The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-09
A NOTED CUBAN BRIGAND.
MANUEL GARCIA, Hrs GRIMES N HIs
POPULAR FAME

HoRULAh FAME.
His Speciality the Abduction OF Rich Men
and Murder-SRid, After He Was Shot.
to Have Left a Buried Treasure-outlooh
for B~rigandase In Cuba Not Good Now.
Among the Institutions Of Spanish rule IN
Cuba which are expected TO 60 along with the
bullnght and the lottery is brigandaee.
Cuban once declared that brigandage was NOT
really IN institution. but rather an old and
deeply rooted custom. Some OF the American
Army officers have expressed fear that the
American troops who arc to garrison the lei.
and will have plenty to do in keeping down
bandits In the rural regions. They argue that
the disbandlng Of the insurgents on one hand
and Of the local guerrillas. who were part Of
the Spanish Army. on the other hand, will turn
loose q considerable number Of lawloss men
who will return to what was once a profession.
The Cuban leaders do not share this fear. The
suggestion was once made TO Gen. Gomez
that after pence came trouble might arise
from this lnwless element. but the grim old
warrior replied that dead mon never gave
trouble. What he meant was that he would
suppress any attempt at brigandage at the very
beginning.
In the constant struggle Of Spain to maintain
her supremacy. and In the continual upprcs.
sion to which the people Of the island were
Z VIZ anu WIZ NNl' INlI
exactly heroes OF the rural population. but
whose existence was tolerated. 1t was one VI
the schemes Of the Spanish authorities at the
beginning OF the instruction to make out that
the ranks OF the insurgents were chiefly re-
eruited from the lawless and the criminal
classes. As a matter OF fact. the bulk OF the
criminal classes joined the Spanish guerrillas.
Nevertheless. the insurgents had their share ot
the lawless element. Gomezs iron discipline
soon reformed recruits OF this class or drove
them from the ranks of the insurgents to the
Several petty chiefs, who were in reality ban.
dts, were executed by his order. One Of the
mer brigan1s by their own followers, They
were known as Cayito Alvarez and Major
tered the ranks OF the ihsurrection, became
from Gomez. An arrangement was made Gy
This simply meant they had taken a bTibe Of.
fered them by ths Spanish authorities. With
near a hamlet in Santa Clara province; When
they got ready to ride. into the Spanish lines
lowers and were Immediately shot. = Both we're t%y,
known the risk they were taking. yet they evil
The most picturesqGe Of the Cuban bandits
SrmtbGshed and killed by the civil RfiG guard "a " : little Efs
more than II three ZEE years agG; 1t was (qst at tae
esGsed a great rel tn sen TsSGd@'i IN the sn isla ND B seoss
were written about his exploits, a romantic
glamour was thrown over his crimes. and the
was to end the power OF Spain. The Havana
exhibitions with Garcia as the central figure.
So attractive and popular were these exhibit
tons that they were not disgIassd until the
in HayaSn@ FL had ID the Incidents lent 4 Of MnG ,e life
dit. disappeared from the stage.
Gareia's history was eSentful. It was said
that his first crime was computed IN a%yenGing
boy. becoming a fugitive from Justice. he went
a step further and became a brigand. For
many, years he was able to escape the civil
was known did not betray him. He was a sort
of Robin Hood, levyinG tribute only on the
his security as his failure to rob the poor, Tor
he did not hesitate to murder country people
him. Garcia gathered about him a small band
Of men as reckless and daring as himself. He
had an unusual facility for Disgusting himself.
ana Ens the Pep civil guard sS0rf s raneeRsnssa as na% pe d
der, and sometimes as a simple countryman.
GERS OF the law and was several times wounded.
he hs S epes sedi9 Over wf te F PlorisdHit a GrsT re yeTI war r.
seclusion for a year or more. He carried a
that he had reformed. but the authorities pu
In Tine Garcia was back: at his>old haunts
and was holder than ever. Several daring rob
berries were committed by him. His favorite
practice was to abduct some rich sugar
planter or merchant and hold him for. ran
som. These abductions were committed with
skill and boldness. The relatives OF the pris.
oner who knew Garcia's character never failed
to provide the ransom. A breach Of faith or
an attempt to eyade the conditions meant muir
der. One OF the most celebrated abductions
committed by Garcia was That Of Fernando de
Castro. then. as now. q wealthy citizen Of Ha-
yana. y 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 hpmors
was to visit Havana. He made many boasts
Of his exploits while in Havana.
In time most OF the members OF his band
were hunted down and killed. but he contin-
ued as reckless and daring as ever. When he
was finally shot by the civil guard in passing
along q country road. It was said that only two
or three faithful followers remained to him;
The humble of murders which could be traced
to him was said to be not less than a dozen.
The civil guard looked upon his death as the
Garcia was said to have left a buried treasure
somewhere. but this was mere legend.