Washington telegraph., 1851-10-15

Lopez separated into small bodies, and
dispersed through the mountains, throw
ing away their guns aud everything
which could cucumber them in their
flight, seven men only manning with
the General large number were over
taken aud Immediately killed. l, myself
was one of the party of eight who had
previously determined OH leaving Lopez
aud attempting to escape from the island.
We remained in the mountains until
the morning of Tuesday, the Goth. when
having had hut meal in DAYS, aud feel
ing that We could bear it no longer. we de-
ternined to GO into the plains, consider
ing that it would be better 10 be killed
outright than die a lingering death from
starvation, which we certainly would up
in the mountains. t
We accordingly advanced to house
where we were treated with a great deal
of kindness, and received most excel
lent breakfast. An arrangement was
made to procure guide to the south
shore, with provisions, ETC., and we
were about to leave and conceal ourselves
until night, when, in the twlnkling of an
eye, we were surrounded by 200 armed
/
securely and inverted our pockets, con-
sidering the contents Lawful plunder
| That day we reached San ChristobaI.-
! Until we reached San Christobal, we
| were under .he impression that we were
/ to be Immediately shot, our only consola-
ton being that we were TO die with full
| Stomachs e.r. .-s- nd l.
On our arrival there, we were informed
that a proclamation had been issued ten
hours before our arrest, sparing the lives
of all ELL ibusters" who were made prs-
onerS. or gave themselves up, within four
days, except the traitor Lopez, after
whicn an ORDER dated. think, the 2lth
of April, (by which all foreigners found
in the island were ordered TO be put to
death J was to continue in tul. force. On
the 2Sth. there being then AZ prisoners
we left San Christoba! for Havana, and
on Friday night reached Guayamas, the
terminus of railroad from Havana
There an order was received from the
Captain General to proceed to Mariel
and embark, he being fearful that the
prisoners would be torn 10 pieces by the
rahbe at Havana. We embarked upon
the steamer Amendares; to proceed TO
Havana, when an express arrived, bring
ing information of the capture of Lopez
and the steamer was delayed to await
his arrival. which took place at o'clock
P. NJ on Sunday, the 2lst, when we
! immediately lett for Havana. Lopez
was entirely at liberty, aud smoked his
cigarette with apparently as much uE-
concern as he ever did in his life. Ou,-
side tho harbor of Merel, Lopez was
transferred to tine steam frlgate Plza:ro,
which conveyed him to Havana, aud
which he did not leave until he left the
next morning for the place OF execution.
The remainder of us were confined
that night in the City Prison. in the rear
Of the fort called the Ponta The prso-
ners passed through regular process,
their hair being first cut close TO their
heads, They then passed into the hands
of another barber, who deprived them OF
their whiskers; then another provided
them with prison uniform, and the ex-
ercises were terminated by big negro.
who securely fastened them in pairs by
chain, similar in size aud weight to log
chain, firmly secured to the ancle.
At the time of my release from prison,
which was at 10 o'clock on the night OF
the 4th inst. there were leo Of our force
prisoners. They were al: ohained and
| confined in one large room--hardly large
enough, however, for all to lie down at
once. They were treated very kindly,
and all the privileges that could be ex-
pected. As matter of course, where
so many men are confined III limited
space. and not allowed 10 leave it under
any circumstances, it naturally follows
that 1t must be very unpleasant Their
sentence is ten years hare labor in Spain.
probably in the construction of canal.
They all appeared to be in good spirits at
the time left. being under the impression
that they would soon be released after
their arrival in Spain.
Lopez was brought from the Pizarro.
and publicly garroted in the square ad-
Joining the prison, at 7 o'clock in the
morning of Monday, the 1st September.
With him ended not only this expedition,
but sincerely trust all expeditions to
! Cuba. n as a
Up to the time I left, the Spaniards
could account for two hundred and sew
euty-one merlcans--including Critten-
den's COMMUNICATION they had killed.
taat is, iii action; wounded men who
were lett on the field, and sick and fa-
tigued men who gave out Oh the march,
aud were left behind, and men whom
they hunted down in the mountains with
dogs. Those, with the one hundred aud
sixty takes prisoners, make total of
four hundred and thirty-one men accoun-
ted for-leaving balance of twenty-five
i, men whose fate is yet uuknown-the to-
tai force landed being four hundred and
tfty-three men. Of these twenty-five,
.,sot,obly tho oreater norton q re vet alive