The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-01
DEVOTED TO
HIS COUNTRY.
Gen. Ca|ixo Garcia q True Hero
His Escape From Madrid.
Address to Cuban Army.

.I.|
Az last the Cuban insurgent comes &
tho front as man Of importance in n
affairs of the United States. When Gen
eral s'hafter, con,nandilx the army o
invasion, with Admiral Sampson, land
cd In a small boat near Santiago an,
met General Garcia for the fivst time
Cuban history began new chapter. II,
Is tho man now talked of for prcsiden
Of Cuba
What is tho life history Of this devot
ed patriot. this intrepid hero of Cuba
war for liberty?
General Calixto Garcia, by birth d
Cuban, formerly q resident Of New
York, Is about 30 years old, decidedly
military IL poss and manner his con.
versation vivacious, but always to the
point and always brilliant BY profes.
sion lawyer, ho inipesses ONO an born
to comrland--a inan Of big affairs who
would carry cut any enterprise with
honor and success. Among his followers
his word 10 law and his counsel is al.
ways sought and followed in grave
emergencies,
Hc was one Of tho organizers Ct that
first Cuban Ssvolutioa Of 1908. He met
with bis friends nightly ut farm own
cd by Donate Marmol, near the town of
Holguin. The Cubans were already In
revolt under Ccspcdcs. and within two
days Narmol aud Garcia took up arms
with 100 rcsoluto followers. Extraor-
dinary success attended them. Town
after town sprrcudered, first Santa Rita.
then Ipguani. after hard lighting, with
Its 20. 600 population. For his bravery
Garcia was promoted brigatlier general
under Gomez. Later. when the provi-
sional government, for some reason not
clearly explained, removed Gomez.
Garcia succeeded him. Finding that
Juguani had meanwhile been retakcu
by tho Spaniards he proceeded to cap.
ture It again. Ho next took Holguin,
the town where tho revolution was orig
inally organized. Other victories rapid
ly followed.
At the obstinate all day baltic Of
Santa Maria In 1869 he followed Won
Moltke's tactics at Sedar~--surroundc
the rnemy's army and forced the sur
render of General Vingues and his men.
They were we'll treated and given free
dom. So grateful wcrc they for the un-
expccted clemency that one Of the off,
cc-s, General Rosalcs, on returning to
Spain, issued pamphlet extolling the
generosity of Garcia. But victory did
not always follow the Cuban eagles.
1878, brought reverses.
In tho absence Of his main forces
Garcia with his guard of 30 men was
surrounded by 500 Spaniards, and when
at the last moment capture was inevi-
table, rather than surrender and die OF I
torture, Garcia fired his pistol into his
mouth and fell among his dead com
rades. The Spaniards carried him to
i'll triumph, also thinking
him dead. To the amazement Of Span.
sh doctors and generals Garcia revived
llthough'thc bullet had penetrated bis
palate, following the line of his nose,
md emerging from his forehead. 1t
seemed miracle that tho general lived.
Then it was equally surprising that,
no escaped execution. But |
10 was spared and imprisoned ut valcn-
in and Sartona, in Spain
Fortunately for Garcia General Cam.
'os, governor general Of Havana, was |
lot vindictivc, for when peace was do
Jared in 1877 Premier Canoyas freed
i'm at ths cabled request OF Canlpos.
his explains why Martinez Campos
as always becn respected and admired
y the Insurgents,
Notwithstanding ho was FREQ Garcia
id not fully believe In tho sincerity of
no peace treaty, and he camc to New
'ork to await further developments. It
oon transpircd that tbc Spaniards were
ot Keeping their promises in good faith,
nd bitter dissatisfaction prevailed.
[ostilities continued. and General Ma
DO continued to hold his ground against
rcat odds. The courage and patriotism
the heroic mulatto general cred Car
as heart anew, and again he appeared
tho field during what was known es
10 little war" until hc was defeated
nd again taken prisoner
For the second tirnc bis life was SPAR
!. he was sent TO Mrdrid, however,
here he wss allowed limited freedom
I'd not permitted 70 leave the country.
eing man Of education, Refinement
I'd indomitnbIe viii, lio soon made
reer for himself in humblo way a.
rned money Ivy teaching Frc,ich L.
uglish. He lived n quiet, retired life,
II was always under eurvcillxuce.
When the revolution of February,
|o4. broke out, be was anxious TO leave
adrid, but tho ego OF the government
As over upon him. Then bo brought
S intellect into play. Tie gave &c OFT
at he should spend the remaining years
his life in Spain. This lullcd the sus-
rions Of tho police until suddenly he
sappearcd at midnight Before tia
1