The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-15
C u d A.

The Execution of Leon and MediVa In Havana
A Riot in the City-The Volunteers Fire on
the Citizens.
We have the following important intelligence
from Havana, dated the 10th inst
Due notice had been given by the various city
papers that Mons. Francisco Leon and Augustin
Medina would be garroted to-day, having been
convicted as leaders of the riot in Figuras street
in January last when the first named, without
any assistance, kept respectable number of
police officials at bay, killing and wounding
several the second having also conquered his
antagonist at the same time.
But no notice had been given that the usual
Sunday assassinations massacres, and the rest
of the performance had been changed to Friday.
Everybody expected some kind of perform
ance Yesterday, and nobody was disappointed.
Long before II A. NJ, the hour fixed for the exc
cution, the surrounding streets and places look
ing towards the Punta were filled to overhowing
by motley crowd of the Cuban Spanish, and
negro rabble.
Leon came out of jail with firm walk and on
passing a fellow-prisoner shook hands with him,
and was told by that prisoner mot to forget his
commission" On reaching the platform Leon
requested to be permitted to say few words
which was granted. Beginning in a low voice
he asked God to forgive him for his sins, that he
died contrite, and under the full conviction that
his death would be terribly avenged by his COM
panions. Then, raising his voice, he shouted
loud enough to be heard by all present." Viud
la Independencid.' "Vird Cespedes q mser0n
los EspdnoleS."
At that moment a shot was fred at the con-
demned, the bullet passing between him and the
executiOner, the latter pushing Leon quickly into
the fatal chair. In half n second the iron ring
was adjusted, a turn of the screw, convulsive
movement of the muscles and Leon was no
more.
While this execution was taking place on the
scaffold murders of another nature were being
enacted outside of the Gordon of volunteers
formed around the platform. negro shot at
| n.NfN Nhn NtnAv hNV
and the police officer cut him down with his
| sword. The rush which then took place cannot
be described several hundred carriages and
| about ten thousand people tried to run away
from the scene. Men, women, and children
| were thrown down and trampled on by the eX-
| cited multitude. Shouts of "Miterd Espdad, "
with an occasional shot or cry of pain, were
| heard, and in less than two minutes the whole
place was cleared.
At the same time the second prisoner. Medina,
had been brought 10 the platform and executed
lie tried to make himself heard but the music
| drowned his voice. Shots were fired on the popu-
lace by regular troops and volunteers Several
| persons dressed in the volunteer uniform fired
from housetop on the Calrade San I.azaro
Eight persons met their death durinp tht
melee, about thirty shots in all hayinp
been fred by volunteers into the erowe
| and by the men of the battalion of artiller,
lust returned from the interior The Volunteers
| guarding the scaffold, about 1000 men, did no
| Join in the tumult, remaining at their post an,
behaving well. Had they fired on the people
| the deaths would have amounted to hundreds
The fighting and shouting were done by tn
rowdy and reckless portion OF the Spanish an
| Cuban population, and no excuse can be foun
for either party, as the Cubans made no attemI
to rescue their countryman. The yiyandiere {
the 9th Battalion of Volunteers, who resides /
the immediate vicinity of the Punta, shoute
Vipd Espdnd from her windows, and wa
assassinated for doing so. There Is no excus
! for either party in these occurrences; and