The primitive Republican. (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-1852, 1851-09-18
Correspondence Of the N. 0. Picayune
Execution of Lopez.
havana, Sept. /, 1876


Last evening the steamer Pizarro came
off the harbor, and it3was rumored that she |
had Gen. Lopez on board; but that he would
not be brought in until after night. a
largo body of soldiers, whose dirty appear
ance and tired, worn-down countenances de-
noted the severe and fatiguing duty they
had recently undergone, marched through
the streets, preceded by a band Of music,
and were received with the most enthusias-
tic demonstrations of JOY by the citizens who
crowded the house-tops and streets through
which they passed These had recently ar
rived from the seat of war, and were the
guard to whose care was entrusted the GUS
toby Of Lopez. Many of the inhabitants,
unable to restrain their JOY, Rugged and
kissed these dirty representatives of the
power Of her Spanish Majesty, who did not
seem to relish it much.
At late hour last night it was officially
announced in the city that Lopez was to be
executed this morning, and at daybreak
crowds were to be seen vending their way
towards the small fort of the Punta, outside
of the walls, at the entrance of the harbor,
and directly opposite the Moro Castle. [
Joined in the stream, and, on nearing the
! city gates, an immense crowd were seen
to be assembled, many of whom had been
waiting for hours. The whole space be-
tween the Punta fort and the Carcel was
4 filled with troops, cavalry and infantry, who
formed an immense square, In the midst of
which was erected the scafold, about twcn-
ty feet high, the top surrounded by balco-
my, and in the centre of the platform was
THE garrota. This consisted of small up
fright post, at the back of which was an iron
screw, with long handle, and in front was
|, the fatal collar and the chain in which the
victim was seated. A short time after my
arrival, a procession Of priests, with long
black caps, carrying a black flag or banner,
passed into the Punta, which was surrounded
with soldiers, and about twenty minutes after.
! wards the tolling of a bell gave notice that
! Lopez was approaching The drums called
] the soldiers to order, and the mournful pro
cession almost Immediately entered the
Z square. The queerly dressed priests marched
I first, after whom came a detachment of the
: soldiers who brought him in, dressed in the
: same dirty clothes they wore when they ar
: rived, andi the midst with priest on either
side, marched Narcisco Lopez. He wai
: dressed in a long white garment resembling
a shroud, with hood which covered his head
S but did not conceal bis features The pro
g cession moyed slowly across the square to tn
3 scafold, and Lopez ascended, together witt
q priest and one OF two officers The negr
excutioner had preceded him.
: As well as Icouldsee between the bayo
: nets of the soldiers, Lopez walked with
: firm step, and on relehing the platform b
kneeled down while the priest reeited
= prayer On rising, he took cross in hi
/ hand and kissed il repeatedly. Ona Of til
officers on the seaHqld then commanded silenc
!, in 3 loud tone, ana man instant eyerythin
was IS still as the grave Lopez spoke for
few Minutes, but the square formed b. tt
e soldiers was 50 large tliat i vas ilIpossibl
= to distinguish y hat he said His yoieeloA
& sever. sounded clea- and firm. lie the
4 seated imself in tlle cRair, the execution
Fadju sea the collar aronndh his neck gave q
turns nth the screw, and AaTclsco L0ps
was WITH his God a slight conF1lsIg
i motion Of the hands vas The only moYemeT
5 could perceive n he body
rue immense cr assembled haFe
g9a dee9l eFa e
naee ap vlig
bp
ned tae
unfi
aa tie soldss aiine
he ground