New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-26
IIM1NEz WE'LL KNOWN HERE.
sPANIARDs ~ BOARDING HOUSE TELL OF His
LIFE ~ THIS CITY

Remigio Zapatero JiniHsz IS well known 70 tho
| Spanish colony In this city lie known 20 Oh
the enthusiastic Spanards as Lieutenant Jimenez.
/ a. he took great pride IN the fac; that he an
/ officer IN tho Spanish Navy and had served faith
! fully under Admiral Camara. VINO l. now IN com
mand Of the Spanish fleet 81 Cadlz Jim.ncz. IN ad-
dlion 10 being officer IN the Spanish Navy Il an
exper, electrical engineer. and was that protcs-
sion that he followed while in THIS city. He had
/ Offices IN Broad-st and presumably conducted a
general electrical business there. but 50 far as is
known he did little business. but gave hls at
iontion political affairs bearing on the relations
| OF the United States with Spain.
Although apparently not making sufficient money
ar an electrician support himself. he had up 20
the time OF sailing the Panama. lived well and
wanted for nothing He frequently complained OF
lack OF business 10 those who knew him. yet az all
times he well dressed.
The last place he lived when in New-York was at
the boarding house Of August Raab. nj 40. II
Fourth-ave. He had been this place for the last
eight months and previous to that lived al Benson
hurst Long Island. and on 81 Nchoas-ave this
| borough. His place % business originally at
40 a Broad-si where he was for a short time
lie soon removed 10 30 es Broad-st. whore his OK
stence As an export electrician Of short dura-
ton. ms he received patronage For several
months prior TO his Joining the expedition on the
Panama he without work, and contented him
self with studying the possibilities Of war.
4 Tribune reporter called ~ the boarding house
conducted by August Raab last night and found
that the place Spanish boarding house. Mr..
Raab was not at home but his father-n-aw. Il
Rafort vas there. Mr. Rafort explained that he
was a Spanard by birth but had lived In the
United States for the last thirry-hrec years, and
now felt no especial sympathy With Spain.
Upon entering the house tho reporter found Mr.
Rafort his wife and Spanish boarder. sitting in
the dining-room. When the reporter asked II
Jiminez Was known there. Mrs. Rafort at once
began to cry and asked in rather broken English
You are not n Government man, are you?" When
she was assured that the reporter not there
for any other motive than TO gather the news both
she and her husband talked about the predlcament
Jimnez had got himself into by his desire to re-
turn TO the Spanish service
While Mrs Rafort gave most OF the details her
husband frequently Joined in when the narrative
reached important point The substance OF
the story as told by these two Spanish friends OF
Lieutenant Jiminez is as follows
We have known Lieutenant Jiminez for many
Navy up 10 1889 He then was allowed to leave and
study civil and electrical engineering He was under
friend OF ms ana Tho VIM ,ctennni Jimnez
While Lieutenant Jiminez left the Spanish Navy
IN 1889 he always kept his uniform. as ne expected
to rejoin the Navy after he had thoroushy s'1dr,r
years old and has been In the United States about
four years.
trical engineering Cor some time lie then came 70
New-York. where he followed up ms s,ud ave; ra
work near Sandy Hook. After this he went into
business for himself but did not do much except
furnish supplies 10 the Spanish Army and Navy In
Cuba He was OF the best electrical "nsneers.
and they knew that his judgment was good inbuying
the proper supplies lie had his wife and children
here FOR a lime and lived al Bensonhurst. ana
then I'm at Nichoas-avc. with them After a
rrhile n sent them 10 Cuba, while he remainod
here Lieutenant Jimnez was born In spain. whie
his ,.ife was born Of Spanish parents In Cuba.
When trouble began between Spain and this
country he wanted to go back TO Spain and JON
M Navy bur AS his wife was In Cuba he decided
10 20 there when the Panama sailed. so he OBJ
toired his massage and started. He wanted 10 go
hanr IN tho NAVY and fight. when he left our house
he packed up his Spanish naval uniforms i,h IN 'ns
- axnected TO wear them there. We told him ne
was foolish to take the uniforms but ne ihs'steu
we do,nr 40 He is nne. smart man, and one
y. no hest Of electricians well as being nhVai
Engineer. and he was interested In his country.