Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-04-20
CUBA.
Letter which the Government Gem
scr Has Not Garbiea-Fhe Execution
of the Patriots Leon ana MeSliua-
wholesale hatchery Of Non. Combat
ants-Bufeherfes without Number..

scr Has Not GaFbiea-Fhe kxeeutao
of the Patriots Leon and Medina
Wholesale hatchery Of Non Gambia
ants-Bufeherfes without Number.
From the New York Herald, April l6.
We have received the following inte,
:. esting letter from one Of the victims I
the Spanish tyranny and barbarity i
/ Cuba. 1t is dated April 8, from his ce
in one Of the filthy dungeons in Havana
DEAREST FRIEND.-From the sam
prison from which Iwrote to you las
some | now write TO relate to TO
Of those melancholy scenes-scenes @
grief and bloed-which, unfortunatel]
Tor civilization, have always marked tn
annals OF Spanish rule in America.
4 To day, at eleven. A. NJ, the Cubar
patriots, Leon and Medina, were murder.
ed on the vile garrote. This instrument
consists of the framework of a gallows
but, instead OF life being taken by q
rope around the neck, the victim is placed
IN sitting posture and an iron ring at
tached to post is adjusted around his
neck. On the opposite side of the post
IS q lever, which the executioner turns in
such a way that the vertebre of the
neck are broken, causing death. This is
considered by the Spahiard the most
ignominious of all modes of execution,
and hence only malefactors are executed
in this way. The behavior of these our
brothers in their last moments was so
heroic that l cannot omit the details.
Leon, on nearing the bench, turned to
the people, who in great numbers SUR
rounded him, and addressed them in a
tirm and manly voice, telling them that
he was going to die with pleasure, be-
cause he already knew that the revolu-
ton was gaining ground every day, and
that Cuba at last would be free. Much
more that he said was drowned by the
beating Of drums by the Spanish soldiery.
There was, however, a pause of the
drumming, and then were heard the
words uttered by Leon as the ring was
put around his neck. He repeated again
and again, "Hurrah for Cespedes h'
'Hurrah for Cuba9' In the multitude,
which consisted mainly of Spaniards,
there were about 1000 or 1900 Cubans,
who carried away by their enthusiasm,
took up his cry, "Hurrah for Cespedes!''
''Hurrah for Cuban' and made the welkin
ring with their huzzas. The Spaniards,
without waiting to ascertain who had
raised this cry, tarned and fired upon the
spectators, killing seven, among them
woman, and wounding more than forty.
. As soon as quiet had been restored,
and the dead 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 it he shout
ed forth in stentorian tones, calling the
attention Of his friends to something he
had to say; but the volunteers. maddened
already by the previous carnage, became
fends, and without warning or proyoca-
ton, or without giving him the privilege
of speaking, shot him dead.
What is your opinion, dear friend, |
about these bloody scenes? Does not
Quesada act justly in shooting all the
prisoners who fall into his hands? Do
these Spanish hyenas deserve any bet
ter treatment than they give?
Your are probably already aware that |
Quesada has taken from the enemy of |
liberty three conyoys, and in the last
capture, which happened on the 21st
ult., he made 200 prisoners, whom he
shot. You have heard that Juan
Osorio, the purser of the steamer CO.
conceived and carried out
the bold idea of taking possession of that
vessel. He sailed away with her; but |
the Spaniards afterwards recaptured her
near New Providence, W. /. And this
they did Notwithstanding the protest of
the commander of an English gunbOai,
who ordered them to return her to the
Cubans, as she carried the Cuban flag |
and her name had bsen changed to the
Yara.
If this act Of the English captain is not
a recognition Of our independence of
right it IS at least of fact. 1t is said that
the English commander made design
Of the Cuban flag and threw it on the
deck of the Yara in token Of his sympa,
Thy with the Cuban cause.
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
10 the fifth and sixth regiments. The
Spanish fiends penetrated the streets ad-
accent TO the place Of execution, firing in
upon all who approached
hem. They also entered private resil
lehees on their bloody GRAND. They
visited the house Of the distinguished
lawyer, Valdes Tapia, in st. Lazsro ave-
nue., whom they found dangerously i'll,
aud, contrary to their natural prOpensi-
ties, they spared his life; but they de-
stroye ed all his furniture, library and pa
perS. s..
/ have to record yet another outrage /
Atfive O'Clock this evening white man
and a eolored man were shot, having
been captured by the Spanish volunteers,
who acted both as accusers and Judges. |
What do you think of this ? Does hiss
tory present in its annals another man so
infamous as Gen. Dulce, who allows these
Outrages to be perpetrated ? A VOluns
teer in liquor or in his senses may kill |
any Cuban, and remain unpunished for
his offence by giving as his reason for the
crime that the patriot has hurrahed for
luha and GNr Eharfu