The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-02-02

HE FOUGHT HIS LAST AND GREATEST FIGHT.
There was battered old skin on the
sands. and a few feet from II lay
man asleep.
''Caramba. Wake up! Wake upI"
said enc OF the half dozen Cubans who
came down and surrounded the sleeper
and wondered who and what he was
''well?'' asked the man as he rubbed
his eyes and sat up.
who are youT'
"Yon can call me the Man From
New York"
How did you get hereT'
The man pointed 10 the old boat and
rose 10 his feet to yawn and stretch.
What do YOU want hereG" continued
the qucstioncr.
Take me TO General Garcia. / guess
he always wants recruits. and ! am
ready TO join"
That was the introduction OF the
| Man From New York. lie gave no
name and no information about him
self. lie simply said he was ready to
| fight for the cause. and he was as
| signed TO the ranks and given arms.
| After the first skirmish he was made
n sergeant: after the second. a lieu
| tenant. He was a cool. fearless fighter
and an acquisition. No questions were
| asked of him by the Cubans. He was
one OF a hundred Americans who had
found their way TO the island TO take
a hand In the revolution. Among them
| selves. however. they said:
Il Il a Errff much of N 6plar-
| er. Ii must be his desire TO get killed.
He came to us because he had done
something to disgrace his name In the
States, and he feels that he can never
20 back We do not care to know what
Ii Is II we had thousand more like
him we could capture Havana"
For a year Garcia's band neither won
victory nor suffered a defeat In which
the Man From New York did no. par
ticipate AS time went on he grew more
morose and vindictive. His voice was
seldom heard except Ia connection with
duty. and the Spaniards came to know
him rs a terror. A price was put upon
his head. Men hunted for him as dogs
hunt for game. but they failed to catch
him. Tive or three times the proffered
rewar1 brought about his betrayal 10y
nsn he had led to victory through for.
| est and swamp. but he escaped falling
Into the hands OF the enemy until the
cause of freedom was almost won.
thousand Spanish soldiers had
crossed fhe famous trocha TO beat the
forests. Garcia had planned their de
, structlon and gathered re-enforcements
from every quarter.
In the gray Of the morning the Man
From New York led thirty men against
the flank Of the thousand 10 produce q
diversion. and for time the thousand
were thrown into panic and suffered
r great loss. Then the Cuban generals
} plans went wrong. and the enemy were
/ allowed TO take heart and rally. The
regiment swupg about and attacked the
thirty The thirty soon became only
twenty-five. then twenty, then ten
Then the ten surrendered. The Mar
From New York stormed and rayeC
and entreated. lie cursed them In on'
breath aud cutreated in another. bu
D the ten had had enough lighting.
: so 1t IS you exclaimed the Spanish
colonel when the leader of the ten haC
. bowed to the inevitable. Il would rath
, er have captured. you than Garcia him
self. You shall die In the streets of Ha
vana after the governor general an'
the people have had good look at you
: As for the others. let four be taken on
and shot at once. We will decide tn
A fate OF the others later on"
The i've were confined in q suga