The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-04-02

off palm leaves, and other leafy emblems
which are in all countries given that day to at
tendants at Catholic services. Many Of the
| infuriated men still bore these palm leaves and
| leaty emblems in their hands, and gestculated
wildly with them. The crowd in front OF the
barracks and he City Governors Palace soon
became immense, and filled also in part the
Plaza de Armas. General Dulce repaired
to the barracks, and at the game time
Generals palace detached part OF the
guard there to clear the plaza Of the crowd.
This order was not TO be fulfilled without
bloodshed. One Of the men in tho plaza, who
was not participating in the 1iotous demon.
strations, was rather slow in leaving, go one OF
the guards "a volunteer of the second batta-
lionl struck him side blow with his guu TO
accelerate his pace ; but this had contrary
effect, the man getting angry and remonstra-
ting With the volunteer. This ono thereupon
struck him second time with the side OF the
gun, which was at once snatched A lieutenant
Of volunteers seeing this, run up, and without
saying word, shot the man with his pistol In
the head, killing him instantly.
The killing OF the man in the plaza immedi-
ately drew most of the mob there, and it feast
ed its sight with tae bloodshed, and lauded the
numbering lieutenant, who took good care to
claim the credit OF the killing, very much un-
der the false impression that the victim vas o
covered with gore, was but an appetizer to the
| mob for more blood, and soon the surelng.
shouting, yelling mass was again in front Of
the barracks. About this time courageous
deputy commissioner Romero appeared on the
street, aud was hooted at, which led him to ad-
dress those nearest him, telling them they
knew not what they were about that they did
not understand the cases Of the two prisoners
and had better 60 home. This caused con-
siderable disorder for a short while, during
which the deputy commissioner was killed,
volunteer in uniform, said by some
to belong to the fifth battalion, but this
is not positive, shooting him through the
head, and declaring at the same time he
was no better than an insurgent. This murder
created visible commotion, aud General
Dulce was led by it to appear, and announce
that the volunteers should have justice. This,
however, did not satisfy the mob, and their
clanor for blood continued as violently as ever,
at least dozen cries of Muerd la Dutce! as
cending from the crowd, and one Of the loud
est-voiced individuals shouted to the Captain
General 80 as to be extensively heard: Decide
at on whose head we are to have, yours or
that Of the man." In the face OF this very
unflatteripg reception General Dulce retired,
and afterwards many officers Of volunteers cir
culated among the mob and told all hands that
General Duloe had ordered military commits
sion OF volunteers to try one OF the men, who
was to be condemned aud shot IN less than IN
hour.
The prospect Of more blood and Of tho sight
OF an execution, delighted the mob, and at
once the shouting and yelling ceased; aud ad-
ditional tro DDS coming up, including General
Dulce's body guard, the crowd willingly moved
off tom IN front Of the barracks and the plaza,
and anxiously awaited the feast OF blood PROM
ised it. This was indeed to take place. Gene.
raj Dulce had truly succumbed TO tho brutal
demands OF the mob, and human being was
to be sacrificed as the price of quietude:: a
commission composed as promised. entirely OF
volunteer officers, some OF whom had been also
clamoring for blood, was told to try the pick
pocket Tor treason. This commission COM
menced its proceedings in the peculiar Span
ish style of tlrst ordering priest to confess
the accused, and hearse to bear his body to
the grave, aud then called the plckpocket bo-
fore it, together with half dozen witnesses.
These last we're not swoln, but were
simply asked what they knew about the
case, when about one-half said they
thought they had heard the accused
shout "Muera Espana," and the other
half were positive he did use the words, pro-
badly confouuding him with Noy, who was not
triod because he was wounded, anI was known
20 be haf-wltted. Not question was thepoor
pilkpocket allowed to ask the witnesses, nor to
say word in his own behalf. Without writing
clared by the fiscal, or judge-advocate, to be
sentenced to death. and was at once turned
over to the preordered cares OF priest for
confession aud preparation for death. whether
the pickpocket's sins we're few, or whether the
priest, being Spanlard, did not deem the poor
fellow worthy of much attention, the confes-
sion business did not take up much time, but
was over in few minutes. Afterwards the
condemned man was given up to those detailed
to shoot him.
Tho chosen place OF execution was on tho
ground facing the Office Of the captain OF the
port, in front Of the bay. and only q few paoes
from where the man WAS supposed to nave
committed the tremendous crime OF shouting
'Muera Espana |" With wonderful calmness
and fortitudo he marched from the barracks
to the fatal spot, and met death fearlessly
and bravely. The discharge that terminated
his existence was the signal tor prolonged
cheers fom the thousands OF Spanlards
that witnessed the execution. The shouts
were 30 great and numerous and eXultatloDs 8
40 loud, that one ignorant OF their char
acters or OF the events transpiring, would
have been deceived into supposlng they wore
celebrating some mighty triumph, instead or
being occupied in disgracing themselves bJ
unmany, unchristianlike, and brutal re1olclngs
over the killing, after farclcal trial, OF poor,
unprotected, friendless pi;kpocket. After the
execution, the mob dispersed, satisfied for the
time being, and with the exception OF the kill
ing OF negro man on Sunday night on Ofcios
street, BY detachment of volunteers, upon
the pretence that he had shouted Viua CeS-
pedes, no further disturbances have occurred