Mathias Bruckman
|
|
Mathias Bruckman (1812 – 1868), born in New Orleans, Louisiana, was a leader in Puerto Rico's independence revolution against Spain. His Father was of French ancestry and his mother Puerto Rican. He was raised and educated in Louisiana. He moved to Puerto Rico with his family after the United States purchased that region from the French.
He settled in the City of Mayaguez and opened a "Colmado" (Grocery Store) and became very successful. Like many other Puerto Ricans at the time, he resented the political injustices practiced by Spain in the island. This led him to become a believer in the cause of the independence movement.
Bruckman admired "Ramon Emeterio Betances" and "Segundo Ruiz Belvis". It was this admiration which inspired him to become an outspoken advocate for independence.
In his Colmado, people would normally gather on a daily basis to discuss politics. Bruckman eventually befriended Manuel Rojas and his brother, Miguel and joined them in the conspiracy to revolt against Spain. Together, with a group of other patriots, they formed revolutionary committees. These committees were mainly based on the west coast towns of Puerto Rico. The first revolutionary committee formed was Mathias Bruckmans in Mayaguez. He used his Colmado as his headquarters and its code name was: "Capa Prieto". Manuel Rojas committee in Lares was code named "Centro Bravo".
On September 23, 1868, the revolution began and the town of Lares was taken in what was to be known as El "Grito de Lares". The revolutionists declared Puerto Rico to be the free "Republic of Puerto Rico". However, the Spanish were already forewarned and soon defeated the small Army of liberators.
Mathias Bruckman and Baldomero Baurer (a fellow revolutionist) went into hiding. Many of the others were either killed or imprisoned, including Manuel Rojas and Mariana Bracetti. A farm worker, Francisco Qiñones, who worked in the Asuncion Plantation, betrayed Bruckman and Baurer and led the Spanish authorities to where they were hiding. Bruckman and Baurer refused to surrender and eventually were executed.
Mathias Bruckman died in the town of Lares, Puerto Rico in 1868.