Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-12-20
Captain Fry's Last Letter to his
Wife.

Gen. Quesada has been 80 kind as to
permit the writer to make o trans.
cript Of the letter written by the gal
liant Fry to lis wife. The pages of the
original bore the impress of the tears shed
by the heroic writer. 1t was the last COM
mnnication ever made to the world by the
true American, aud the blended express
sions of affection, of religious hope, of dig
nified resignation with which it teens,
will cause its words to be remembered so
long rs virtue and courage are honored
among men. 1t may be well to state that
the letter necessarily omits all reflections
on the Spanish government, but before his
death Capt. Fry gave utterance very forci-
bly, to his opinions on that subject, his ST.
lence only coming with his death. The al
lusions to family matters are, of course,
not reproduced herein below:
On BOARD isH-MAN-oF-WAR La
Tornado, st. Jngo de Cuba, Nov. 6, '73. )
Dear, Dear Dita when left you had
no idea that we should never meet again
i'm this world, but il seems strange to me
tina; should tonight, and OH Annie's
birthday, be calmly seated, on beautiful
moonlight night, in most beautiful bay
in Cuba, to take my last leave of your, my
own dear, sweet wife, and with the thought
of your bitter anguish my only regret at
leaving.
have been tried to-day and the presi-
dent of the eourt-martial asked.the favor
of embracing me at parting, and clasped
me to his heart. / have shaken hands
with each of my judges; and the secretary
of the court and interpreter have promised
| me AS special favor to attend my execu-
tion, which will. am told, be in very
few hours after my sentence is pronounced.
am told my death will be painless in
short, have had very cheerful and
pleasant chat about my funeral, to which
| shall go in few hours from now. How
soon can not vet say. 1t is curious to see
how make friends. Poor Bambetta pro.
nounced me a gentleman, and he was the
brightest and bravcst creature ever saw.
| The priest who gave me communion on
board this morning put double scapulaI
about my neck and medal which he in
tends to wear himself. young Spanish
officer brought me a bright new silk badge
with the Blessed Virgin stamped upon II
| to wear to my execution for him, and q
handsome cross in some fair lady's handi.
work. These are to be kept as relics Of me
He embraced me aifectionately in my room
with tears in his eyes.
| Dear sweetheart, You will be able Il
bear it for my sake, for will be with you
| if God permits it. Although / know my
hours are short and few. am not sad.
feel l shall always be with yon right soon
dear Dita, and you will not be afraid o
me
Pray for me, and will pray for you
t. There is to be fearful sacritic'
of life from the Virginius, and as think. |
needless one, as the poor people are uncon
scious of ccime, and even of their fate M
to now. hope God will forgive if am +
blame for it.
Ifyou write to President Grant, he vii
probably order my pay due when resign
paid to you after my death. PEG
pie will be kinder to you nov, dear Dita
at least / hope so. Do not dread dealt
when it comes to you; it will be as God
angel of rest--remember this.
ihope my children will forget thei
fathers harshness and remember his low
and ankle v for them. May they practic
regularly their religion, and pray for hin
always Tell that the last nc
of my life will be public profession Of IA
faith aud hope in Him OF whom we nee
not be ashamed, and it is not honest 3
withhold that public acknowledgment
from any false modesty or timidity. Ma
God bless and save us all.
Sweet, dear, dear, Dita, we win 500
meet again. Till then. adieu, for the las
time. Your devoted husband,
JOSEPH FRY.