Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1873-11-20
THE CUBAN QUESTION.

Official Account of the Shooting of Gen.
Ryan and his COmrades-The WASH
ington Authorities Inquiring into the
Matter.
A Washington dispatch of the 10th
inst. says The fate of the Cuban SYM
pathizers on the Virginius has been the
topic of universal and angry discussion
for the past two days and Secretary
Fish, according to the reports of per-
sons who have talked with him, says
Spain has misbehaved and done injustice
to the liberality with which the United
States has treated her during her pres
emit misfortune. The State Department
has sent instructions to both Minister
Sickles, at Madrid, and Consul-General
Hall. at Havana, to telegraph as soon as
possible all facts i'll regard to the capture
of the Virginius, and the execution of
parties on board that vessel. Hall re-
plies there is some interruption of the
Geographic line between Havana
and Santiago de Cuba, and as yet he
has been unable to learn any particu-
lars. A dispatch from Minister Sickles
states that the Madrid Government had
no information of the execution until
after it had occurred. The only infor-
nation the Government now has is the
fact that the Virginius was captured
and several persons on her executed,
DuD rs TO III WldD WdUSIS, VI u11S1CI VIA
circumstances, the vessel was captured,
no information has been received. I'm
til these facts are known officially, the
Government will take no action in the
matter. The Secretary of the Navy has
telegraphed to Rear-Admiral Scott,
commanding the North Atlantic Station,
to proceed in person or send a vessel to
Santiago de Cuba, without delay, to CO.
operate with Vice-Consul Schmitt at
that place in protecting the interests of
the United States in the affair of the
Virginius.
A telegram has just arrived at the
State Department from ConsulGeneral
Hall, giving a full account of the ex-
ecution of the American citizens. He
intends to protest for his Government
against the outrages committed by the
Spanish authorities in xio1ntion- of inter
national law, and of our treaties with
Spain, and to demand an adequate re-
paration. The State Department is
reticent, but determined to obtain
redress. There is a very unfavorable
feeling against Spain in official circles.
The following dispatch from Gen.
Burriel, commander OF the Spanish
troops at Santiago de Cuba, to the Cap
tain-General of Cuba, contains all the
information thus far received of the
SnOOblu8 O1 ba0 laSuIS0ub 1cduOIS
SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Nov. 4.
To His Excellency the Captain-General:
At six o'clock this morning were shot in this
city, for being traitors to their country and
for being insurgent chiefs, the following per-
sons, styling themselves "Patriot Generals :"
Bernebe, Verona, alias Bembetta, General of
Division; Pedro C~espedes, Commanding Cen
eral of Cienfuegos; General Jesus del Sol;
and Brigadier General Washington Ryan. The
execution took place in the presence eff the
entire corps of Volunteers, the force of regu-
lar infantry, and sailors from the fleet. An
immense concourse of people Witnessed the
act. The best of order prevailed. The pris-
oners met their death with composure.
(Signed) BURRIEL.
A Havana letter dated Nov. 5 gives
the following account of the execution:
'tThe foul prisoners were shot at the
place made famous by previous execu-
tions,, and in the usual manner, kneeling
close to the slaughter-house wall. All
marched to the spot with irmness.
Bambetta and Ryan showed marked
courage, although the former was
slightly affected toward the last: The
two others quite broke down before
they were bandaged, but the rest, up to
the last, never hinched a moment, and
died without fear or regret. Bambetta
and Ryan were killed at the first dis
charge"