The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1869-12-11
Heroic Consuls.

The coNsuLs OF GREAT BRITAIN AND THE UNITED
STATES ISTERPosE THEIR FLAGS AND PERSONS Io
SAVE a CUBAN REFUGEE.
The following interesting and exciting narrative,
of which We published a short telegraphic account
a few days ago, Is extracted from the Jamaica
Guardian Of Aug. 9TH, To which it was furnished
by a correspondent who recently escaped from
Santiago de Cuba, where he was persecuted by
the Spanish volunteers in consequence Of being
suspected as Z" Cuban sympathiZer."
Mr.. kamsden, the Consul, being well known
and greatly respected in Kingston, the subject
has been one of general conversations, while his
heroic conduct has called forth expressions of uni
yersal admiration. The narrative runs:
\ poor unfortunate seaman had beenapprehend-
ed ON a charge of being implicated in fillibustering
expedition, and he was thrust into prison and at
forwards condemned to be shot, on evidence as
unlikely and improbable as any one could con-
ceIye. lie was an American, the son OF English
parents, and notwithstanding the strenuous efforts
ON part OF the English and American Consuls,
the Spanish authorities seemed determined 10
sacrifice this poor mans life. On the morning
appointed for his execution he was marched out
To the usual place, amidst n great show of bloody
sOlcInnity. He was Immediately followed by MIR.
Ramsden, British Vice Consul, and the American
Vice Consul, To make u still further protest IN the
prisoners favor.
Mr.. Ramsden read the document, protesting, in
the name Of England and America, declaring that
the prisoner was altogether innocent of the charge
which had been laid against him, demanding his
immediate release, and declaring, If the ~uniortu-
nate mans life was taken, those who took 1t
would be guilty of murder, and would be alike
answerablc To the government of England and the
United States Of America. During the reading
o. this document, which was done with calmness
and determination, the prisoner tainted from ex-
element, and there were strong signs of impatience
on the part OF the Spanish troops, who manifested
n thorough determination to force the authorities
To take this mans life in spite Ofall remonstrance.
y consultation followed, and Mr.. Ramsden and
the American Consul were eventually Informed
that their reinonstrancc came too late the pris-
Oner had already been sentenced to death for hav-
ing taken up arms against Spain, and that the
sentence must be carried into effect. With this
tie order wa given TO the firing PARTY to . pre-
sent" liz was the work of an instant, and Mr..
Consul Ransden and the American Consul, rush
ing with the flag Of their respective nations
before the lcyeIled rifles OF the Spanish troops,
40 Hold" and. throwing the English flag around
himself and the prisoner, and addressing the
officer in charge Of the firing party said Cen
tlemen, as q Consul Of her Britannia Majesty, i
cannot stand silently by and see this foul murder
Of an innocent man. Ii IL my duty to protect his
life, and If you take his, you must take il through
these i"-plaeing himself Immediately in front of
the condemned man, his eyes sparkling, while his
manly formed hcaved with the Indignation his
speech had so heroically expressed. The Aneri-
can Consul, wrapped in the a. Stars and Stripes"
of the Union, stood abreast, and for some mo-
mcnts the Spaniards stood aghast, the conduct of
these two Consuls being more than they could
comprehend. The emotion of the prisoner was
lie was supported right and left by the
Consuls, and the poor fellow shed q prOfusion of
tears from weariness and excitement. \ consulta-
ton was again held. and the prisoner marched
back to jnil under an escort of troOps, the COnsuls
supporting the unhappy man oil the way along.
The JurOTe was beyond description. After dark
the prisoner was reprieved, and finally shipped of
the country through the indcfatigable e~xertions Of
the COnsuls."