Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-09-18
Execution of Lopez.

The best account we have seen of the exc
cution of Lopez, SAYS the Post, is contained in
letter in. the Newbnryport Herald, from 8
well known merchant, dated at Havana, lC
O'Clock, Sept. L. 1t confirms the reports OF
the demoniac treatment of the fifty Americans
by the rabble and the soldiery. Indeed there
is no good reason to doubt that indignites were
offered to them, dying and dead, which would
eternally disgrace any civilized government OF
any people but Spaniards. A wretch, with a
bundle of bloody clothes under his arm, and
his hands stained with blood, approached a
gentleman in the street, and thrusting his fin
gers to his nose, said, Smell the blood of the
American pirates Another gentleman testi-
fies that he saw the soldiers, after shooting
stab the Americans with their bayonets and
beat them with the butt-ends of their muskets
as they were breathing their last. One of the
prisoners cried, as they were forced to kneel,
You are all infamous cowards the Ameri-
can people will take vengeance on you -
But to the letter in the Herald =
This morning Con. Lopez was executed as
criminal The scene was imposing although
awful. all the military in the city were
formed in large hollow square in the mid
die was the machine of death, on platform
raised ten feet from the ground on posts, with
railing round, and wide steps from the ground
III front. On the platform was the garrote, an
iron seat or chair, with the back in one piece,
extending higher than the person Citing on
the seat. On his back, even with head, is the
apparatus of death, consisting of iron clasps,
which are to fit the sides of the head, and a
clasp TO pass round the throat From behind
is long iron bar attached TO a screw, which,
put in motion by the hangman giving one turn,
draws the side and throat pieces tight, and at
the same instant sends an iron into the spinal
marrow of the neck from behind, which causes
instantaneous death. Such was the machine
for Gen Lopez. He behaved like brave man
throughout the awful moments He walked
surrounded by guard, from the Punta fort TO
the steps of the garrote, as cool, apparently, as
if he was at the head of an army. He was
dressed In long white gown and white cap /;
his wrists were tied in front and above his ell
bows behind, with the cords held BY soldiers.
lie assembled the steps with two civilians,
friends, no priests, as common in such cases.
He faced round and seemed TO take a good
look on the soldiers and the immense thrung of
people outside of the square, and then turned
round and knelt in prayer for about one minute
lie then rose and turned toward the front, and
in a clear manly voice, and in tones loud enough
TO be heard by the thousands present. (for it
was as still as night spoke as follows -
'Countrymen, | most solemnly in this last aw-
tul moment of my life, ask your pardon for any
injury have caused you. 1t was not my wish
10 injure any one: my object was your freedom
and happiness Here he was interrupted by
the commanding officer in front ION horseback. J
He concluded by saying, My intention was
good, and my hope is in Cod He then bow
ed and turned round and took his seat appa-
rently with as much GOODNESS as if he had been
taking chair in room with friends. He
placed his head back between the iron grasps !;
the negro hangman then adjusted the iron throat
clasp, and tied his feet TO bolts on each side of
the seat. During this preparation Lopez was
in conversation with his friend The tall ne
gro hangman, who is kept as public execution
err, then took his place at the iron bar behind.
Lopez kissed the cross handed to him by his
friend; the negro then gave one turn of the
wrench and Lopez died instantly without the
least struggle. This was precisely as the
clock struck seven. The military at once re-
turned to the city, the band playing a quick
step; the thousands dispersed with little or
no noise ; some of the rabble tried to get up
row, but it would not go. There was solem-
nifty in the whole scene which struck into the
hearts Of the mob, which were but few days
previous in wild ecstacy of JOY at a brutal exc
cution of fifty human beings, on whose corpses
they could glut savage revenge by commit
ting the most inhuman indignities.''