The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-26
THE COMING MAN OF CUBA.
HE SPEAKS ENGLISH, But HE IS A
PATRIOTIC CUBAN.

How MenOcaI Carried n Dynamite
Torpedo Ender Fire, the Bravest
Deed of the Cuban War, and Was
Made a Brigadfer GeneFaI%-Is Now
Chief of Police Under Gen. Brooke.
Graduate of Cornell University
and n War:., Friend of Americans.
Patriotism of MenOcnI's Mother,
Who Sent Four sons to Fight
Spain.
Havana, March Cuba has to-day for
the first time in her four centuries of his
tory a man at the head of the police de-
partment who is a Cuban. And he Is the
coming man of Cuba.
The selection Of Gen Mario Menocal as
chief of police of Havana has a sgnif-
canoe which is understood and appreciated
all over the island. His appointment by
Gen. Brooke was not only a recognition Of
Menocals merit and executive ability, but
was to a certain extent a reward for per
hapS The most striking act of personal
heroism performed in the Cuban war. or
for that matter in any war in any coun-
| try.
1t was in the spring of 81 that the city
OF Guaymaro in Camaguey was besieged
! by Gareia's forces and captured after
stubborn resistance on the part of the en-
envy Americans now know what kind of
hght Spaniards can make when placed
behind entertainments and Notifications.
At Guaymaro after the outer defenses had
been abandoned a massive stone cathedral
! in the ar- Of Ill
ed by men, who kept up a merciless fire
from the long, narrow windows and pro-
tected arches minarets and belfries, prom
| lsed to be almost impregnable. The in
surgents had fought their way into the
| ely, but TO approach within range of this
| fortified church was simply sure death.
| While this citadel remained in the hands
of the Spaniards the capture of Guaymaro
was impossible
Ran with n Dynamite TOrnedo.
In this emergency Menocal came to the
rescue. Under a heavy fire, encountered
| with a torpedo of dynamite, he made his
way; where possible along protecting
1 walls; where shelter could not be found he
| dashed across the open from house to
mousse, but with each step approaching
nearer to the church, from which came
| perfect storm of bullets Had one of them
DAt. lOuNAt4 lHt GS )lOStNe he carried IN his
| arms Menocal would have been blown into
eternity. Watching his chance. little by
little, slowly but surely, he neared the
cathedral; one last dash and he gained the
| shelter of the edihce itself, placed the
bomb under the edge Of the great stone
| wall, and in an instant was away again.
| From protected point fifty yards distant
| he seized the rifle of a companion and sent
| bullet into the dynamite.
he xN11
| the entire end of the cathedral, whereup-
on the garrison hauled down the Spanish
flag, surrendered to Gen. Garcia, and
| Guaymaro became heEceforth the city of
! Cuba Libre.
The courage of the Cuban has been not
| only questioned but at time absolutely de-
MED, but have reason to believe that
| even our brave Col. Roosevelt or Lieut..
Hobson might have hesitated a moment
before Offering to carry twenty-five pounds
| of dynamite up San Juan hill on July /.
For this heroic deed Col. Menocal was
made brigadier general.
The Courage of a Cuban.
In September of the same year came the
attack on Victoria de las Tunas Slowly
but surely the Cuban lines enveloped the
| Spanish stronghold. On the morning Of
the third day the dynamite gun, under the
| direction of Aristo Portuondo, was
brought up to>a position where it could be
| rendered effective. Several shots from
It struck the base and sides of a stone
| fort which was the key to the city's de-
fences, and at last shot penetrated the
| roof; the effect of the explosion which fol-
lowed was marvellous. The walls of the
fort simply bulged outward and the struc-
| ture collapsed; nearly every man within or
near was instantly killed. Consterna ton
and terror momentarily overwhelmed the
| Spanish forces. Brigadier Menocal saw
his opportunity. Without waiting to con-
suit his general, at the head of his brigade,
| he Immediately charged and carried the
| enemys trenches, and before the Span
| iards could recover from their surprise
! Victoria de las Tunas was in the hands of
| the Cuban forces, there to remain. For
| this gallant action Menocal was made a
| general of division.
| Not long before out late unpleasantness
! with Spain resulted in war Gen. Menocal
was sent to the West and placed in COM
mand of the insurgent forces of Havana
province. 1t was thought at that time
| that we would be compelled to take Ha-
vana by storm, and Menocal was selected
as one of the abiest Cuban officers in the
| anticipated attack.
Up to the time of his appointment as
chief of Havana police Gen. Menocal was
stationed at Marianao, where the ex-
| cellent influence which he exercised over
| the men in his command won the admira-
ton of Gen. Brooke and the entire stan
of American officers in Havana. 1t is need
less to say that he is loved in his native
city, where his family have held a high
social position for more than a century.
Educated in New York.
Mario Menocal was sent from Cuba to
this country 10 be educated when only 16
He remained in New York eight years, and
was graduated with high honors from
Cornell University as a civil. mining and
military engineer. A little before the
breaking out OF the last revolution he re-