The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-08-25
FAMILIAR LETTERS FROM CUBA.
HAVANA,

| HAVANA, -.
| reached the city early yesterday after
noon, and found the foreigners of my acquaint.
ance all excited at the prospect of the execu.
ton, by the garrote of two political prisoners,
which had been ordered for this morning In
company with u young Englishman, drove
down to the Punta, TO zee the too-notorious in
strument Of DEATH, which is always erected
the day before an exception, on the open space
near the Carcel do Tacon, somewhat apart
from the great movement Of the city, and in
full view of the ocean The ugly machine
was already standing when we reached the
place, and we were allowed to examine it at a
respectful distance. There was no crowd at
the place, and the few negroes lettering near
seemed quite as Indifferent to the lawful i'm
pressiveness" Of this hideous impersenation of
| the offended law, as the stupid looking sent
mel, pacing his round near by. The garrote
has been often described of late, and is a sim.
pie continuance enough more resembling Il
BARRIERS chair attached TO u post than any
thing else 1t does its dreadful work by means
Of a steel collar, which keeps the head erect
and firm, aud of winch, or screw, which
being driven home upon the upper vertebrum
OF the spinal column, brushes it, and thus cut
ting off the connection between the brain and
taneous death. When skilfully adjusted,
should think the garrote more merciful en-
CINE of murder than the gallows or the guillo-
tine But il awkwardly managed, this terri
bic machine must subject it, victim TO dreadful
tortures. 1t is said that the Austrians, who
have Just borrowed this charming institution
from Spain made terrible work Of their first
experiments at Milan. In the evening went
to visit some creole friends In order TO learn
| something of the character and story Of the
unfortunate men whose doom was 80 near ut
hand. To my great surprise, found that the
dreadful business Of the morrow was spoken
Of very lightly, and that the condemned were
regarded with very little interest. They were
from the south Of the island and the moro i'm
portant OF the two ] WAS assured, had always
been mean, unworthy man The tale OF his
treason is curious one. An old man. and rich,
he was ut once patriot through dislike OF the
taxes he was Obliged to pay and conserva-
tive, by reason Of his years and Of his consttu-
tional timidity. When tho news Of the second
Lopez invasion reached him, be rejoiced ex.
ceedingy and hoped the overthrow Of the
Government. News, even in those exciting
days, travelled slowly in Cuba, and the old
man finding two "fllbusters" dreadfully
wounded and dying near his estate, took them
in, supposing them to have fallen behind in
the advance of the victorious invading army.
His cares were in vain; the wounded men
died and simultaneously with their death ar
rived the tidings Of Las Pozas, and OF the COM
plete rout Of the pirates Here was dilem.
ma Whether the old Cuban had ever read
Shakespeare, cannot say but he cxtricstsd
himself from his awkward position by ma
n@uyre like that which FalstaH employed 10
glorify himself after Shrewsbury tight he
produced the mortalities" of the defunct pI-
rates and announced that he himself, urged
by an irrepresible spirit Of loyalty, had fallen
upon thcse fleeing hllibusteros, and with his
own lesl hand had slain them! Verify he had
his reward. He Was decorated with tho cross
Of the American Order Of Isabel tho Catho-
lic," and was taken into the favor Of the Gov
eminent. Some circumstances, however, con
spring TO bring his story into suspicion, the
matter was looked into, the researches OF the
police, were pushed into tho past and the IN
lucky imitstor Of the fat knight was shame.
fully exposed. A charge Of treason completed
his ruin and after lying long In prison, ne was
finally ordered, with fellow prisoner OF less
note, for execution this morning, hack