Intentona de Yauco - El Boricua

Terreforte was named by the committee as its Vice-President. In 1892, Terreforte and themembers of the Revolutionary committee adopted the design (which is the current design) of aflag similar to the Cuban flag, but with its colors inverted, as the flag to represent the Republic ofPuerto Rico.Intentona de YaucoAntonio Mattei LluberasIn 1896, a group of "Yaucanos" (as the natives of Yauco are known) who believed in fullindependence of Puerto Rico joined forces and met in Barrio Barinas of Yauco where they madeplans to overthrow the government. The group was led by Antonio Mattei Lluberas, a wealthycoffee plantation owner, and Mateo Mercado. On December of that year, the local Civil Guarddiscovered their plans and proceeded to arrest all those involved who, besides Mercado andMattei Lluberas, included Dario and Carlos Franchesi and Emiliano Lavergue, however theywere soon released and returned to their respective homes.In 1897, Mattei Lluberas visited the Puerto Rican Revolutionary Committee in New York City.There he met with Ramon Emiterio Betances, Juan de Mata Terreforte and Aurelio MéndezMartinez and together they proceeded to plan a major coup. The uprising was to be directed byBetances, organized by Mendez Mercado and the armed forces were to be commanded byGeneral Rius Rivera. At the time Ríus Rivera, who joined José Martí's struggle for Cubanindependence as a member of the Cuban Liberation Army, was the Commander-in-Chief of theCuban Liberation Army of the West. In accordance to the plan, Mattei Lluberas purchased30,000 machetes which were to be distributed amongst the rebels. Mattei Lluberas returned toPuerto Rico with a Puerto Rican flag and began to proceed with the plans of the revolt with hisgroup. The Budet Rivera brothers established an insurgent training camp in the farm of GullermoVelazco. Fellow rebels, Gerardo Forest Velez and Agustin F. Morales (himself a general in theArmy of the Dominican Republic), were in charge of propaganda and traveled throughout theisland seeking public support for their cause. Cuban revolutionist Tomas Estrada Palma, offereda contribution of 500 rifles with half a million rounds of ammunition and his comrade offered asteamship with an invading force of 200 men under the command of General Agustin F.Morales. The revolution was set for the beginning of the month of December 1897.The political situation at the time in Puerto Rico was different then the one in 1868, when "ElGrito de Lares" occurred. Luis Muñoz Rivera and his Autonomist party had signed a pact withPraxedes Mateo Sagasta, the leader of the Spanish Liberal Party, which stated that if he (Sagasta)and the liberals assumed power in Spain, he would grant Puerto Rico autonomy. Thus, thepolitical leaders of Puerto Rico believed that any attempt by the separatist movement to seek full

independence for the island would be a threat to what they were trying to accomplish and insteadof being granted more autonomy, the island would be dealt with harshly by the Spanishauthorities. Therefore, when the Mayor of Yauco Francisco Lluch Barreras heard the rumors ofthe planned uprising, he immediately notified General Sabas Marín González the governor of theisland.Flag flown by Fidel Vélez and his men during the "Intentona de Yauco" revoltFidel Velez, a native of Sabana Grande and one of the separatist leaders, found out that theSpanish authorities knew about their plans and immediately held a meeting with Mattei Lluberasand the other leaders. Fearing that they all would soon be arrested, he demanded that theinsurrection start immediately and not in December. In the discussion that followed, the otherleaders did not agree with him, fearing that such a haste action would lead to the same disastrousresults of El Grito de Lares.On March 24, 1897, Fidel Velez and his men met at Susua Arriba, just outside of Yauco. Theyunfurled the Puerto Rican flag for the first time in Puerto Rican soil and marched towards thetown. They planned to attack the barracks of the Spanish Civil Guard with the aim of gainingcontrol of the arms and ammunition, that were stored there. The plan did not succeed becausewhen they arrived they were ambushed by the Spanish forces, who had set up positions and werewaiting for them. A firefight ensued upon the arrival of the group and the rebels quicklyretreated. On March 26, another group headed by Jose Nicolas Quiñones Torres and RamonTorres attempted to fight the Spaniards in a barrio called "Quebradas" of Yauco, however saidrevolt also failed. Over 150 rebels were arrested, accused of various crimes against the state andsent to prison in the City of Ponce. Velez fled to St. Thomas where he lived in exile, whileMattei Lluberas went into exile in New York City and joined a group known as the "PuertoRican Commission".AftermathSagasta's party won the elections in Spain and on November 25, 1897, Spain granted Puerto Ricoautonomy. Muñoz Rivera served as Secretary of Grace, Justice and Government and Chief of theCabinet for the independent Government of Puerto Rico. In December 1897, those whoparticipated in the Intentona de Yauco were granted clemency and released from jail.Following the sinking of the battleship Maine in Havana harbor, Cuba, the United Statesforwarded an ultimatum to Spain to withdraw from Cuba. In response, Spain broke offdiplomatic relations with the United States, and on April 23, 1898, Spain declared war. On April25, the U.S. Congress declared that a state of war between the United States and Spain hadexisted since April 20. One of the United States' principal objectives in the Spanish-AmericanWar was to take control of Spanish possessions in the Atlantic — Puerto Rico and Cuba.

Intentona de Yauco - El Boricua

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