The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-07-12
DEATH OF MAX|M0 GOMEZ
The Great Cuban Patriot and Fight
er Passes Away.
BRAVELY LED IN TWO WARS

In First Conflict With Spain He Wa
Worsted and Obliged to Flee From the
Island In Final Contest He Often
Defeated Forces Ten Times Stronger
Thar His Own.
Havana, Cuba.-General Maxine Co.
mez died at 6 o'clock p. m. of the liver
trouble from which he had been suffer-
ing for some time and Which finally af-
fected his heart. The doctors feared
this complication and knew that when
it came the old General would not last
long. He was not conscious at the end.
When the General passed away his
wife and six children, President Pal
ma, the Secretary of Government and
some others were present. The body
was laid in state in the palace on the
lay following his death. Only the
lay before his demise the Senate
passed a bill to present 100000 to the
General, and q check for that amount
was delivered next morning by the
Secretary of Finance to a son of the
General.
President Palma arrived at the Gen
erals bedside a few moments before
he died. This was the Presidents first
visit, and the fact that he had not
called before has occasioned some COM
ment.
The admiration Of the mass of Gu
bans for General Gomez amounted to
almost idolatry. His death admittedly
is a severe blow to any political inter-
est to which he was allied. He was
one of the most radical leaders of the
national party. He had allied himself
with the liberal fusion movement, but
a split came during his sickness, and 1t
was generally thought he would have
Joined Governor Nunez and other dis
senters in unfolding the old national
list organization.
In the latter days of Cuba there has
been no more striking or picturesque
figure than General Maxine Gomez,
who in 1868 devoted his sword to lib
crate his country from Spanish mis-
rule.
Gomez was born in Santo Domingo
in 1886 and, entering the Spanish army,
became an Officer, soon attaining dis
tinction. When the Spanish army was
driven from Santo Domingo he went
to Cuba as a private citizen. His ex-
p%eriences had convinced him Of the
futiiity Of the Spanish Government,
distracted as it was at home, in main
tanning its control of its West Indies
colonies, and when the ten year rebel
lion broke out in Cuba he at olce
enlisted as a soldier. In the first en-
gagement he received promotion for
his daring. and in the next year be-
came a lieutenant-colOnel, winning vic
tories near Jiguani and Guantanamo.
With General Garcia he captured
Holguin, and was promoted to the
rank of brigadier-general by the COM
mander-in-chief, Agramonte, as the
bravest and most intelligent officer in
Santiago. He became known as 1.-The
Terror" and conducted a very success
full campaign in Puerta Principe, win
ming several battles and capturing
towns. He broke through the Gordon
of forts with which the Spanish gen
erals hoped to isolate the insurgent
leaders. but he was unable to keep
I'D the resistance. When Agramonte
died he was. made commapder-in-chief
of the rebel forces, but was obliged
to fly from the island as the revolution
died out. escaping to Jamaica.
Tn 1907 bo roo6o on ottpmDf. fn 1oO0
in Cuba. but this was q failure. He
managed subsequently to join DR.
MART and seconded his efforts to free
Cuba. For several years he lived in
Honduras and in Santo Domingo, until
the standard Of revolution was raised
for the last time in Cuba. The con
stituent assembly which elected q pro
visional government made him com
mander-in-chief, and in the autumn OF
1895, joining his forces to those OF
General Maceo, he started on q famous
raid, in which the two generals ira
versed Cuba from end to end.
One of his greatest successes was his
defeat of Marshal Campos, who tried
with 10000 men to check his advance
upon Havana in December, 1895. Ii
the following May, with only 400 men
he routed 5000 Spanish under Genera
Jinr;nez C~astellanos. During his cam
paign he was reported killed at Least
thirty times and he was often wound
ed. He lost one of his sons in De
cember, 1896, in an ambush not fa1
from Havana.
The old general was very proud O.
the reputation he gained of never hav
ing lost a battle. His personal bravery
had 4 wonderful effect on the raw re
cruits of which the greater part OF
his forces was made up during the frs
part Of the last revolution. 1t is sale
that TO man ever f1inched, no matter
how thick the bullets flew, while Go
mez's eye was upon him.
Gen. Gomez was q small man, about
five feet six inches tall, and slenderl,Y
built. During the last years of hi:
life he suffered greatly from & wound
he received in the right leg. He had
keen, penetrating eyes and a restless
wary looka
Gen. Gomez had the friendliest pos
sible feeling for the United States. HI
was sorely disappointed when after ht
had scored important successes asains'
the S%painards the United States re
fused to recognize the belligerency o.
Cuba. But when this country lent
hand Gen. Gomez did all in his power
to secure he friendliest relations.