Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-12-09
DEATH OF CIPRIANO CASTRO,
'LION OF THE ANDES" TAKES
ADVENTUROUS CHARACTER

WASHINGTON, Dec. death Of
the Stormy Petrol of the Carib-
bean" Cipriano Castro, in Porto
Rico, marks the passing Of an epoch
in Latin America.
General Castro, the former Vene-
zuelan dictator, was the last but
one Of the group of strong men"
who ruled the Caribbean countries
with iron hands and, on occasion,
defied the powers of Europe and the
United States.
Diaz, autocrat of Mexico, was the
first to go. Last month Estrada
Cabrera, long the dictator of
Guatemala, died as virtual pris-
oner in the country where his ev-
cry within was once law. Only Cen
eral Vicente Gomez, Castro's sue
cessor in Venezuela, remains even
as a remote representative of the
old order which will never return.
State department officials who
served in South America years ago
were swapping yarns today about
Castro's exploits. But the most col
orful tales were told at the Central
American legations.
Variously described as '"The Lion
of the Andes" "the Wasp" ''the
Stormy Petrol of the Caribbean"
and 1.-The man who defied the world
and got away with it, Castro was
ranked as the cleverest imitator of
Napoleon on this side Of the At
lantic.
Was of Mixed Blood
Like Napoleon he was mountain
born A mixture of Indian and ne
gro blood gave him a wild reckless
ness which made him the natural
leader in the Colombian frontier re-
gion of Ell Capacho where he grew
up.
After knocking about the noun
tains as a muleteer, he began a sort
of Robin Hood existence.
Having grown fairly prosperous,
he set himself up as a ranchman.
Craving the old excitement, he en-
tered politics which in his region
was of q primitive, knock down-and-
drag-out sort.
At the age of 35, in 1890, he was
sent down to the capital as the con-
gressional representative of the
JiJNS 'AlIl liuACA'iN w
the city politicians over his crude
appearance and ways, made him bit
ter against their regime. But ne
bided his time until he mastered
their WAYS and the political ma
chinery ot the government.
Then he hit at his enemies In the
weakest spot of their political ar
NOR. He chose the ancient and eff
fective call to revolution: Taxes
are crushing the people"
With only his little band which
had followed him in his early days,
he raised the flag Of revolt and
started down the mountain passes.
He met detachment of NATIONAL
troops and. resorting to the guer-
rilla form of attack, won the bat
tie. The mountaineers, smarting
under heavy taxes and stirred by
Casuo's daring, rallied to his sup
port.
Army Grows Larger
Three months later his army had
grown large enough TO attack the
capital. With spectacular personal
bravery he led his nondescript troops
to victory. In the charge. so the
SUI SOCS. llG leu II plli LIS tloi ~
and broke both legs, but was hoisted
back into the saddle and continued
to fight.
He proclaimed himself dictator in
1899. after the supporters of Pres
ident Andrade had deserted to the
winning side. Until 1908 he ruled
as master of Venezuela, despite
many attempts at counter reVolu-
ton. Finally, he was forced to so
to Europe for an operation. General
Vincente Gomez took control.
Among his famous acts of def
ance was his reply to the pam
American congress at Mexico City.
which expressed the hope that his
boundary dispute with Colombia
would be settled without bloodshed.
He replied with an insulting mes
sage telling the congress to mind its
own business, and that no man or
nation could tell him what to do.
Even Great Britain, Germany and
Italy. had to eat humble pie when
they crossed swords with the dicta-
tor. They sent warships to block
ade all the ports of his country and
seize the customs Castro defied
them TO do their worst.
And in the end they withdrew
leaving the dispute to arbitration.
After his downfall he floated
around from Spain 10 other Euro
penn countries, being driven out OF
many places as a political undesir'
able. Three different times he
gained admittance TO the United
States, but never for long. Since
1915 he has lived in Porto Rico, his
but for his family alone with his
first place of refuge, friendless ano
memories.
assay of ore Showing forty ounces
of sold to the ton in a we'll defined
vein discovered by George Kennedy