Many don’t know the story of José Maldonado Román, known as ’El Aguilar Blanca’ (The White Eagle) by his supporters. He was billed a ”bandit” by the Spanish and US governments and was one of those who fought in La Intentona de Yauco. Maldonado was also the original founder of Salon Boricua, later run by Vidal Santiago Diaz

José Maldonado Román was born in Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico in 1874. His resistance started early, when he was first called a ”bandit” in his teens. He would routinely harass and steal from the Spanish plantation owners and military stationed on the island.

On March 24, 1897, when he was 23 years old, he joined Fidel Velez and his group in Susta Alta, Puerto Rico (near Yauco). Their plan was to attack the barracks of the Spanish Civil Guard, so they could gain ammunition and arms. They were ambushed by the Spanish military and had to retreat. This became known was ’El Intentona De Yauco’. They tried again on March 26, however 150 were arrested. Jose was able to escape by hiding in a sugarcane field. He then escaped to New York and met the Cuban Revolutionary Committee, later joining the Cuban Liberation Army. He also traveled to Cuba to fight against Spain before returning to Puerto Rico, where he continued to resist Spanish rule.

Maldonado was one of the many at the time that thought the United States was going to be bringing democracy and freedom to Puerto Rico. When it became clear that the Americans were just new oppressors, he continued his resistance, now against the American oppressor. On August 16, 1898 Gen. Guy Vernon Henry send a message to Gen. Nelson Appleton Miles that Maldonado and his men were in Jayuya and reinforcements were needed. Later that year, December 18, 1898 Gen. John Rutter Brooke got a telegraph that Maldonado had set fire to a plantation and was heading to San Juan next. He was arrested. Thanks to Eugenio Deschamps, who intervened and testified for Maldonado, he was exonerated. In March of 1899, José was involved in a fight in Ponce and was arrested again. He also sustained some injuries that resulted in loss of sight in one of his eyes. Due to the support of the local press, he was released.

In 1905 he was declared a bandit by the US. After this, he became a professional barber and opened ’Salon Boricua’. Maldonado was known to be generous by those who knew him. He was a close friend of Pedro Albizu Campos. Because of his friendship with two mess sergeants and a procurement officer from the 65 infantry (The Borinqueneers), who sold him a truckload of food every month at extremely discounted prices, he fed about 50 poor families in Barrio Obrero. He sold to the food at extremely low prices; this allowed them to afford it, while maintaining their pride.

Maldonado hired a young Vidal Santiago Diaz as a barber in 1930. In May, of the same year, he introduced Vidal to Pedro Albizu Campos.

In September 1930, José went to the San Juan Presbyterian Hospital because of anemia. He was given “iron injections”. Two weeks later he couldn’t swallow, developed a lump in his throat and lost 20 pounds. He went back to the doctor, who assured him that he just needed to adjust to the medication. He gave him a few more injections and sent him home. In January 1931, he was diagnosed with throat cancer. Albizu Campos was alarmed and told Maldonado to get his medical records from the hospital. They refused to give him the records. After hearing this, Albizu prepared to sue the doctor and hospital, however there wasn’t enough time; José died in February 1931. Albizu investiagted and discovered that the doctor José was going to was none other than Cornelius P. Rhoads. The same Cornelius P. Rhoads that bragged about killing and transplanting cancer into his Puerto Rican patients. There is no doubt that Maldonado was one of Rhoad’s victims.

After José Maldonado’s death, Albizu informed Vidal Santiago Diaz that José left the shop in his care. In 1950, Salon Boricua, under the ownership of Santiago Diaz was where the famous gunfight between the barber and 41 heavily armed National guardsmen, police and military, took place. Vidal was shot 5 times, once in the head, yet still managed to survive the attack. He lived to the age of 82, and continued to work as a barber.

‘El Aguilar Blanca’ is one of the many little known and unheralded patriots and defenders of Puerto Rico. May his resistance and struggle never be forgotten.