The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-04-19

States from the Agent OF the 1nsurSents
Terrible Scenes In Havana@The
Gnrrote.
An address published By the agent Of the
cnbans in this country says that the power of
tbe revolutionists has increased steadily since
last October. and that now they have 42 600
men in their army under the command of Ces-
pedes, general. They claim control OF all tho
interior, amounting to two-thirds of the island;
and allow the Spaniards only the ports that
they are able to retain by forts and fleets,
neither of which the rc-cl1tionists have. The
address goes on to allege that the rebellion
would have expelled the Spaniards if the for.
mer could have procured arms from this coun-
trv as freely as the latter have done; and ap-
neals 70 the broadest Interpretation of the
Monroe doctrine as ground for help from the
United States.
letter to tho New York Tribune, dated
Havana, April 10, says:
Yesterday we had another bloody scene. and
o hrave one. The military authorities went
ont 70 execute two mon, and with their accus-
toned accuracy of aim, shot Six or more. Leon
and Madina, the two Cubans condemned for
taking lead in the riot of the Puente Chavez
last January, were garroted AMID the Widest
J;sorder. These men had been tried in re-
o,,lar civil court. They were workmen in the
tobacco factory of Figuera, and when about
the time OF the Villanueva and Louvre mas
socres the police attempted to seize some
arms concealed in the no1. house, they sailed
o,,t at tine head Of number OF their comrades,
and led on the crowd to oppose the policemen,
several OF whom were Killed IN the atray.
These deaths we're charged upon the two men,
but we're no. proved as j. speclally their
doing. 1t was o question whether their cas-,
caToe ce' nnder the benefits Of the amnesty de-
creed by General Dulce shortly after his arri-
val more. The lawyers OF the prisoners submit
ted that the amnesty was written IN the morn
;ne before the affair Mt the Puente had oc-
Cured. The officers of the government replied
that il was not in force till it's issue IN the OH
clal gazette at four in the day; and 30, between
tweedledum and tweedledee, the llves OF these
and long. and about as fair as any trial Of Gu
hans by Spaniards can be at this time: The
General fact is that the execution was political;
the nen we're not put to death for murder, but
for reason. A feeble attempt had been made
to rescue Leon from the law, on the ground
that he was citizen OF the United States out
it failed from want OF pIooi
It is usual in Havana to garrote at seven or
EIGHT in the morning. This time the cruel per-
formance did not begin till about eleven. The
sIIspicion occurs that the authorities desie ned
reseryinr il to 80 late an hour to give it the
utmost publicity and effect, whatever might be
the consequences to an eIcitable and injured
neople. A very great crowd, on foot and in
carriages, had gathered around the hollow
square of soldlery encompasslng the platform
of the garrote, which, as usual, was set up IN
tie Punta adjoining the PRISON, ana qulte nsar
the sea. Leon and Madina, robcd In white,
were conducted toward the garrote. A Spanish
paper saws that prisoner charged with treason
:, the Villanueya affair, called out to one OF
thc condemned, as they were leaving the
prison. "Remcmber, Leon, your promise ]" Ar
rived on the platform, Leon begged to say few
words, and leave was granted to MIN, accord
ing to tho Spanish press, under plea tnat tney
we're to be words of coIT1tion and fareweil;
n sneech that soon grew bold and defiant in
the extreme. He said that though he stood
there, doomed as criminal he died for his
country, and was going to glory. ne might
perish but the insurrcction would not die with
him and now he fet sure of the triumph OF
bssas;seta b;a sse sss sss ceI 5'oe HASea a6S5
brave man uttered. Nothing could exceed the
scornful and defiant abandon OF some portions
of his speech. He held his head up proudly
and smiled, and almost laughed out IN tne lace
of the death for which he wished to show
contemnt as unulistakable as that which he
felt for his armed executioners. The yolun-
teers guarding the platform tried to droWl his
vo;ce with cheers for Spain and cries OF death
to traitors. but, maintaining his brayado TO the
last. Leon shouted his grlto over their heads
To tbe crowd beyond. 1t was heard and caught
nm while the eXecutioners were carrying him
to the chair Of the garrote,, and placing the
iron collar around his neck preparatory to
working the horrible screw at the back or II
fred and Cuban fell dead near volunteer.
Loud and trenzled cheering went up from q
multitude OF the common class OF spectators,
white Cubans, muattoes and negroes, while
tbis was taking place. Some cried, Viva Gu
ha Iibre i" and others, "Viya Oespedes !" and
"Afuera Espana!" and the volunteers replied
by shouts and shots. Cubans in the crowd who
had arms are said to have discharged them,
and one volunteer fell. The volunteers Say, more
over that shots we're fred from one fthe neigh
boring houses which they visited, bayonetlng
several of the inmates, and, as is also reported,
woman. All the soldiers, excepting tn square
of volunteers near the garrote, who MAINTAIN
ed their position with an UNUSUAL and sinister
forbearance. broke ranks and charged upon
the crowd with sabres and bayonets. Ihree
or four black men and mulattoes we're dread
fully mangled IN tne Jury Will "uien 'noJ "
venced themselves upon the respected por tlon
of the defenceless multitude. Tho most oml-
nous sign of tho afray was that tho artillery
men belonging to the regular army, and be-
lieyed to be too we'll disciplined to butcher
without orders, drew their swords and Gu: UP
those within reach. No one is at present sure
that more that seven persons were killed by
the troops. A great many must have been
hurt by being bay oneted, or shot or run
over. The fight Of people and carriages
from the scene was as fearful as the scene
itself. For mile up to the Theatre Tacon the
great Prado of Isabel, one of the finest drives
IN IN the world, was crowded with fugitive drivers
A few wounded were borne by in carriages, ano
among those on foot We're excited men Wltt
pisto.s in their hands, whom no volunteer tool
the Trouble Of arresting. While the turmoil
was going on, the two men at the garrote hac
been bound to their seats and put to death by
the turning OF he iron screw. From noon tc
sundown the dead men, white-shrJuded and
whitc-capped, sat rigidly in their seats,
ehastly spectacle for the entire city. But
more Cubans were executed than the daring
Leon and hls equally fearless companion Ma
dina, and so the whole of Havana feels to-day