The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1874-01-01

were not removed until after they had
been lodged in Jail. When all the cap
tiveS had been landed, Spanish officer
stepped up to Gen. Ryan aud his three
companions, and, respectfully saluting
him, intimated his pleasure that they
should accompany him. Without word
the four obeyed the intimatiou, and march
ed away from the wharf to the prison,
which was only about two blocks distant,
followed by "a file of soldiers with bayonets
fixed. Meanwhile the other captives were
standing grouped upon the wharf, chat
ting and smoking. None of them ap-
peared to understand the awful peril Of
their position. Many laughed and jok ed
about their position, evidently consider
ing that they had got themselves in bad
scrape, but nothing more. Neither the
populace nor the soldiers at that time
made any hostile demonstrations against
the captives, nor were they subjected to
any i'll treatment or indiguities beyond the
pinioning before mentioned. A few mo-
ments after Gen. Ryan and his compan
ions had been taken away the remainder
of the captives were taken to the prison
The people then dispersed. Late in the
evening rumor was circulated that
Ryan, Varona, Cespedes, aud Jesus de
Sol had been condemned to death, and
were to be shot on the following morn
ing. The report, which was soon ascer-
tanned to be only too well grounded, ez
cited the most intense excitement, and
was everywhere the universal topic of dis
cussion. Many persons it was apparent
condemned the action Of the authorities,
but were afraid to express their senti
timents for fear, of becoming involved in
trouble.
How the four condemned men spent
the night before their execution Mr.. Cof
in said be did not knew. Gen Ryan, a
short while previous to the hour for go
ing to the place of execution, obtained
permission to write somo letters and make
his Will. Before being granted the per
mission, he was compelled to make an
oath that he would not make any attempt
TO escape About FIVE o'clock on Mon
day morning, the fated four were march
ed to the slaughter House," which is
about ten minutes walk from the prison
Ryan was dressed in blue flannel shirt
and light pantaloons, wore white felt
hat looped up at the side, and carried a
small silver star On the left side of his
breast. "He showed" said the mate
"more grit and courage than one would
have thought possible. A person would
imagine he was going to his wedding in
stead of to his DEATH The others, too,
acted like brave men, especially Cespedes,
the youngest of the three, whose courage
never for an instant quailed. On the
way to the execution ground Gen. Ryan
spoke two or three times to the Spanish
officer who walked beside him, protesting
that his execution was without justifca
ton, as he had not had fair trial, or any
trial at all, in fact. A Catholic clergy
man offered his ministrations to Ryan,
but he refused to speak to him and moved
away. On arriving at the slaughter
house Mr. Coffin states that the Spanish
officers directed the condemned men to
kneel down with their faces to wards the
wall. Ryan aud Cespedes protested
against this as an indignity, and asked to
be allowed to kneel with their faces turn
ed toward their executioners. Finally,
however, they submitted and assumed the
required position. Then there was a
pause for an instant, followed by fash
and report. aud the four were wrlthiug
in the agonies of death. Their suffer
ngs did not last long and all we're dead
within the space OF four minutes The
reports circulated in New York that
Spanish officer thrust his sword through
Ryans heart, and that the heads were
chopped off the four murdered men and
carried in triumph through the streets,
Mr. Coffin pronounces as altogether un-
ture The moment life was extinct the
four bodies were placed in a cart aud tax
en- to the cemetery, where they were
thrown into rude hole hastily dug, and
some shoyelsiul of clay thrown over the
remains.
Meanwhile, the house of Mr.. Smith,
the American Consul had been placed
under guard of Spanish soldiers, aud
Mr.. Smith was compelled to remain with
in doors, aud not allowed to hold com
munication by letter or otherwise with
any one outside He was not even per
mitted to come out on his verandah. Of
the massacre of Captain Fry and the crew
of the Virsinius Mr. Coffin gives the fol
loving graphic description The execu
tiou took place 10 the afternoon. The
trial had been on board the Tornado, and
on the morning Of the execution the Gu
tire party was taken on shore and march
ed TO the prison. l talked with Captain
Fry on the way irom the Jail to the slaugh.
ter house. The first question | asked
him was where the Virgipius was when
captured. lie said that she was just
eis hteen miles south east from Fort
Morant, on the coast of jamaica When
| saw that we were certain to be captured,
said the Captain, ] sent for Varona, and
asked him what he proposed to do, to
fight or surrender, adding, it is all one to
me. He replied that be thought it best
L