The southern press., 1851-08-27
Asss..s. fss,s tAs es>nps.

~ iQvk. We have room only for the follow.
Ing portion Of the statement Herald
THE oUrRAGEs TO THE DEAD BODIES or THE
MAssAcRED FIFTY
A desire has been shown in some quarters to
relieve ihe Spaniards in Havana from the just
odium and disgust naturally awakened in every
bosom by the reyoIling proclamation to which
some Of the dead bodies were subjected after the
massacre.
The undersigned, therefore, feel called upon
to publish the following extracts OF letters re-
ceived BY various Cuban gentlemen in New
York, from their friends in Havana In all cases
these letters proceed from persons OF perfectly
reliable characters. One Of them u is from a
Jpaniard himself, writing TO his own son, with
acknowledged shame for what he c0niesses; an
other + Is from u gentleman Of the most emi-
nent repute in Havana for the best qualities Of
human nature. We might easily multiply simi-
lar proofs. We send the originals OF several Of
the letters for the inspection of the editors TO
whom We have the honor Of addressing this
communication.
We desire to have il particularly borne in
mind, that the authors of these barbarities were
the Spanish rabble of Havana, and would pledge
our lives that no Cuban beheld the scene with
other emotions than horror. They constituted
the class to whom it was day of bloody Joy
and exultation. No person familiar with the
history of the Spanish civil wars among them
selves, will receive with any surprise this spec
men Of the ferocous instincts of the Spanish
character one of the symptoms of which is to
be seen in their bloody bull-6ghts, and fights of
wild beasts. Hundreds of far more horrid at
rocities are we'll known to have occurred in
their massacres Of prisoners, and treatment Of
their remains Even cannibalism is not unknown
on such occasions to the experience OF some Of
the Spanish provinces.
The letters are all Of the date of the evening
Of 10Th or the l7th inst.
LETTER |.
The city of Havana has witnes ssed to-day, the
most shocking spectacle which could have been
presented to the eyes of a civilized world, and
which even the Cufres would have behefd with
horror. The pen shfinks from describing it,
The Roman people, when they used to delight
in cruel entertainments remained far behind the
Spaniards here yesterday After the cowardly
murder of fifty-two men, officers and soldiers,
they gave up a certain number of them to an un
brided rabbe, who, like vultures, divided the
inanmate remains OF these unfortunate enthu-
siasts of liberty, who foil we know not how, into
the power of the forces of the government. We
do not know how it occurred, because there are
so many different statements that we do not
know what to believe. In their savage excite
ment, when they were returning from the execu-
ton, with the members of these unfortunate men,
the most horrid exclamations were heard from
them, and |, myself, heard one who was to dine
on the brains of Yankee. In the confectionery
establishment of the Dominica, | saw another
exhibiting portions of the body of another.
revolt from continuing these accounts; and, to
conclude, will tell you that the noise and the
cries presented faithful reminder Of a bull.
lighting arena on day of performance.
LETTER II.
While rejoice in this success of our arms-l
I this is from Spanard, and refers to the cap.
ture Of the fifty men 10 the launches Il cannot
but lament and blush for the excesses which
have been committed by the rabblc upon the
corpses of those unfortunate men, who, per-
haps, have been deceived by our enemies TO
come here. have seen pieces Of the bodies of
these men, and parts Of their clothes and their
shoes, iD the hands ofsome of my countrymen,
and have been told that in front Of the palace of
the general-[here is situated the Dominica es-
]--they have been showing and tri-
umphing over a piece Of skull.
LETTER III.
send herewith the enclosed despatch, giving
an account of the late occurrences here. ] will
add in conclusion, that the fifty prisoners have
been shot, and that their remains were profaned
by the mob, who trampled on them, and after
wards divided among themselves the shoes and
caps, and even some Of the members of those
unfortunate men. OF Lopez nothing certain is
known, except that on the 10th he routed the
troops of the government
LETTER ".
General Lopez landed at Playitas, on the
llth, it is said, and The following day the news
was known here. You can imagine the excite.
ment caused by it; the government on the one
side full of the greatest alarm, and the people |
exhibiting their satisfaction in their countenan-
ces. A column Immediately set out under the |
of Emma, the second in command, and |
is said to have had an engagement on the 18th |
with the liberating force, in which vast num-
Der of Spaniards p rished, our friends having |
obtained a complete victory Emma sent out to
ask more achievements, which have been sent
to him. We know nothing more at present.
IL remains only for me to relate to you that
Havana has been the witness of scene which |
has had no parallel in the annals of civilized |
nations. The steamer Habanero entered this
morning with fifty American prisoners, who
we're shot to-day at eleven, without any form Of
rial, and without having given them even the
lime necessary TO prepare for death M Chris
ans. The troops marched out to the Castle of
Atares, the place of the execution, whero was
'ound assembled a numerous multitude Of
Spaniards, since there did not remain clerk in
shop who did not go to be present at the act.
This circumstance would be nothing in itself,
lad il not been for the barbarities that followed
or after the prisoners were shot in the back
heir bodies were mutlated in the most horrid
manner, not only soldiers but officers them
selves took pleasure in stabbing and trampling
,n the corpses, which were tied by the feet,
heir members being mutilaied, whi h were ex-
,ibited as trophies Of victory. ] cannot con-
inue further, my pen trembles in relating such +
lcts.
CuBA.--Since the arrival of the news of the
auding of Lopez, which we have already pub
ished, our city has been quite alive with Cuba
excitement On rising yesterday morning. our
'yes were greeted by ilag with lone star and
hree stripes, streaming the breeze from the top
If the Exchange Soon another, much larger,
1oated out most gracefully from the Georgian