Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-05
0U|NT|N BANDERAS
Cuban Who Threatens to
Start Revolution.
Is AN ODD CHARACTER
PLAYED UNIQUE PART IN FORM
Err UPRISINGS.
Declined Office of Head of Street Clean
ing Department Under Gen.
Wood.
Is AN ODD CHARACTER
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star.
The Cuban general. Quintin Banderas.
who according to a recent dispatch, threat
ems to make trouble for the new republic Of
Cuba is not only an interesting character,
but an amusing one. with a most interest
ing career. According to the Havana dis
patch. three days ago he appeared before
the house of representatives, and demanded
that the revolutionary army be Immediately
paid the money they claim is due them. In
case of the failure of payment he openly
declared that he would take to the woods
and head another insurgent army. claiming
that not only would the blacks cooperate
with him. but that many whites would
join with him in a movement to overthrow
the government.
The author of this formidable threat is of
of pure African extraction, formerly a
slave and plantation hand in the eastern
end Of the island When the Cubans first
raised their cry against Spanish rule. back
i'll IS. Quintin. with many other slaves,
took 10 the woods and Joined the DOmiEi-
can leader Modesto Diaz in his successful
attack upon the Spaniards at Bayamo. At
first these negroes proved absolutely use
less against the Spaniards. holding their
former masters in such dread that they
could not be prevailed upon to face them
in a fight. till suddenly a robust young
negro appeared at the head Of a small band
and led them in a charge upon a small de-
taChmtnt OF Spanish infantry. which they
cut up horribly with their machetes or
sugar-Cane knives. The services of the
young negro Were rewarded by his being
named a captain. and thus encouraged he
recruited more negroes. and at the close of
the ten years war. which concluded with
the treaty of Zajon. he had risen to the
rank of colonel. This was none other than
the now famous Quintin Bandcras / say
famous. for old Quintin is known throughout
the length and breadth of Cuba
Joined Maceo in 1895.
When the insurrectionary leader Antonio
Maceo landed on the east end of the island
In % to once more stir up the Cubans in
their long-plOtted overthrow of Spanish
rule the former chief. Quintin Randeras
was one of the first to second the move
ment by mounting his mule and riding
around from plantation to plantation
nOuncing the landing of Maceo and his in
tention of joining him with d regiment of
his own
Gomez and Maceo were making their in
EaslOn OF MatanZas and Havana provinces
when BanderaS finally started on his way
10 JOIN them with a large negro contin-
gent He took up his march through a
thinly populated part of the island, living
upon the country as he went. When he
struck the rich cattle country of Puerto
Principe and Sancti Espiritus he and his
followers RECALLED themselves upon the fat
cattle which then roamed over the prairies
in abundance. The inhabitants of that
country afterward told me that they had
known Quintin and his negroes to kill the
cattle solely for their tenderloins leaving
the rest Of the carcass to purify in the
This negro contingent joined Gomez after
MaceO had made his first invasion of Pinar
del Rio and had returned to confer with the
Old chief in the swamps which border Ma
tanzaS on the south. Maceo was then or
dered to incorporate this force with his
own. return to Pinar del Rio and make war
h.a SrAlF 1flr dc tIns.t
and sword. 1t seems that the appearance
OF Quintin Banderas and his army was
such as to excite even the mirth of Maceo
himself. and when detail of Spanish guar
dia ciyileS suddenly came upon them one
rainy morning and put them to flight and
they were only saved from annihiiation nv
the timely appearance of Maceo with
small force. which attacked the Spaniards
IN the rear. Maceo became angry and rem
rimanded the negro general roundly. He
Son became. however, the terror of all the
peaeea5le inhabitants of the province AS
Maceo went about driving all the country
people into the towns unless they would
agree 10 sustain the Instruction he used
the name of Quintiu Baudera to frighten
the peaceable inhabitants by telling them
that Quintin was a most terrible fellow
who was coming behind and that he
would punish severely all those found yio-
Iating or evading the laws of the insrrrec-
' uaohary government When Spanish COL
umn came along these simple. welI-meaninp
ncnconbatants told them of the terrible
Quintin Banderas. who was burning and
plhagins the country. and of whom they
were In momentary dread least he should
come along and hang them all by the heels.
Charged With Many Crimes.
II bridge was burned a train wrecked
or Cuban or two found garroted by the
roadside. the name of Quintin Banderas was
mentioned as the executor of all these evil
deeds. SO the name became equally as ia
nous among the Spaniards as among the
Cuban noncombatants and when the Span
Ism battalion San Quintin, marching into
town one night after dark. answered the
challenge from a nearby block house by
giving the name of the battalion, San Quin-
th' they were fired into and slaughtered
nnrnerclfuily by the Spaniards in the block
mouse who only caught the last part of the
name. ana supposed that it was old Quip-
TN sanderas and his army Of negroes COM
Ing to attack the town
AS a matter OF fact, while Quintin Ban