The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-04-16
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Butchery Of observation-disclosures
Without Number.
We have received the following interesting letter
from one of the victims OF the Spanish tyranny ana
barbarity in Cuba. II is dated April o. from his cell
IN one of the filthy dungeons in Havana
DEAREST FRIENp-From the same prison from
which wrote TO You last now write to relate to
You some OF those melancholy scenes-scenes OF
grief and blo0d-which unfortunately for civlliZa-
ton. have always marked the annals OF Spanish RUE
To-day at eleven A. NJ. the Cuban patriots, Leon
and Medina, were murdered on the vie gaIro.e.
lows but instead OF life being taken by rope
around the neck, the victim Is placed In sitting
posture and an IRON ring attached to post Is al
iusted around his neck On the opposite side OF the
post ia lever which the executioner turns IN such
way mat he e Sy tn a'e panari
the most ignominiOus OF all modes or execution, anu
hence only maefactors are executed In TINS way
The behavior OF these Our brothers In their last mo-
ments was so heroic that cannot omit the details
Leon, on nearing the bench, turned TO the people
dressed them in firm ana manly voice, telling
them that he going TO die with pleasure, pe-
cause he already knew that the REVOLUTION was gam
be free. Much more that he said was drowned ny
the beating of drums by the Spanish sodierv There
nen weTe heard e words uttered by Leon
the ring was put around his neck. he repeated
AGAIN and again T., nn no or WssS
sisted mainly OF spaniards there were about 2ooo
or 5000 Cubans who, carried away by their
pedes y aHurrah for Cuba" and made the
wekin ring with their huzzas. The Spaninrds, with
out waiting TO ascertain VINO FAD raised TINS cry
turned and fired upon the SPECTATORS, killing seveD
among them q woman, aud wounding more IMAM
forty.
and wounded victims OF this barbarous outrage had
been carried away and cared for, Medina, the other
prisoner, was conducted to the place OF execution.
AS he approached il he shouted forth in stentOrian
tones calling the attention OF his friends to some
thing he had to say; but the volunteers, maddened
already by the previous carnage, became iends, and
without warning or provocation, or without giving
him the privilege Of speaking, shot him dead:
What Is your opinion dear friend about these
shooting all the prisoners who fall into his hands9
Do these Spanish hyenas deserve any better treat
You are probably already aware that Quesada has
taken from the enemy Of liberty three convoys, and
IN the last capture which happened on the 2lst ult
heard that Juan Osorlo, the purser Of the steamer
Comanditarlo, conceived and carried out the bold
away with her; but the Spaniards afterwards re.
captured her, near New Providence. W. l. And
commander of an English gunboat, who ordered
them return her to the Cubans, she carried the
Cuban nag and her name had been changed to the
Yara.
II this act OF the English captain Is not recogni-
ton of our independence Of right it ia at least OF
design OF the Cuban nag and threw il on the deck OF
the Yara IN token OF his sympathy with the Cuban
1t is now past eight O'Clock evening and have Just
learned that twelve bodies have been found, mostly
OF colored persons, who were slaughtered by the
Spanish volunteers, principally belonging to the
Fifth and Sixth regiments. The Spanish hends pene-
traed the streets adjacent to the place Of execution
firing Unfortunately upon all who approached
them They also entered private residences on their
bloody Grand They visited the house Of the dis
tinguished LAWYER Vades Tapia in st. LaZaro ave-
nue. whom they found dangerously i'll, and, contrary
to their natural propensies they spared his life:
but they destroyed all his furniture, library and
papers.
i have to record yet another outrage Al five
O'Clock this evening white man and colored man
shot, having been captured by the Spanish
vOlun teers, who acted both accusers and judges.
What do you think of this9 Does history present
In Its annals another man so infamous as General
Duce who allows these outrages TO be perpetratedY
volunteer in liquor or in his senses may kill any
n az anu np hs crime thar pn D
has hurrahed for Cuba and for liberty.
Cuban Revolutionary Address to the People
OF the United States.
Sehor Valiente, the general agent Tor the Cuban
republican government has prepared the following
address to the people OF the United States setting
forth the and prospects OF the existing
luton In Cuba and the claims of the struggling
parrots upon Americans
To THE PEOPLE or TIE UNITED STATES
Seeing that frequent misrepresentation OF the
through the press, beg leave to answer them by
laying before the public brief statement OF facts
Revolutions never go backward. They may he
checked for shorter longer time, but finally
burst forth with irresistible impulse and roll on to
successful issue. SO with regard TO Cuba which has
failed in several attempts to overthrow the tyrant
over her. but Is likely TO succeed now in the struggle
for freedom and sefgovernment. To review her
efforts for national existence and sketch the grev-
ances which justify the revolution going on within
her borders the purposes OF this address, which
respectfully submitted Dy the undersigned as gene
RAJ agent OF the Cuban revolution.
Ever since the close OF the war OF independence
IN Snnt NM tnn Ta1 nf I'm has
been clothed by special law with all The powers
given TO commanders OF besieged places This
severe measure from the revolutionary attempt
which was then defeated through the interference
OF the United States government lest universal free
ao ID c ma eoq ac % ~
marked at the time In explanation OF his opposition
TO the military expedition which Venezuela, then ut
war with Spain, was fitting out 10 help Cuba TO
achieve her independence: so that Cuba has been
since that time grooming under relentless tyranny,
but still endeavorlng and then to shake IL Or
Her endeavors have brought about not only the
persecution execution OF many illustriOus Cubans
but also that OF many high-mnded Spanards. such
General Lorenzo, who. while Governor Of Santiago
de Cuba IN 1885, proclaimed there the liberal consi
tuition promulgated in Spain, and was perse.
cued by Captain General Tacon, who sent from
Havana heavy body OF troops against him
and his constitutional followers Several years
aer rad VINO 9r agans' ane
nearly all OF them driven into exile. Shortly there
after military commissions were set at work all over
the Western Department OF Cuba to suppress an al
legged conspiracy among the c0Ored people. The
guilty parties were found chiefly among the rich free
coored men, whose property was or course, con-
nscated and their lives taken by wholesale on the
scarod, while not few OF them died under the
lash, which was freely and mercilessiy used TO
compel them TO confession. The suppression OF
this alleged conspiracy was followed q few
years later by real conspiracy OF the white people,
under the lead OF General Lopez, who being de-
tected before his plans matured for an uprising
In the central part OF the island fed and came 10
the United states whence he sailed In 1850 at the
head OF some 600 men and landed az Cardenas lie
failed In hs attempt to free Cuba and returned to the
United states. During the subsequent year partial
uprsings took place and Lopez sailed for Cuba once
more with about $50 men, assist his friends In their
efforts 10 achieve cuban independence; but he again
failed and himself and many OF his followers were
executed However the Cubans, persevering In their
determination 10 be free renewed their plans to that
end, and well organized movement was started
under General Quitman but fell through, In 1855,
with the loss OF valuable lives and the Punishment
OF great many distinguished Cnbans. 10 nothing