Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-10-01
There Were Some Notable Knights
of the Road.
GENERAL GOMEZ'S RIGID DISCIPLINE
Manuel Garcia and Incidents IN His
Romantic Career.
SO Nj E RU r A L G. U STOMS

Among the institutions of Spanish rule in
Cuba witch is expected to so along with
the bull fight and the lottery is brigandage.
"A leading Cuban once declared that brig
andage was not really an institution, but
rather an old and deeply rooted custom.
Some of the American army officers have
given utterance to the fears that the Amer
lean troops who are to garrison the island
temporarily will have plenty to do in keep
ing down bandits in the rural regions They
argue that the disbanding of the insurgents
on enc hand end the local guerrillas who
were part of the Spanish army on the 9TH
err hand, will turn lCcse a considerable num-
Der of lawiess men who will return to what
was once a profession. The most enlight-
ened of the Cuban leaders do not share
this fear The suggestion was once made
to Gen. Gomez that after peace came trou-
bic might arise from this iawlsss element,
hut the grim old warrior replied that dead
bandits never gave trouble. What ne meant
was that he would suppress any attempt
at briganGage by clutching its throat in the
beginning. If left to Gen. Gomez and his
lieutenants. those who understand the con-
ditiors prevailing in Cuba have little fear
OF a return to the old practice.
Haudits Not Tolerated.
In the constant struggle of Spain to
maintain it's supremacy, ard in the con-
tinued oppression to which the people of
the island We're subjected, there were ban
dts who We're not exactly heroes of the
rural pOpulace, but whose existence was
tolerated. 1t was one of the schemes of
the Spanish authorities in the beginning of
the instruction to make out that its ranks
We're chiefly recruited from the la wless and
the criminal classes. For a time that i'm
preston even obtained in the United States.
1t was Incorrect The bulk of the criminal
classes Joined the Spanish guerrilas Nav
erthetesS, the insurgents had their share of
the lawl.SS and rowing element who lived
according to Jack Cade's theory that those
who have should share with these who
nave not.
Go.nez's iron discipline soon reformed re-
cruits OF this class or drove them from the
ranks of the insurgents to the Spanish
guerrillas. Several petty chiefs. who We're,
in reality. bandits, were executed by his
order.
Ore of the tragic incidents last winter
was the killing Of two former brieands by
their OWE followers. They were known as
Cayito Alvarez and Major Nunez, and were
brothers-i.l-law. They had entered the
ranks of the Instruction, had become
tract table and had been given a small
command by Gomez An arrangement had
as they called it. This simply meant they
had taken 4 bride offered them by the
Spanish authorities With some forty in
surgents they were eGcamp.d near ham,
let IN SANTA CARA province. w nt.ii tiitS COX
ready to ride into the Spanish lines they
made known their purpose to their follow
ers and were Immediately shot Both were
daring ard desperate men of great physical
bravery. They must Nave knowh the Tisk
they were taking. yet they evidently relied
on the fear in which they were held by
their own followers.
Manuel Garcia.
The most picturesque of the Cuban bri-
CARDS and bandits Of recent years was
Manuel Garcia. He was ambushed and
killed by the civil guard little more than
three years ago. 1t was just at the begin
ring of the revolution. and his death caused
a great sensation. Books were written tell
ing OF his exploits. romantic glamor
was thrown over his crimes and the dis
cussion of his fate filled more space than
did the beginning of the instruction which
was to end the power of Spain. The Ha-
vana theaters Of the dime museum variety
gave realistic exhibitions with Garcia as
the central figure. So attractive and popu-
lar were these exhibitions that they were
not displaced until the death of Maceo.
Then the pro-Spanish classes of Havana
had the incidents of Maceo's life produced
for their benefit, and Garcia, the bandit,
Sppeared from the stage.
His Romantic Career.
Garcia's history eventful If not
a wonderful, one. 1t was said that his first
ClIIHt was III t-NtISlIS an IlSull ~ LIE
mother, and that as boy, becoming
fugitive from justice, he went step fur
ther and became a brigand. For many
years he was able to escape the civil guard,
because the country people to whom he was
known did not betray him. He was sort
OF Robin Hood. levying tribute only on the
rich. Fear, however, had as much to do
with his security as his failure to rob the
poor for he did not hesitate 10 murder
country people who were suspected of
attempting to betray him. Garcia gath
cred about him d small band who were as
reckless and daring as he. He had an I'M
usual facility for Disgusting himself, and
the popular story represented him as meet
ing the civil guard sometimes as a peddler
ana sometimes as a simple eountryman.
He had some fierce encounters with the
officers of law and was several times
wounded. At one period, when a chase
after him grew very warm, he crossed over
to Florida and remained in seclusion for a
year or more. He carried large sum of
money with him. 1t was said that he had
reformed but the authorities put no trust
in these statements. In time Garcia was
back at his Old haunts and was bolder than
ever Several daring robberies were COM
mltted by him. His fayGrite practice was
to abduct some rich sugar planter or nier-
chant and mold him for a ransom These
abductions were committed with a skill and
holiness tina: would have put the celebrat-
ed Italian hTisdnds to the blush The ren-
tives of the prisoner who knew Garcia's
Character never failed tic provide the ran
som The breach of faith or an attempt
to cV&de tic co.ditions meant murder. One
of-the most celebrated abductions commit
ted by Garcia WAS that Of Fernando de.t
castro. then. as now, leading and
Wtaibhy citizen of Havana. 1t was done
right under the eyes of the authorities
Garcia took delight in defying them and
IN showing his prowess. He was a man of
fair education. and one of his humors was
to mingie in Havana society. On various
occasions he came to the city and stopped
at a well-known hotel. Probably a dozen
persons would recognize him during these
visits. but his presence would never be
made known to the police, such was the
fear in which he was held. He made many
boasts OF his exploits while in Havana In
time most of che members Of his band were
hunted Gown and killed. but he continued
as reckless and daring as ever When he
was finally shot by the civil guard in ma as
ing along a country road it was said that
only two or three faithful followers re-
manned to him.
Like all picturesque bandits Garci, had
fls Dartisans. Nevertheless. the number
OF murders which could be traced TO him
were said 10 number not less than n dozen
Ihe civil guard looked upon his death as
the greatest triumph they had ach;cre5 ~,