The record-union., 1898-12-12

heartfelt sympathy with his family, his
friends and his country, on account OF
the great loss they have sustained.
As Admiral Sampson recently said
OF him, he was indeed a grand old
man" and 1 shall always account it
good fortune to have personally met
him. 1t seems hard, indeed, that, just
as the cause for which he did so much
is triumphing, he should have been
called from life. 1t was his great am
bition to see Cuba free and independ-
ent with a Government chosen by the
people of the island, and he would have
done more than almost any one else to
bring all this about. For his death
to occur at such a time must be a hard
blow TO all of you. You can have the
consolation, however, Of knowing that
his good name and great services and
character will live to inspire him who
Will take up his work and carry it ior-
ward to that ultimate and complete tri-
umph so justly deserved. Very truly,
etc, J. B. FORAKER.
General Garcia left a large family
only one of whom, Justo, Cap
tain on his staff, was with him when
ne died. His widow and Mercedes, a
daughter, IL years of age, are at
Thomasville, Ga, where the girl is quite
Ill; Mario, a son 10 years of age, is
with the mother at Thomasville; and
Colonel Carloa Garcia, another son. is
in Cuba. A daughter, Leonora. who
married an American, is now living in
Paris. General Garcia's mother is still
alive and resides in Havana.
GpOarol 70 ,.oio vrl,o.o -,
be linked with those of other patriots
who nave fought against unequal odds
for the freedom of his country, has had
a most active and varied life, much of
which has been spent in fighting for the
cause of Cuban liberty, which he had
the satisfaction of seeing accomplished
SO short time before his death. He
was man of culture and refinement,
OF splendid education, and came from a
distinguished family of Jaiquani, Of
Santiago de Cuba province He was
born in Cogquin, October IA, 1889, and
was therefore in his sixtieth year Gen
eral Garcia was educated in Havana
and in Spain. In 1864 he was married
TO Isabel VeleZ. General Garcia was
the original conspirator in the uprising
OF the Cubans against Spain in 1868,
and in that war under Gomez he at
tanned the rank Of Brigadier General
In October of 1868 he captured the
towns of Jaiquani and Baire, and re-
cruited many hundreds of patriots. He
mad command of the eastern depart
ments during that revolution after
1913, and won many notable victories,
including those at Melonez and Aures
While the revolution was in a critical
state in the other provinces, and it's
outcome was uncertain, he maintained
it with vigor in the territory under his
command.
In 1919, while accommodating with his
escort, he was surrounded by 1000
Spaniards. Preferring death to capture
and subsequent EXECUTION at the hands
OF his enemies, he attempted suicide by
placing his revolver 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 pardon. The hole which
the bullet made when it entered the
brows was always visible, and shows
plainly in the calmness of death For
his participation in the revolutionary
movement General Garcia was sent to
Spain, where for four years he was con-
fined in castles and fortresses. He then
returned to the United States and. to-
gether with Jose Marti, attempted an
other revolution. He landed in Cuba
with a few followers, but the country
was tired of war, and wanted to try
the home rule offered by Spain. He
capitulated to the Spanish forces in or
der to save his few remaining followers.
and was again banished to Spain in
1880, where he remained under surveil-
lance until 1895, when the last revolu-
ton broke out in Cuba. Then he es-
capped to France, and later to New
York His movements since that time
and his active participation in the war
are familiar to many newspaper read
ers.
After coming to this country he en-
deavored to get an expedition to the
island Of Cuba in the steamer Hawkins.
but this met with shipwreck in a storm,
and the cargo was lost General Gar
sci. Undaunted by his failure. General
Garcia made another attempt to ship
stores for the insurgents, this time OBJ
tanning the ship Bermuda. He was in
tercepted, however, by United States
authorities. and was arrested on the
charge of filibustering, but was released
on $4,000 bail. He forfeited this bail.
and in final attempt landed on the
eastern coast of the island with one of
the largest expeditions that ever
reached Cuba. After landing he sue
ceeded General Antonio Maceo in COM
mand of the eastern department, hold
ing the rang of Major General. General
Maceo marching west with his men.
AT Maceo's death Garcia was elected
Lieutenant General of the Cuban army,
which position he held to the close of
the war. During this command he as
saulted and took by siege Tunas, Guisa
and Guiamaro, and cleared the interior
of his department of Spanish troops
After declaration of war between the
United States and Spain General Miles.
commanding the American army, sent
his representative to General Garcia,
and subsequently the American and
Cuban Generals co-operated in their
movement against Santiago. All the
officers who participated in the active
work around Santiago bear testimony
to the great aid, assistance and loyalty
manifested by General Garcia during
the campaign.
When the Cuban Assembly met at
the close Of the war, General Garcia
was one of the principal advisors. and
was elected Chairman of the commits
sion directed to come to the United