Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-12-08
THE CUBAN STUDENT OUTRAGE
IND EIECETION

Havana giving the following account of the
affair which ended in the execution Of eight
students by the military. The letter is dated
the 2Sth -
1t appears that last Thursday afternoon the
class of the first year Of medicine, comprising
some fifty young men aged from sixteen to
tw enty years, belonging to the best and most
wealthy families OF this island, were at the
While there they commenced,
like students all over the world, to skylark
and cut up pranks, but unfortunately allowed
some of their party to desecrate the tomb OF
Gonzalo Castanon, jealousy considered by
the Spaniards as a martyr to his country 10
having been shot, it will be remembered, in
January, 1869, by some Cubans at Key West;
also the grave of Ricardo GuZman was slight
~ tempered with. He lost his sword arm
in the beginning of the instruction in the IA
nous crossing of the river Cauto by Valma-
seda, and died afterwards, and is hurled in
the Havana cemetery. The damage done to
the graves of Castanon and Gnzman consist
ed in breaking the glass cases which covered
their inches, pull Z down the wreaths of i'm
mortelles, and other decorations OF the graves.
The chaplain of the cemetery endeavored to
demonstrate with them, but to no avail. The
spirit of mischief had got into them, and they
was even said that they insulted the chaplain
and stoned him, but this has been denied by
creditable authority. On Friday the class
again attended the cemetery, it is said, for the
same purpose of Dissertation and of commit
ting other excuses, too horrible to mention.
Many exaggerated rumors were set atioat in
regard to their doinus and industri)usiy cir
culated among many of the volunteers for the
purpose of infaming their hatred. Your cor
respondent has it from reliable authority that
the real damage done to the graves mentioned
consisted in breaking the glass covering the
inches, and carrying off the wreaths of i'm
mortelles, and replacing others in mockery
thereof composed of garlic. They were all
arrested on FRIDAY by the guards stationed in
the cemetery for the purpose of intercepting
them as they arrived. Unfortunately, Sun
day afternoon grand parade, which had
been once before postponed in obedience to
superior orders, and which General Valmase
da had again ordered to be postponed, which
order was, however. disobeyed by the Acting
Captain General-was held il honor of the
Acting Captain eieneral-the newly appoint
ed Segundo Cabo General Romuado Crespo
at which over ten thousand volunteers
passed in review. Here was the opportunity
sought for, and the word was rapidly passed
among them to create a disturbance. Several
companies of various battalions upon defiling
past the Captain General I'D interim shouted,
death to traitors Death to the students! -
The review was over before seven; but dur
ing the remainder of the evening groups of
excited volunteers assembled in fiftes and
hundreds, marching through the streets,
shouting and yelling like so many wild beasts.
"Death to traitors - kill the students" etc.
Thousands assembled in front of the Palace
and repeated their demands, while the vicin-
ty of the Jail in which the students were con-
fined, was packed by crowds of the volun-
teers shouting for their blood, and fears of
general attack upon the Jail were entertained.
The night was a beautiful one, a full moon in
a coudless sky. AT half past ten bugles of
the different battaions of volunteers could be
heard all over the city, sounding the call OF
g neral assembly, alarming the inhabitants,
who tor the greater part closed their houses
and establishments (kept open even on Sun
days. the streets were filled by volunteers,
who, in reply to the call, hurried to and fro;
shots were fired unfortunately for the pur-
pose OF trying or clearing their muskets. By
midnight nearly twelve thousand volunt, ers
were under arms, and the scenes of June,
1869, which compelled the abdlcation of Gen
eral Dulce, were repeated, and which this
time Answered to their demands in granting
them an Instant drumhead court martial.
General Crespo attempted to stave off the
matter, saying the court martial had already
been ordered in this case, and they (the stu
dents) would be tried on the morrow. snow,
now p was the bloody shout, and the Captain
General was obliged to give in to the rulers
of this unfortunate land The scenes in and
around the Plaza de Arms, in front of the
Palace, were terrifyng-excited and half
drunken volunteers, shouting, yelling, some
l.. A.
others shouting and keeping up fearful ex-
citement.
The c6art martial formed at the jail by two
O'Clock and commenced its session 1t was
composed of six captains of the regular army,
and one from each battalion of volunteers
elected by the men, the whole presided over
by a colonel. The court martial was in SEES
sion until two o'clock yesterday afternoon,
but during its progress Gen. Clavilo, at about
eight o'clock A. NJ, attempted to leave the
building, but was forced back by the voun-
teers, who compelled him to get out of his
carriage and re-enter the Jail, declaring that
none should leave until the session was salts
factorly over. The political governor and
his secretary were also cooped up in the same
manner tor four hours. In the morning the
Captain General, Crespo, issued procama-
ton to the volunteers begging them to await
ing them by calling them the firmest support
of order and public tranquility. At about
two the council had terminated their Office and
marched from the Jail to the Captain Generals
palace, escorted by numbers of volunteers.
There the sentence was read from the bal
cony to the crowd. Eight to be shot, eleven
to serve six years in the chain gang nineteen
TO four years in the chain gang, nineteen to
four years in the same, four to six months
and only two released. The
Captain General Immediately approved the
sentences and orders were given for the inn
mediate execution of death upon the first
eight
The execution took place between four and
five at the Punta, near which the Jail is stu
ated. Thousands were assembled TO witness
this slaughter aud it passed off quietly enough.
The boys met their deaths bravely and calm
ly Full of life and hopes a few days since,
then torn from their families and condemned
to meet violent and painful death-none
blanched 1t is related thar at the court mar
tial they behaved with spirit and calmness.
One of them-Alonso Alvarez de la Campan
to take all the blame upon him.
self, thinking brave youth, to exeui pate his