The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-11
DIAZ'S ROMANTIC STORY
REV. It. j. vILLERs ACQUAINTED
WITH THIS CUBAN PATRIOT.
Converted by Hearing the Bible, of
which He Had Never Heard,
Read in a Hospital.

Rev. II. J. Villers, pastor of the First Bap-
| fist Church. knows Diaz, the Cuban patriot
| who has suffered Imprisonment at the
hands of the Spanish number of times for
| his participation in revolts against their
| government. DR.. Villers describes him as a
wonderful man, who has had a most ro-
mantle career. His father was a Cuban of
| great wealth, and spent $1,000 in his educa-
ton. Diaz adopted the medical profession.
| When the last Cuban revolution began he
| enlisted as q surgeon in the Cuban army
He was daring, and was often intrusted
| with hazardous undertakings.
| One day, while scouting with a small COM
pany, Diaz and two companions were cut
| off from the Cuban army by a Spanish regi-
ment. They retreated to a narrow neck of
| land extending out into the gulf At night
| they dismounted from their horses and
| drove them away in the darkness, hoping
| that the Spanish would be deceived by the
rrse and follow the animals But the Span
| ish were not taken in by the trick and con-
| tinued beating the bush. There was a huge
| log the beach, washed up by the tide.
| This Diaz and his companions pushed out
| when the tide arose hoping that 1t would
| drift to another part of the island. Instead
| they We're carried out to sea. After hours
| of terrible experience and hardship the two
| companions of DiaEf were compelled to
loosen their hold of the log and dropped off,
| first one and then the other sinking to the
| bottom or falling prey to the sharks with
which those waters are infested. Diaz, by
reason of his wonderful physical strength,
| was able to keep a hold on the log until he
| was picked up by a friendly fishing smack.
| From this he was put aboard a steamer
| bound for New York. His terrible expert
| ence brought on a fever. with which he was
| confined in New York hospital for many
| weary weeks. In the days of his con-
valescence he was visited by hospital mis-
sionary who sat by his bedside reading the
| Bible and praying. He did not understand
a word of English. and as he lay listening
| to her tender words he wondered what man
ner of book she was reading. Through an
| interpreter he finally learned
NEVER HEARD OF THE BIBLE.
| us there such book printed in Spanish?'
| he asked.
Although well educated he had never
heard of the Bible. One was given him and
| he became converted. When restored to
| health he renowned the Romish faith and
| became member Of the Baptist Church
| and was sent back to Havana by that de-
/ nomination, not as a soldier but as a mis-
| sionary. His work was beset with difficult
ties Although taking no part with the in
SurSentS IN the present hOStilitteS he was
regarded as Cuban sympathizer and the
| Spanish hated him. The Baptist Society
s eT91g en- fheater Tor S2 900 that had cost
| church of it. His congregation reached 5000
| One day he went into an army of patriots
and learned that 1000 of the soldiers We're
| his religious followers. There was war on
the Diaz church The congregation was not
permitted to sing aloud. Often members of
4 church thrown n hA
| hogs after they had been buried. Many
| were too poor to buy burial place Even
| those who had money were not allowed
place In the ordinary cemeteries. Diaz had
| money sent him. One large check bought
graveyard for his fold. Another built
The hatred and prejudice against Diaz
| grew so strong that he and his brother were
taken before tribunal for assisting the
| foregone conclusion. AS they were brought
| into court they walked by the collins des-
| to death in a mock trial, Confined together,
| the guards threatened to shoot them If they
| conversed, but they disregarded the order
| IF you cease not" said one of the guards
raising his gun, we will shoot"
What matters it?' answered Diaz. 1--WE
are to die anyway
! The guards did not shoot. After a time
| the watch was changed. Diaz learned with
cret disciple Of his. He Conveyed through
| this Spanish soldier note to the American
| counsel, informing hir5 Of his perilous con-
| dition. ara ,t
| IF YOU shoot that man the counsel
| wrote to the Spanish authorities. you will
| have trouble He is an. American citizen"
| AMERICANS HOLD HIS PROPERTY.
| DiaZ had been naturalzed when in New
| York The note of the counsel procured his
release, but could not prevent his Danish
| ment from the island. He was in sore dis
| tress. He knew that it he left the island
the theater seminary and graveyard would
| he oOnfiSpatp6 AlthOm0h ba hoa NH oh
| he was to leave was in the harbor and al
| though every days delay imperiled his life,
| he went to Americans and transferred all
/ the property to them. This enraged the
| Spaniards more than ever. but they dared
| do nothing at that time against an Ameri-
| can and DiaZ was permitted to remain in
Havana until the next boat when he
| turned to his adopted country.
| IF there are many men like Diaz in
| Cuba said DR. Viliers 81 have no fear but
| that they will be able to govern themselves.
| This war is not q war of the rabble. as so
many seem to think Diaz told me that it
| men of that profession We're engaged in it.
| He told me an instance showing that the
| Cubans have good generalship. A large di-
/ vision of their army found itself in d deep
| gorge between two large divisions of the
| Spanish army. The Cubans formed ''V'
! shaped wedge, stationing men on the outer
! edges of the ravine. These men, fighting
back to back, gradually Withdrew, the Span
| iards meantime pouring down a deadly
| fusiade from both Sides of the defile. AS
| they closed down the Spanirds were en-
| ragged to find the Cubans had escaped and
| that they had been Shooting their own men
| across the gorge.
"Diaz said that in former revolts the
Spanish merchants Were indifferent TO the
! outcome. but that in the present contest
their sympatllies are with the Cubans. AL
| though they paid money to the support of
the Spanish cause 1t was through fear their
! property would be eonfiscated if they did not
| make a showing of patriotism to the Span
| ish government They hope for the success
| of the (uban cause With fhp DrOfeSSionaI
| and business men favoIing their cause /
do not see what reason there is to believe
| the Cubans are not capable of self-govern-
| ment.''