Uncle Paez — The Lion of the Apure
Paez was one of Bolivar’s most daring and picturesque generals. It would take a whole book to tell of his romantic adventures and how he was exiled and came to live in New York. There is a painting of him and his dashing cowboys in the Municipal Building of the City of New York.
At first he was a llanero or cowboy of the plains. He was of mighty strength, and was a magnificent horseman. He knew well how to use the llanero’s lance with all its cunning tricks. His men were cowboys, horsemen, and fighters by instinct. They followed him into battle with wild llanero shouts. Uncle Paez, they called him, When Bolivar with his troops reached the Apure River, he could not cross for there were no boats. A few canoes were drawn up on the opposite bank, guarded by six enemy gunboats.
As Bolivar paced up and down impatiently, he exclaimed:—
“Have I no brave man near me, who can take those gunboats?”
“They shall be yours in an hour,” said Paez coolly, who was standing by.
“Impossible!” said Bolivar.
“Leave that to me,” said Paez, and off he galloped. He soon returned with a body of cowboys picked for their bravery.
“To the water, lads!” he cried, which was what he always said when they went swimming.
The men immediately unsaddled their horses, stripped themselves to their drawers, hung their swords about their necks, and stood ready.
“Let those follow Uncle, who please,” cried Paez, and urged his horse into the river.
The men rode in after him straight toward the gunboats.
When the Spanish saw the dreaded cowboys approaching, who never gave quarter, they fired hurriedly and missed. Then seized with panic, some cast themselves into the water, and others escaped in canoes.
Only one prisoner was taken, a woman who fired the last gun at the cowboys, but who could not stop them from boarding the gunboats.
Thus Bolivar gained possession of the region on both sides of the Apure.
Paez is sometimes called the “Lion of the Apure.”