The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-11-17
A HrsroRiCAI PARALLEL.

yenty two years ago at Havana upon Gen, !
open Col, Crittendeu, of Kentucky, and
fly Of their companions in misfortune.
NE excitement which was caused throug
nut the country BY this savage act Of ven
leauce Is still well remembered This ex.
,itement was chiefly due to the fact that
lol Crittenden and large number Of the
Executed expeditionists were Americans
having been a sou or nephew
II senator John j Crittenden, Ut Kentucky,
and the others having been recruited for
the service in various parts Of the United
States The leading spirit Of the i'll start
cd venture was NarcissO Lopez, Vene-
zuelan By birth, anda revolutionist by pro-
fessiun. Before his final appearance in
that fatal drama Of blood which was enact
ed upon the plaza OF Havana in August
1851, Lopez had been well known in three
continents as an active partisan in the field
in more than one campaign. Originally
serving. in the provincial period Of Vene-
Euelan history, in the Spanish service, re
firing thereliom in 1922 with the rank of
colonel he afterward. when the Spanish /
soldiers lett Venezuela took up his resi- I
dencc in Cuba. At later period Of his
life he was in Madrid during the struggle
between the supporters % the young Queen
Isabella and the friends Of the Don Carlos
OF that day His advocacy Of thoclaims of
the constitutional party brought him hon
ors and profit He held at one time the
position Of governor OF Madrid, and senator
Tor Seville, besides having acted as adju-
tant OF Gen. Valdes, the queens comman-
der. He followed the fortunes Of Gen
Valdes, who had been appointed captain
general Of Cuba, having previously resigned
his Spanish offices in consequence OF the
refusal Of the corteZ to receive the Cuban
representatives as members of that body,
IL was during his second residence in CUBA
that he first directed his thoughts toward
revolutiouiziug the island Inhamed with
this aspiration, in conjunction with other
patriotic Cubans he attempted revolution
in 1916. The attempt failed however, and
Lopez and his friends we're compelled to
fee in order 10 save their lives. 1t was
about this period that the attention of
the American mind had been gener-
ally attracted to Cuban affairs by the
sturdy refusal of the Spanish government
10 accept the offer Of the United States,
made during the previous year to pur-
chase Cuba from Spain for the
sun of $lOO,OOO,OOO. Hence was it that
when Lopez and his compatriots fed to
this country 10 lS49 they found not only a
large sympathy, but also hundreds of en-
thusiasts ready TO enter upon filibustering
expeditions to the island. Lopez gave NJ
kis time and his fortune to the further
ance to these enterprises. The American
people were assured that at the approach
of assistance from this country the native
Cubans, who we're weary of the Spanish
yoke, and were anxious for annexation {,
the United States, would rally 10 the sup
port OF the expeditiOniSts. Under thes,
promising circumstances there was little
difficulty IN gathering large numbers Of re
cruits, furnished with all necessary sup
plies for an armed descent upon Cuba
Three expeditions we're organized in tn,
period extending from lS4l 70 1851. Thes,
were the Round island expedition of thu
former year the expedition for the inva
sion Of Carde1as in 1850, and finally tn,
memorable Pamper expedition Of 1851
The first two were failures, the Unitet
States authorities having succeed in boil
cases in checking the attempts
The last expedition, direete,
against the town aud fortress of Balm
Honda situated on the northern coast 0
the island, about Co miles west Of Havana
left New Orleans in August. 1851, upon
many were Americans, under the com
mand Of Col Crittenden and others. U
this number 200, with Crittendeu at thei
head we're landed at a small place calle
Murilo, not far from Havana, while LC
peg went with the remainder Of the part
10 Los Pozas, another coast village. Bot
wings Of the expedition Jared badly froI
the moment Of their landing The prom
a.I - al ~.
forthcoming, and the devoted band of ga
liant adventures who had begnlett at MOI
lilo was surrounded by the Spanish SO
diers. all retreat was cut off, and the who
party was carried to Havana. In Havan
a. was the case, the other day in Sautiai
dc Cuba, the members of the expedite
were tried BY Court martial. and ca
Crittendcn and 80 Of the more prommer
Of his companions were shot in the publ
square Of the city. The courageous r,
spouse made by Col Crittendeu 10 the o.
der Of his executioners to kneel with b
back % the platoon Of soldiers was cha
aoterstic Of the man An American.
he said, "Llneels only u his Gud. and new,
turns his back upon an enemy" And wit
these words the chivarous kentuckia
received the Spanish bullets standing al
with his face N the foe The other part
which repaired TO Los Pozas under Lope
achieved temporary and barren Veto
over the Spaniards, who attacked the
and we're repulsed. This success, howe
err. was OF brief duration, and Lopez, ha
ing become separated from his comman
fled for refuge 10 the mountains. Here
wandered about for several days, and W
finally captured by the Spanish soldie
who had been sent in search Of hii
Taken to Havana, he was tried bv coul
martial aud was sentenced to die by q
garrOte The sentence was carried out
Sept. !. Lopez was ~ years II age at {
time of his execution, aud, like Crttend,
aud the rest Of the victims, he died wi
firmness and composure. Those OF the
fated expedition whose lives the Spaniar
spared we're condoned. The disastro
ending Of the expedition checked a
further disposition that the Cubans III
have had to effect a separation from I
mother country; but public opion in I
United States was for a long time agitat
over the catastrophe which was common
known as "the Havana massacre.
1852 President Fillmore refused to en-
into treaty with France and England gu
anteeing the p session OF Cuba 10 Spa
This fact aud the strong current of sy
pathy with free Cuba which ran in t
country caused the Spanish authorities
Cuba 10 take unusual precautions agai
any other attempt upon the island fir
this country, several expeditions to aver
tie death Of Lopez, Crittenden, and III
comrades, among them them one kno
as the Lopez avengers having b,
projected. Among the distinguished III
tary men who we're engaged in this ent
ise we're the late Gems. John A. Quitnl
OF Mississippi, and Mansfield Lowell, OF
confederate army, and also Geu Gusta
w. Smith, formerly street commissio
in this city under Mayor Tiemann,
afterwarl of the confederate army,
who still survives In their efforts
prevent the entrance Of the T
nlut;onist into Cuba. the Sp