The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-12-19
Fry's Last Letter to His wife.

Gen. Quesada has been so kind rs to
permit the writer to make a transcript
OF the letter written by the gallant Fry
to his wife. The pages of the original
bore the impress OF the tears shed by
the heroic writer. 1t was the last com
municatiOn V made to the world by
the true American, and the blended ex-
presslons of affection, of religious hope,
OF dignitied resignation with which it
teens, will cause its words to beremem-
bered so long as virtue and courage are
nonered among men. 1t may be well
to state that the letter necessarily Omits
all reflections on the Spanish govern
ment, but before his death Fry gave
utterance very forcibly to his opinions
on that subject, his silence only coming
with his death. The allusion to family
matters are, Of course, not reproduced
herein below:
On BOARD SPANISH MAR-oF-WAR La I
TORNADO, ST. JAGo DE CUBA, Nov. 6, 1873. 5
DEAR, DEAR DITA When l left you
l had no idea that we should never meet
again in this world, but it seems strange
to me that | should tonight, and on
Armies birthday, be calmly seated, on
a beautiful moonlight night, in a most
beautiful bay, in Cuba, to take my last
leave of you, my Own dear, sweet wife,
and with the thought of your bitter an
guish my only regret at leaving.
| have been triedtO-day and the pres
ident Of the cOurt-martial asked the IA
o OF embracing me at parting, and
clasped me to his heart. | have shaken
hands with each of my judges; and the
court and interpreter have promised me
as a special favor to attend my cxecu-
ton, which will, | am told, be in a very
few hours after my sentence is pro-
nounced. I am told my death will be
painless in short, | have had a very
cheerful chat about my funeral, to which
| shall go in a few hours from now.
How o o | cannot yet say. It is Gu
riOus to see how | make friends. Poor
Bambetta pronounced me q gentleman.
and he vas the brightest and bravest
creature | ever saw.
The priest who gave me communion
this morning put a double scapular
about my neck and Il medal which he
intends to wear himself. A young
Spanish officer brought me a bright new
silk badge with the Blessed Virgin
stamped upon it to wear to my execu-
ton for him, and a handsome cross in
some fair lady's handiwork. These are
to be kept as @ relic of me. He en-
braced me affectiOnately in my room
with tears in his eyes,. \
Dear sweetheart, you will be able to
bear it for my sake, for I will be with
you if God permits it. Although |
know my hours are short and few, I am
nOtsad. | feel I shall always be with you
right soon, dear Dita, and you will not
be afraid of me.
Pray for me, and I will pray for you.
n y There is to be a fearful
sacrifice of life from the Virginius, and
as | think, a needless one, as the poor peO-
pie are unconscious of crime, and even
of their fate up to now. | hope God
will forgive me if | am to blame for it.
If you write to President Grant, he
will probably order my pay due when
| resigned, paid to you after my death. n
\ II People will be kinder to you now,
dear Dita, at least I hope so. Do not
dread death when it comes to you it
will be as Gods angel of rest-remem-
Der this.
] hope my children will forget their
fathers harshness and remember his
love and anxiety for them. May they
practice regularly their religion, and
pray fer him always.
Tell-that the last act of my life will
be a public profession of my faith and
hope in Him of whom we need not be
ashamed, anditis not honest to withhold
that public acknowledgment from II
false modesty or timidity. May God
bless and save us all.
Sweet, dear, dear, Dita, we will soon
meet again. Till then, adieu, for the
last time. Your devoted husband,
JOSEPH Fry.