Enrique Blanco was from a small campo in the outskirts of Santiago called Don Pedro (where my mother's family is from). He was one of the first men that ever tried to kill Trujillo early on in the regime. I've been going back & forth with a fellow DT member about him, and decided to open up a thread. Would anyone care to share any information they have about this obscure historical character (I don't know much myself) ?

There are many legends and even songs about Enrique Blanco. He was in the military and was accused of shooting some prisoners. Some said it was blackmail by Trujillo to have him arrested.
It was said he liked to do "brujeria" and went into trance states at times.
His courage was legendary and Trujillo could never catch up with him after he became his sworn enemy. All stories coincide that he had uncommon valor and courage and even Trujillo was afraid of him.
He used to run barefoot and did so for a long time until his feet swelled up and he could not run any more and he took his own life.

Wow. my grandfather told me the same story exactly as you described.

El Legendario Enrique Blanco

Well, allow that "fellow DT member" to put his 2 cheles.

The story about Enrique Blanco I care to believe is the one my dad told me, which is exactly the same I read in book.

While working for the ejercito, Blanco and another "soldier" were to take some prisoners to the capital.

On his way, he killed all of them.

When asked why, he said they tried to escape.

The other "soldier" that was not the case as the men's hands were tied and never tried to escape.

After a formal investigation, he was found guilty, sent to prison and somehow managed to escape.

Although one "version" says that before he killed himself, he told someone to say he killed him so that person could collect a reward, I don't know if I believe such a "version".

Anyway, other than him killing himself, that's the version I believe.

Wilfrido Vargas recorded a Merengue titled "Enrique Blanco", see if you can get a hold of it.

But I have to warn you, it's much muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuch older than you. JAJAJA.

Let's hope others can put their 2 centavos also since I know the "versions" are endless.

I've heard all the "stories" you mentioned except the one about Trujillo being afraid of him.

I didn't like the man but one thing I know, Trujillo was afraid of NOBODY.

I heard Trujillo was terrified of him.

I am not saying such "story" didn't exist, all I am saying if that I have never heard it.

If you think about it, it doesn't even make sense.

If Trujillo had the "marbles" to tell the US "NO" when they wanted him to leave the country, had the "marbles" to control a country for so many years and was killed while trading gunfire, do you really think he was going to be afraid of someone like EB?.

Maybe many think so. I am not one of those many.