank of brigadier general. In October of
1865 he captured the towns of Jaiuuani and
Baire, and recruited many hundreds of
patriots. He had command of the eastern
departments during that revolution after
1873, and won many notable victories, in
Guiding those at Melonez and Aurez While
the revolution was in a critical state in the
other provinces and it's outcome was un-
certain, he maintained it with vigor in the
territory under his command. In 1875,
while accommodating with his escort, he
was surrounded by 1000 Spaniards.
DEATH BEFORE CAPTURE
Preferring death to capture and subse-
quent execution at the hands of his enemies,
he attempted suicide by placing his revol-
yer under his chin and firing. The bullet
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 own lives to his mercy. The
Spaniards, believing he was about to die.
gave him a pardon. The scar which the