Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-05-20
QGEhe KepubHrap.
Nero Matched.


on the Pacific coast are Mortified on ac
count of tragedy that has occurred
at San Jose de Guatemala 1t appears
that the commandant of that post, Col
onel Gonzales, had a personal difficult
ty with Her British Majesty's Vice
Consul, John Magee, in reference to a
clearance for vessel that was lying in
that port. They had exchanged blows
on the street, aud on April "a Gonzales
summoned Magee to come to his Office.
The latter excused himself, alleging
that lameness prevented his walking.
A party of armed soldiers was then
sent to bring him, dead or alive. Ma
gee was arrested, thrown into cart,
and iolted over the stones to the Gov
eminent headquarters. Here Gonzales
not daring to shoot him, took the butt
of a pistol and struck him violently in
the face, heaping on him, in the mean
time, every obscene epithet. At the
same time the Commaudant declared
that Magee should receive 400 lashes,
and if he survived this torture he
should De shot the next morning. The
unfortunate Vice Consul vainiy in
voked the protection of his flag, and
the remonstrance of Mr. James, the
United States Consular Agent, was
also disregarded by the Commandant.
The Pacific Mail Steamship Arizona
arrived at San Jose from San Francis
co, at noon, but its presence would not
keep the Commandant from his pur-
pose. He seized the telegraph station,
planted two cannon on wharf that
commandant the Arizona, as she lay
at anchor. and then proceeded to work
out his own plans. AT 4 o'clock n
the afternoon, Magee was brou ht GU;
stripped of his coat and vest, and
thrown PROSTATE on a stone floor.
-Four soldiers sat on his hands, feet aud
head and four others proceeded to az
minister the lashes with ratteu sticks.
The commandment coolly kept totally Of
the stripes. After 200 blows had been
inflicted, the victim became insensible
and the Surgeon Of the port intertered
protesting that the man would die if
his torture vas continued. Thereupon
the remaining 200 lashes were post,
poned until the next morning, imm:
diately before the hour appointed for
the execution Magee was then taken
back to his cell. With a hellish re-
fnement of cruelty, the Conman iant
visited his victim several times dur.
ing the night, and placed the muzz!e
of his revolver against Magee's temples
asking, why don't l shoot you ?" aud
Don't you want me to put you out
of your misery p
Rumors Of these extraordinary pro-
ceedings had reached Salvador. and a
detachment of troops under General
Salano was dispatched to San Jose de
Guatemala. These came in sight just
as Masee had been placed in position
to receive the remaining 200 lashes.
The com mandarin, seeing his downfall
near at hand, ordered his soldiers to
fire upon Magee. They refused, and
he then fed to the Arizona He was
followed by boat bearing an ordes
from General Solalo on the Captain Of
the steamer to secure him and return
him to the shore, but as Gonzales was
ascending the side of the steamer he
was fred on by some of the passengers,
three shots taking effect in different
parts Of his body. He managed to get
into his boat and was taken ashore, but
lived only few hours. No clue to
the person WHO fired on the command
ants could be found. The log OF the
Arizona notes that the shots were fired
by unseen hands among the pas epgers.
Great fears of serious outbreak were
expressed, and the steamers guns were
loaded and turned upon the town.
The United States Minister at Sa:-
vador, Mr.. Williamson, sent dispatch.
ordering the detention of the steamer,
but the Captain. considering that the
order was designed to keep the ship
until the safety of the foreign residents
was assured, decided to disregard it,
and sailed for Panama On the 18th of
April.
SPAIN AND CURA.-NEW YORK