The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-09

announcing tho capture Of the town n
signed with his own nams, which he bad
learned { o write with q great scrawl, a.
though il were done with a paint brush.
He was also very fond Of issuing military
orders and DEGREES and sending warnings
to tho Spanish military commanders, which
his secretary wrote and he signed with
his tar brush signature.
Thus his name came to 30 well known,
and Maceo took advantage OF the fact,
first faoetiously and finally as good policy.
He found that the people had a sort Of dread
for the negro General, whom they had not
seen, but bad heard Of az a fierce black
warrior who rode a fiery steed and led a
band Of negroes naked to the waist and
armed with long cane knives with which
they split open Spanish heads a. readily
as pumpkins.
Maceo in his raids would warn the country
people against giving information TO the
Spaniards or assisting them In any way,
telling them that II they refused to heed
his warnings he would sendQuentin Banderas
to settle with them. The country people
In turn would express their terror to the
Spanish soldiers, and so thef fame Of Quentin
Banderas spread without his ever doing
much Of anything beyond leading a life
Of comparative ease In the mountains.
As an example OF the dread inspired
by his name, the Spanish battalion OF
San Quintin upon approaching a garrisoned
town one night answered the challenge
Of the sentries by calling out its own name.
The sleepy soldiers garrisoning the town
heard only the name Quintin, but 1t was
enough to rouse them, and grabbing their
rifles they opened a fierce fire upon their
c~ountrymen who were approaching.
The soldiers thus fired upon believed
that the insurgents had possession OF the
town and returned the fire.. A hot fight
ensued, all caused by the simple name of
San Quintin.
After Pinar del Rio had been reduced
to a wilderness, Gen. Quentin Banderas
concluded that the time had arrived for
him TO leave. He sent a circular letter to
the Spanish commanders announcing that
he, the liberator Of his country, was going
TO cross the trOcha.
When next heard Of, the dusky patriot
was in Havana province n was supposed
to be marching with his army through the
southern part Of the island; but he sup
posed army consisted In reality Of less
han a dozen negroes, their n~akedness
covered with shreds OF clothing, sugar
sacks or blankets. With this emnant Of
his following Quentin made his way to
the general headquarters OF Maxine Gomez
in the central part OF the island, where
that doughty old warrior heard his tales
Of great achievements in the west with som
in~credulity.
He ordered Quentin to 90 into Santiago
province and recruit another army OF black
soldierS, promising him that greater fame
than that already achieved would be his
reward. The black General departed and
after the lapse Of a month or two sent Comes
word that he had rscruitedan army OF 100
men and vas returning with his soldiers to
Join him at La RPFOrma.
Gomez waited anxiously for the appear
ance OF this army. When at last it did APP
pear Il proved 10 consist NJ a hand OF raga-
muffin negroes without clothes or hats
worthy the nAnle, and 10 number les b