Port Royal commercial and Beaufort County Republican. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1873-1874, 1874-01-08
The Santiago Massacre.


An Eye witness Graphically Descr ibs
Its Horrid NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF
MIR. Coffin, of the Bark Morning Star.
About 200 marines formed in line at
the landing toreceive the captain and the
crew of the American steamer Virgini-
us. At nine o'clock they landed from
the Spanish war steamer Tornado the
captain and SO of his cIew. Each man,
excepting the captain, had his arms
pinioned behind his back. They were
then taken to the Office of the captain of
the port, where the sentence of death
was read to them. They were to die at
half-past four that afternoon. The ma
rines then marched up to the door and
opened ranks. The crew were then Or
dered out and fastened together, four
abreast. The captain came out, under
guard of four soldiers, and took his
place at the head of his men. They
were marched up to the prison to await
the hour of death. During the time
the prisoners were landing guard was
placed over the residence of Mr.. Schmitt,
the American Consul, to prevent him
from having any communication with
them. At three o'clock he was granted
an interview with the captain. At half
past three he left the prison, as the cap
tain wanted to have the last half hour
alone. Mr.. Schmitt used every means
in his power to save them, but only re-
ceived insults from the Governor.
At half-past three regiments of foot
soldiers, numbering about l 800, march
ed through the town, followed by
troop of the mounted guard, and formed
in line at the place of execution. This
is piece of waste ground slaughter
house, on the outskirts of the town,
bounded on one side by stone wall,
eight feet high. In front of this wall
the men were to meet their death.
At four o'clock the prisoners were
taken from the prison, having their
arms fastened behind their backs and
irons upon their waists. They formed
in line, four deep. Accompanying each
four was Catholic priest. They were
then surrounded by 200 marines, and
marched at slow step to the place of
death, followed by hundreds of people.
While on the march l had an op-
portunity of speaking with most of the
men. They were in much better spirits
than person would expect. They all
stepped out with bold, manly step,
fully believing that before many days
America would avenge their wrongs.
When they arrived at the place of e1-
ecution the doomed men were placed in
line about four foot apart, with their
faces to the wall. The marines formed
a line, two deep, about 10 feet from the
men they were about to murder. The
prisoners were then ordered TO kneel.
The signal being given to fire, volley
of 200 rifles were fired at the 81 men
upon their knees 10 feet of. One man
only lay dead that was the Captain.
The rest were wounded in the most
horrid manner. Up to the time of the
firing of the first volley 1 was not able
to get nearer than 200 yards from the
prisoners. The moment the volley was
fired I jumped over the wall and ran
along until was abreast of the prison
ers, and then mounted the wall and
witnessed the most cruel murders. The
marines had reloaded their rifles and
were shooting the wounded men in the
mouths, ears and eyes, placing the
muzzle of the gun close up to the head
and blowing it to atoms.
Ono man was lightly wounded. Two
men stepped up to him; one ran his
gun into the mans mouth the poor
man grasped it with both hands. The
other put his gun at the mans ear.
They both fired together; nothing was
left of the head. This kind of work
lasted for 20 minutes before the last
, man was dead. Five dirt carts then
came up with 10 men from the chain
gang, and the dead were thrown into
these conveyances in all shapes. There
, was not a man of the 36 who were
t wounded whose head was not blown off
r from the mouth up. They were buried
in hole. The troops marched back to
town to lively mir.
, Is this to be the last of it ? Is the
American government to turn a blind
eye and deaf ear to this deepest in
suit that ever one nation offered to an
other? Where is the American navy
to protect our citizens in foreign lands
The moment the Consul was allowed
to send dispatch he telegraphed to
Jamaica for help to save life. No
: American war vessel was to be found.
: An English man-of-war that was laying
at Kingston slipped her anchors and
flew to the rescue, but too late 10 save
the steamers crew. How is this to end
: Nothing but blood can wipe out this
stain. Is the American flag to be
trampled upon by set of towards on
the high seas ? That steamer was taken
in English waters, IS miles from Matant
point. The Captain told me so 10
: minutes before his death. If the head OF
the government is going to let this pass
without giving them Yankee shot, /
say let the people of the nation arise
and avengc the blood Of our country.
men, and send the murderers to q
coward's grave, and if need be, wipe
the Spanish out of existence. ], for
. one, am ready to return with rifle that
. will send terror to the towards hearts.