The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1872-04-13

their interest, and exerted great influence
among them. They were devoted to his
person than to any other living man. As some
EXPRESSED it, be their idol Many of the
creoles had contracted for him q corresponding
hatred. Ohense WIS given, a challenge SENT
which was accepted on condition that the affair
should come off at Key West on the ground
that his adversary could receive no protection in
| Havana under the rule of the volunteers The
| conditions were aged to. the time appointed,
and the p'rties and ter friends accordiug civ re.
paired to the Islend. At Key West are gathered
| quite q number eff native Cubaus, whose known
sentiments rendered Cuba An unsafe residence
| Here they import Cuba tobacco make Havana
cigars, and rouudly curse the Spanish Govern.
ment and all its sympathisers, and long for
the time when Spanish rule shall be driven froua
the West Indies. and they may return to the
| lovely land from which shey have been exilea.
The night before shots we're to be exchanged by
the principals, Csstanon in some way got into
quarrel with number Of these exiles and was
| shot; sad his friends believe that the whole wse
| . precoacerted scheEe to murder him in for.
| sign land, where 1t might be done with impuni-
| ty. The Sheriff of Key West, who related to
| me the particulars of the affair, was present at
the time, and once exceeded in quelling the
quarrel, bat it was renewed in spite Of him, as
| If both parties were anxious for the fray. In
| the excitement of the crowd it was impossible
| to say who fred the fatal shot. All dispersed
almost instantly, nor have those most violently
| Suspected been heard of siAce, notwithstanding
the liberal rewards offered tor their appcshen.
sion. Escape " the nsighboring keys, and
thence to the main, could be effected with the
utmost facility during the night, where it would
| be impossible to find them. Thsrs was runner
that the supposed leader had beso seen At Ma
sau, aad detective wss seAt to search for hin,
bat be returned empty-handed; and 90 tho muir.
derers are still unpunished, which is much to be
regretted, for the outspokeu sympathy for the
Cubsus by large proportion of tho Americans
on the island 10 we'll calculated to create an nm.
fortunate Impression on tho miads of those t.
| whom the nardered man was 90 dear. was
told in Havana that the nan-sn Englihhmau-
| who 6rst reported the marder OF Csstanon On
shore was actually torn in pieces in their unoon-
trelisble rage BY the volunteer. The body was
taken to Havana aud placed in tho tomb with
great pomp and splsndor, to which invite ysu
now to accompany Us.
Tho excursion had been arranged the evening
before, 80 We all took an early breakfast and oy
Q O'Clock were assembled IN the stone hall for the
start.-Renember that required very unu.u.
ally early breakfast for Havsns-Nr Kuicker.
booker, of Chicago, who had already been care.
fully over the ground, kindly consented to act -
our guide. The morning was deliciously fresh
and cool, u smart sorth wind coming in from the
gulf. A loud list from Angeleno (have
told you before that he was bsptised Australia,
with that repulslve wave of the hand peculiar to
this people, brought up the cabs with u rush,
and we were soon rolling over the pavement to.
ward the westerly outskirts of the city. Our
course led US along by the fish market and near
the shores Of the gulf and some Of the time
through by-ways and most execrable roads,
which tried the strength of both horses and cabs,
until at length we came to halt on q consider
able elevation, by the side of high stone wall
pierced with grated windows and one large door,
fined, and there right against that WALL did they
stand when they were shot. There was no mis-.
taking the place. At four places, between the
grated windows the wall was newly painted
with dull yellow color, of a considerable light.
er shade than the original paint. The stone wall
was succeed, and so presented tho appearance of
a. plastersd wall, when painted. That new paint
was to cover up and conceal from view the young
and innocent life blood which had been spstter-
ed against it, through the bullet holes, in the
dying struggles Of the poor victims to-I dare
not trust myself to characterize it. If they had
covered up the blood, they had not oblitsr.ted
tho marks Of the bullets upon the wall, which
was dotted all over with them. Yes, there were
four such places upon that prison wall, thus
painted, to cover the crimson stains and where
the wall was indented; ssd against each of these
four places two Of the boys had stood before
twenty Remington rifles. aud in the face III
sorrowlng-1 may say Northumberland, and
were there shot down by those wor.e than savage
volunteers. That foul deed must cause a great
red blot, not only 10 the history of Spanish rule
but in the history of Sp.niards Yes; it IL I.
blot upon humanity it.elf, for il il the repruach
of mankind that We are of the same rpecies as
those wretchss When the bloody deed was
done, when the reports OF the rifles were no long.
sr heard. snd all WAS still, save the dying vrosus
"f tn, writhing victims upon the sod, even the
terror Of the crael volunteers could not produce