The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-03-03
Wholesale Butohery Ofspanish Prisoners
Americans Among the Victims
NOTidingsOfthe Missing Steamships
A Criminal Sentenced Before Conviction
whoIesnIe Butchery of spanish Prisoners by
the Cubans-Americans Among the Victims

Wholesale Butchcry Of spanish Prisoners by
the Cubans-Amcricans Among the Victims
!. HAVANA, Feb. 26.-I have another wholesale
execution of Cubans, and of two American
citizens, to announce. When Colonel Gonzales
Boet captured the family of the Cuban General
Figueredo, he also took number of documents
and letters addressed to the General
From these the Spaniards claim to have dis
covered the existence of junta or association,
in Santiago City, whose mission was to assist
the insurgents In all possible ways. From forty to
Atty persons-planters, merchants, lawyers, doc
tors, clerks, etc.-were at once arrested and
the latest news informs us that thirteen of the
most prominent have been tried by a military
ommission-formed, as usual in this island, for
the purpose of condemning-found guilty of in
= fderctd (disloyalty), sentenced to death and
executed.
of only five of the victims, as folows-Senor
Andres La Puente, the Grand Orient of the
Freemasons of the island, very wealthy plan
ter, and a man universally esteemed for his
benevolence and fine abilities; Captain Jose
Villalongo, once officer of the Spanish army;
Don Jose M. Portondo, planter, and the two
American citizens Messrs. Charles Damnery
and John F. Portuondo-the first an American
by birth and the second by naturalization.
The acting American Consul at Santiago, A.
f. Phillips, Esq, in his report of the affair to
the American Consul-General here in part re-
pairs the omissions of my correspondent, giving
the names of seven of the eight other victims,
thus:-Senores Juan f del Poza, Buenaventura
Bravo, Joaquin Santicsteban, Diego Vinagre,
Isidro Echevarria, Bernado Cabezas, and Baldo-
nero Cosme. The Didrio de la Marina reports
the number of victims as eighteen, giving no
names, but l am satisfied it is mistaken, and
that, as stated by my correspondent, thirteen is
the number.
MASONIC LODGE.
The executed gentlemen when arraigned be-
fore the military commission that condemned
sSthem admitted the existence of an association
to which they belonged, but denied its being q
political junta, but only Masonic lodge; that
they met together as Masons for Masonic pur-
poses, and not as politicians for political pur-
poses. This defense appears to have angered
instead of satisfied the Spaniards.
MAsoNs OR CUBANs-TREAT EACH ALIKE.
] A Catalan priest, who, since the commence
ment of the war, has been noted for the ultraism
OF his loyalty and his violent denunciations of
/. Cubans, Immediately pronounced Freemasons
no better than insurgents; that the rising of
Iaro was plotted and planned in Masonic
lodges; that Cespedes is a Mason; and that
wherever Masons congregate there Spanish
LOYALTY withers and eies. With the same fanati-
cal eloquence that some of his ancestors no
. doubt employed In the times of the lnquisition
for the prosecution before, and persecution by
| this terrible tribunal of some person charged
with heresy, he infamed the passions of his
auditors, and the result was, as stated, the con-
demnation of the thirteen accused. So true
then, it is, as admitted by Senor Gil Gelpi, ed-
tor of the Pre1Sa, thorough Spanish fanatic,
\ but at the same time the most can
? did and plainest spoken of Havana Spa
niards, that the Spain of to-day is the
Pame Spain of the times of Peter the
Cruel, Philip II, and the Duke of Alba tina
Spaniards have not changed Mr.. Phillips, ably
seconded by Mr.. Ramsden, the British Consul,
endeavored hard and long to save the lives OF
Portuondo, but without success. The volun.
teers insisted upon their life-blood being shed
as well as of thhir eleven Cuban associates, and
thwarted all appeals mode to the Lieutenant
nf ha n them
Americans were Freemasons, and therefore
!, We're sacrificed to Spanish intolerance and
fanatlcism.
FORTY MORE TO BE EXECUTED.
From Mr.. Phillips report, the remaining pri'
soners, forty in number, he says, were also tC
be executed soon, and by this time must be
numbered among the dead. From other sources
however, l find there Is probability that Mr.
Phillips may be found in error. The Lieutenant
Governor of the district is opposed to any more
executions, and has written to Captain-Gene
= Rodas for instructions. 1t may well happer
that these, when given, will be to spare the
! lives of the forty men. But will such an order
arrive in time to save? This is doubtful
The volunteers, headed by Colonel Boet
were furious at the delay caused, and were
, clamoring loudly and strongly for the execu
ton of all the arrested parties. 1t may vel
have happeaed already that the somewhat
humane Lieutenant-G Governor has had to sue
cumb to their demands, and that, as foresha
dowed by Mr.. Phillips report, the forty accused
are now 10 DC uumOcTcu Luo uOdu L all
assured that Americans are also included in thi
lot. Aware of his inability to defend his coun
trymen from Spanish violence, Mr.. Phillips ha
asked the American Government for man-of
war, and it is to be hoped that one will be sen
him without delay.
1t is shameful and disgraceful to the American
authorities that American citizens are left 81
: much at the mere mercy of Spanish officials an
volunteers, without needed American protec
tion and this, too, when no less than fou
American men-ot-war are kept in Key Wes
harbor doing nothing unless it be to keep tina
immaculate town from running off. Mr.. Rams
den, the British Consul, has also written to hi
Government that, In his opinion, British wa
vessel should constantly be kept at his disposa
The excitement about the executions and pend
ing executions was really great in Santiago
the latest advices.
" AN ENGLISH SUBJECT MURDERED.
On the evening of the 12th a British subec
Mr.. Frederick Jordan, a ship carpenter by trad
was most foully murdered by a Spanish volu,
a teer, and this naturally has added to the excit
ment The murderer has been arrested, and b
bloody act is said 10 have been done from 9TH
motives than those connected with politics.
.a GENERAL QUESADA.