The island, rich in sugar and tobacco, slave territory, too, would have been valuable to the South's ambitions. Narciso Lopez, with a citizen of Kentucky named Crittenden, led one expedition from New Orleans into Cuba, but it was a failure, and there the matter ended.

The most important rebellion in Cuba, prior to 1895, was the one Cespedes began in 1868, which lasted ten years. With Cespedes

were associated General Maximo Gomez and General Quesada. A provisional government for the Cuban republic was formed in 1869. Cespedes became President, and Quesada commander-in-chief of the Cuban army. The latter, toward the end of the ten years' fighting, was succeeded by General Thomas Jordan, who had been on General Beauregard's staff in the Confederate army.

The Cuban rebellion of 1868 was planned in New York, and the rebels received much aid from residents of the United States. The

Washington government did not, however, recognize the Cuban republic, although some of the South American republics did.

Many filibustering expeditions were fitted out in the United States, and out of one of these arose the famous "Virginius" affair.

The "Virginius," flying the stars and stripes, with a party of filibusters on board, was capCapture of the tured by a Spanish war-ship in "Virginius" British waters, near Jamaica. The vessel was taken to Santiago, on the south coast of Cuba, and fifty-three of the prisoners taken were shot in the public square, some of them after ten-minute trials.

As Spain had no right to seize the "Virginius" in British waters, a British man-of-war hurried to Santiago. Her commander announced his intention of bombarding the city if another prisoner was shot. More British and some American war-ships arrived, and the Spanish authorities delivered the survivors of the Virginius" expedition into their hands.

This rebellion was ended in 1878 by a treaty, after the Cubans had been greatly weakened by privation and lack of ammunition.

During this rebellion General Calixto Garcia had been captured and sent to a Spanish prison. Escaping, he came to New York in 1880, where, with José Marti, he planned another revolution. They went to Cuba, but after six months decided the country was not ready to revolt. In 1884 General Gomez and General Maceo visited the United States and en

deavored to obtain aid in freeing Cuba, but unsuccessfully.

This practically ended the rebellions in Cuba until February, 1895, when the revolutionary movement began which led to war between Spain and the United States.

CHAPTER IV

THE INSURRECTION OF 1895

OPPRESSED by Spain, unrepresented in Madrid, with Spanish officers enriching themselves by extortion in Cuba, with no native Cuban holding any position of importance in the insular government, the Cubans, early in 1895, plotted another revolt from Spain. The revolutionists established headquarters in New York. The president of the revolutionary party was José Marti, the secretary Gonzalo de Quesada, and the treasurer Benjamin F. Guerra. Prominent in this Cuban Junta was Tomas Estrada Palma, who later was made the delegate of the Cuban provisional government to the United States.

The leaders of the revolution were men of education and ability. Marti, who had been Leaders of twice banished from Cuba, was a the Cubans doctor of laws. He had held a university professorship, had written books, and had been consul in New York for several of the South American countries. Gonzalo de

Quesada was a graduate of Columbia University, and a practising lawyer. Benjamin F. Guerra was a wealthy merchant of New York.

Marti, with General Maximo Gomez, left New York for Cuba in the first week of February, 1895. Insurrectionists in the island had been informed of their coming and were only waiting for their arrival to acknowledge General Gomez as commander in chief of the

insurgent forces. General Julio Sanguily headed the rebels in Matanzas province, General Moncada the rebels of the eastern provinces, and General Calixto Garcia commanded still another force. The uprising came five days before the end of February, the insurgent forces in various parts of the island taking the field on the same day. A declaration of Cuban independence was issued on Feb. 24, 1895.

No sooner had the revolution begun than filibustering expeditions from the United States Filibuster started, landing in Cuba arms, ammuing Expe- nition, and supplies, and even reinditions forcements for the Cuban army. The Competitor," the "Dauntless," the "Silver Heels" and several other coasting vessels made repeated trips to Cuba. The "Competitor" was