Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1873-11-28

This protest was approved by several Of
the foreign consuls, with whom Mr..
Schmitt advised. But His Excellency,
Governor Burriel, was highly incensed at
the consul's action, and informed him he
had determined the revocation of his exc
quator.
AN EYEWITNESS TO THE EXECUTION.
Captain McArther, of the British man
of-war Niobe, witnessed the execution of
RYAN, Verona, Jesus de Sol, and Pedro
Cespedes. and gives the following account:
On the morning Of the 18th day they were
removed to the place of execution, about a
mile from the jail. The four victims were
| surrounded by a strong escort OF Spanish
soldiers. Verona and Ryan were calm
and collected, and marched amidst the yells
and vociferations of the Infatuated Span
ish. rabble. Arrived at the place of execu-
ton, Cespedes and Jesus de Solwere forced
to kneel, in which position they were shot
in the back. The soldiers next directed
Ryan and Verona to kneel i'll the Same
way, but they refused, and We're seized and
thrown down. They were hand cuifed ali
the time. II "'e bAs i9t 80 MY
| The twovictilns begged their tormentors
| to allow them to die standing, and llaVin@
| offered further resistance, they were lnur-
dered standing. Ryan was not instantly
| killed A Spanish officer stepped forward
and thrust his Afas I}'t"~ g9T-~ So 5oEgsss
SWORD THROUGH RYAN's HEART if'
| Verona died easily. Then down came up
on the corpses. still warm, the blood-thirsty
mob, who severed the heads from the
bodies, placed them on pixies, and marched
| them through the city.
Fifteen officers of the Spanish army who
had been made prisoners on the battle
| field by Verona, were present when ne
landed, and they went to the governor OF
the city and begged that his life should be
| spared since he had given them theirs
This was refused. The foreign vessels at
Santiago were prevented leaving in order
| to stop the circulation of the news. -.
| A NOBLE APPEAL FROM CAPTAIN FRY FOR
| . HIS CREW. iei. n, sAl q
On board the Tornado Capt. Fry, its
| brave Ex-Confederate officer, wrote a let
ter to the court begging tito spare his
crew, and giving the names of many of
| them who he knew did not know the OBJ
iect of the expedition. He says: 3l'f y
For years it has been notorious that a
great number of vessels were engaged in it
during the American war, and, notWith-
standing many prizes were taken, not a
| single life was sacrificed. Onthe contrary
the greater part of the prisoners were lib
| Grated after short Imprisonment. OF the
| law in Cuba and the proclamation REFER
| ing to the introduction of arms into Cuba.
| T had not heard until the night OF my con-
viction. If with superior advantages, |
| was ignorant of case decided by other
than International law, how completely
ignorant should be these poor people. Twas
continually in company of persons who
ought to have known it, yet the fact was
| never once alluded to. In aeWord, I be-
lieve they were ignorant, and the world
will be grieveously surprised to know that
their lives ARE sacrificed. The council well
know that am not pleading for my life
I have neither home nor country-a victim
of war and persecution being shut out
from the road to prosperity until [ am I'M
| able to provide bread for my wife and sew
en- children, who know what it is to suffer
| from the vicissitudes of my life. My life
| is one Of suffering, and it is not for myself
| that I implOre. The machlnist fKnight)
came against his will Spaniards, the
world is not so full of persons that prefer
| honor to life. The poor Rosa-a poor gen
! tleman, with heartas tender as a woman,
who thought more of others than himself
pardon him. The poor fellow is my ser
want, hired to wait upon me in port, and
is not inscribed on the roll. He desired to
go ashore in Jeremie, but missed the OPP
portunity. He is nearly an idiot; he is
called Cubanillo, and is of Venezuelan ori-
gin. He was a favorite in the ship and
should not be made to suffer. Another
| unfortunate man was taken on board to
save him from death through fever and
hunger / had sent him to the hospital
from the ship, and he was afterwards pei
mitted to come on board for his health
spaniards as | believe | am the only one
who will die in the embrace OF r'llely re-
| ligion, consider the souls of these poor pe0-
pie Give them time. and opportunity to
seek the mercy of God. Thus only can you
comply with your duty, and my blood
had no knowledge Of their crime. Pardon
me if tell you that do not believe that
their deaths will tend to the benefit of Gu
| ba. According to our method OF viewing
matters [ should have had the interyen-
ton of my Government, whereby would
have been saved many lives without hay
ing compromised the dignity Of Spain
Seniors, I pray God that the members OF
the Council OF Judgment perform their
duty regretfully, and that they will re
member us in their prayers to God, and ask
/
also. 4s''
| 1t9 CAPTAIN JOSEPH Fry. Z;
| THE STRENGTH OF CUBA. 43'''t'
The present strength Of Havana is a
matter Of the greatest interest. Its gene
raj plan of defenses has been constructed
in the old style but profusion OF treas
ure has Of late years been expended to rem
der the city and harbor as far as possible
proof against all assaults. And it is high
| ly probable, from the Notifications that
have been erected, the precautions that
have been taken, the difficulties that have
been thrown in the way, and the ease with
which the defenses themselves can be used
against attack, that the capture of Havana
would be difficult enterprise to accom-
plish. The walls of the city, running from
the mouth Of the harbor across the PENN
sula to the inner shore, inclose an ellipSe
of 1000 yards by 1000 yards; but at the
present time more than twice that space
| outside of them is completely covered by
buildings. There are six forts, numerous
land and water batteries, forming COM
tinuous line running along both shores, be-
sides the walls and citadel The forts are
named the Moro, La Cabana, Principe,
La Punta, Atares, and Numero 4, or San
Diego. ESQ WV y =. n
| Moro Castle is deemed impregnable, but
| it is believed a competent naval force could
pass it. Even if successful, however, one
| thousand guns could be brought to bear on
the ships after entering the harbor. -5,i &
WHY FURTHER EXECUTIONS WERE STOP
| Y-+5. PED. Yll3It3afz. /
The official dispatch from Mr.. Hall, at
! Havana, giving information that no exc
| cutions were done at Santiago after the Sth,
| and that Governor Burriel suspended pro-
ceedings Immediately upon receiving the
| ,to,.xy ordn,.c, Of tho Madrid froyaY,,