The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-16
washington Post. Dec. I'D

A1oto-knto A1SS " OIOe were SISeOhy
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washington Post, Dec. I'D
General Calixto Garcia Is dead Sec
n in command Of the Cuban army of
liberation and chairman Of the COM
mission appointed by the Cuban assem-
bly, to come to Washington. after de-
voting his life to freeing The people
of his native island from Spanish op-
preston. at the moment when he was
about to realize the fondest hopes OF
his life, he passed away at his apart
ments in the Hotel Raleigh, in his
city. He died as he had lived, like a
soldier.
=, For several days past General Gar
cia's condition had been regarded as
very critical, n although. for twelve
hours before it was known that there
was little or no hope of his recovery,
! yet when the end came is was none the
less a shock to his compatriotS, for
those who me the brave old warrior
best and had almost believed that he
who had for years been the target for
Spanish bullets and bore the scars of
many an could not die, es-
pecially at so critical a time as this.
The immediate cause Of death, as an
nounced by his attending physicians,
was heart failure, resulting from a Sc
we're attack of pneumonia, from which
! he had been suffering for the past
week.
The death bed scene was a sad one.
The veteran warrior lay semi-conscious
from 10 o'clock on Saturday night. Only
two or three times during the twelve
hours that followed, up to the time of
his death, did he revive sufficiently to
be able to speak in~telligibly. Once he
recognized and spoke to Colonel San
gully, and again to Senior Quesada
and his son. Justo Garcia. Only an
hour or two before the end came Cen
! eral Garcia raised his arms and placed
! them fondly about his son, who stood
bending over him, and drew him to-
ward him.. 1t is thought that he rec
ognized him, but he was unable to
speak Understandings.
THE VICTORY is OURS!'
His last words were: The victory is
ours; there are only 400 of them left"
They were spoken in Spanish and while
he vas in a delirium. He had been
talking at random and giving orders
to his son, Colonel Carlos Garcia, who
is an officer of the Cuban army, and is
now stationed at Santiago, under Cen
eral Wood. The veteran imagined hat
he was still in the saddle, upon the
field of battle, facing the S%paniards and
directing his son to pursue the enemy
with his command, declaring that there
were not more han 400 of the Span
iards left. He did not speak after this.
Death came at 1910 o'clock yester-
day morning.
TAKEN ILL IN NEW YORK.
General Garcia contracted the cold
which resulted in his death shortly af-
ter his arrival in New York two weeks
ago. He had come from a warm eli
mate to a northern blizzard,
which made its appearance shortly at
tier his arrival, and in spite of his
strong and rugged constitution, the
dread disease fastened itself upon him,
and he was unable to shake it off. His
wife, two ons and a daughter were
living in New York, and he remained
ill at their home for several days. His
anxiety to come to Washington and
fulfill the mission upon which he had
been sent, however, prompted him to
leave at the earliest possible moment.
He was unwell when he reached Wash
ington on November Both, and he was
constantly under the care of a physi-
clan since that time. He was desirou-
of entering upon his labors as soon as
possible, and, against the advice Of
his friends, he refused to remain in
doors, although for several days he
was compelled to do so, but he felt all
the time that he was delaying the work
Of the commission.
On Saturday night, December 3rd, Cen
aral Garcia attended the Gridiron din
ner at the Arlington, but was compel
ed to leave early in the evening, be-
cause of a severe attack of asthma.
He, however, continued to attend to
the duties of the commission, and on
last Tuesday, accompanied by his suite,
dined with General Miles. Upon re-
turning from the dinner he was taken
seriously i'll at the Raleigh, M DR.
Mclaughlin and DR.. Hyatt were sum-
moned and diagnosed his trouble as a
severe attack Of pneumonia. From
that time his condition was regarded
as dangerous, although until Saturday.
night it was expected that his strong
and rugged constitution would pull him
through. A physician and a trained
nurse were in constant attendance at
his bedside. and everything possible
was done to relieve the sufferer, and
only his son, who arrived here on Fri
day, the members of the commission,
his aides, and the members of the jun
ia were allowed to see him.
While in New York and before COM
ing to Washington General Garcia
stated to one Of his associates that he
feared this lines wou be his last.
and for that reason he was anxious to
come to Washington, and, if possible,
| us 1fllSSIOn DcIOFo the cru
came. Last Thursday General Garcia
wife passed through Washington, &C.
companied by her son Mario, and
daughter Mercedes. on their way to
Thomasville, Ga, for the benefit of the
latter's health. Mercedes Garcia is
16 years of age, and said to be dying
of consumption. Her condition was
made worse by a recent fall. which re-
suited in the fracture of one of her
legs. Mrs. Garcia vas at Waycross,
Ga. yesterday morning, when a tele-
gram reached her announcing the
death of her husband. 1t is not known
whether or not the condition Of her
daughter will permit her to come tn
Washington. but. if possible. she will
come. although she cannot reach here
before Tuesday.
AS soon as the death Of General Gar
cia was announced, the American and
the Cuban flag on the Hotel Raleigh
were lowered to half-mast. n yes
terday afternoon Genera Miles issued
an order for a guard OF soldiers from
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