The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-01-11

ever met is George Eugene Bryson, a
native of North Carolina, but now resi-
dent of Havana, Cuba. Mr.. Bryson was
born near Bryson City, Jackson, county
about thirty-six years ago, but moved
with his parents to Florida when eleven
years old.
At the age of sixteen Mr.. Bryson began
the publication of a paper in his adopt
ed State and since that day he has been
connected with the newspaper profession,
and today his name stands at the head
of the list and he is known and recog-
nized as one of the foremost American
newspaper correspondents. His reputa-
tion is not alone confined to this country
but extends throughout South America,
Cuba, and into many parts of Europe.
He is today the most influential man in
the Republic of Cuba and is really 1.-The
middle man" between President Roose-
welt and President Palma He is the
man who is slowly but surely making
the sentiment which will at no distant
day bring about the annexation of the
island Republic to the United States of
America.
For many years he has been the close
friend and advisor of Thomas Estrada
Palma; and only a few days after Senior
Palma's election to the presidency OF the
new republic | was permitted to read a
long letter from the president elect to
his old friend, Bryson. He took occasion
in this letter to thank Mr.. Bryson for
the great service he had rendered in be-
half of the struggling patriots OF the
island and said that he was one of the
greatest heroes in the struggle for Cuban
Independence. He urged Mr.. Bryson to
join him at his country home in New
York State for an important conference.
l learned later, not from Mr. Bryson,
however. that at this conference Presi-
dent Palma urged BrySon to accompany
him to Cuba when he left to be inaugur-
ated as the first president of the little
republic. Palma had been absent from
the island since the ten year war and
he realized the fact that there was no
man more familiar with the men and af
fairs of the new Republic than George
Eugene Bryson.
Today he is the power behind the
throne in Cuba; he is the man who has
dictated the policy of the republic and
kept it in a straight path and thereby
retained the friendship of the Govern
ment. at Washington.
Cuba viii never have another Presi-
dent; before the term of President Palma
expires the island will be a part of the
United States. and George Eugene Bry-
son is the man who will bring about this
result.
1t is my purpose to give brief review
of the wonderful career of Mr.. Bryson.
He ard ! arc warm personal friends and
] am taking the liberty OF preparing
this sketch without his knowledge or
permission. The first thing which at
tracted nc to him was his love for, and
devotion to the Old North State; he is
proud of the fact that he was born a
Tar Heel and claims that IL is his great
est ambition to return to his old noun
tain home and spend the remainder of
his days.
1t was during the latter part of the
eighties that Mr.. Bryson undertook the
task of organizing the South American
service for the New York Herald. He
was engaged in this work for number
of years during which time he took an
active part in seventeen different revolu-
tons He has related to me many of his
interesting experiences during the time
many occasions been the guest of honor
of presidents and vice presidents, of gen.
erals commanding the armies, and many
times has he existed on the scant food
given the prisoners while peeping through
the bars charged with being a spy of
the opposing party or army in some pet
ty revolution.
One of the most interesting stories that
Mr.. Bryson related to me was the time
he borrowed a Spanish War ship and
bombarded town in Venezuela. The
incident occurred in 1891 at La Guayra
and Bryson had arrived there only
week before. He had heard OF the in
tention of Dictator Mendoza to send Gen.
eral Pepper to this place to raid the
town and imprison the various consuls
stationed there and hold them for
large ransom. On the day scheduled for
the arrival of General Peppers forces.
Bryson went to Phillip c. Hanna, the
American Consul, and told him of his
impending danger and advised him to
go up the river few miles and wait
developments. Mr.. Hanna took the cor
respondents advice and in few hours
the rebel general arrived in town with
his forces and proceeded to arrest and
iSol All the lOTelBH merchants ana
foreign consuls in the town and to cut
off all telegraphic and cable connections
After the general had settled down in the
British consulate with the happy salts
faction of having everything his own
way, Bryson sent runner up the river
to notify the American consul that eff
he had finished taking his BATH that it
would be well for him to report at the
American consulate. Mr. Hanna was not
long in arriving there and was fully
Informed by Bryson as to what had taken
place. Consul Hanna was a new man
in the service and he was very much at
sea as to what steps to take. but Bry-
son who was anticipating story which
would call for circus poster head" on
the front page of his paper, the New
York Herald, was very free with advice
He suggested TO the consul that he at
once notify General Pepper that if he
did not release the imprisoned consuls
that as the representative of the United
states Government he would proceed
to lombard the town. Consul Hanna,
however. had some msgivings as to
whether the Government at Washington
would uphold him In any such rash ac-