Home › Outline History of Cuba from May, 1896, to January, 1897 › Outline History of Cuba from May, 1896, to January, 1897: Senor
Outline History of Cuba from May, 1896, to January, 1897: Senor
Senor Palma, the head of the Cuban Junta, refers effectively to Dr. Zertucha's letter, saying: "It is a sufficient indication of the man's character that he surrenders to the enemy, under the conditions in his case, and that he is treated in such a kindly manner by the Spaniards. "What more natural than that he, in combination with Spanish diplomacy, should be the instrument by which the revolution should be discredited? He certainly knows that this interview will ultimately be sent to Cuba, where it cannot be received by the Spaniards otherwise than with demonstrations of gratitude. "I know from letters received from General Antonio Maceo personally, as well as from a person of our mutual confidence, through whom we frequently communicated, that Maceo was not in the desperate straits depicted by Zertucha. The following extract from a letter lately received will show that Maceo was well satisfied with the condition of affairs: ANTONIO MACEO'S LETTER. "General Maceo wrote, under date of November 14th, as follows: "The active operations of the campaign have prevented me, much against my wishes, from answering immediately your welcome communications of the 19th and 25th of October. "General Rius Reviera happily disembarked with all the war material sent, which was well employed in a series of hard combats which we sustained against our enemies, but which were all most signal victories for us. The object of Weyler was to imprison our army between two fortified lines, and make us suffer a tremendous defeat by means of simultaneous attacks by forces previously placed in those positions; but the most brilliant success crowned our efforts--six of the enemy's columns which tried to impede our progress, after our saving the expedition of General Rius Rivera, being destroyed." It is also responsibly stated that Maceo, on the day before his death, referred with confidence to the rebel troops in Pinar del Rio. (Of course there is a weekly story that Maceo is alive-an effort to utilize his ghost.) Senor Palma says: "General Maceo was loved and supported by all men struggling for Cuban independence, whether in a military or civil capacity. If a man was ever idolized by his people, that man was General Maceo. Dr. Zertucha knows that, but perhaps he has an object in making his false assertions." This sort of statement has the power of moderation, and the malice of Dr. Zertucha in dragging in the race question is manifest. M. Caronado, formerly editor of La Discusion, of Havana, knew Maceo well, and says of him:
Maceo was a natural politician in that he had the genius of divining popular opinion, and taking the leadership of popular movements. He was in Havana at that time sounding men and scheming for the present revolution. He was always of the sunniest disposition, closely attaching all people to him--a man of the strictest moral integrity; he never drank wine, he never smoked, and that in a land where tobacco is as common as potatoes in Ireland; and he never played cards. He had a great abhorrence of men who drank to excess, and would not tolerate them about him.
He always dressed when in Havana in the most finished style. His massive frame--he was about five feet ten inches in height and unusually broad-shouldered--was displayed to advantage always in frock coat, closely buttoned, and he usually wore a silk hat. He was neat even to fastidiousness in his dress. He usually carried a cane.
When Maceo took the field, however he roughed it with his men, and dressed accordingly.
In active service he was habitually armed: with a long-barreled 38 calibre revolver with a mother-of-pearl handle, and carrying a Toledo blade made in the form of a machete. The handle of this machete was finely wrought silver and turquoise shell, and had four notches in it, into which the fingers could easily fit. Maceo always had three horses with him on his marches, the favorite being a big white one. ANTONIO MACEO.
Stern and unyielding, though others might bow to the tempest; Slain by the serpent who cowered in hiding beneath thee, Slumber secure where the hands of thy comrades have laid thee; Dim to thine ear be the roar of the battle above thee. Set, now, is thy sun, going down in darkness and menace, While through the thick-gathering clouds one red ray of vengeance Streams up to heaven, blood-red, from the place where thou liest. Though the sword of Death's angel lies cold on thy forehead, Still to the hearts of mankind speaks the voice of thy spirit, Still does thine angry shade arrest the step of the tyrant. V. B. --N. Y. Sun.