The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1874-05-28
Brutal Treatment OF the British Con
sui Magee.

NEW YORK, May I3.-A Panama
letter Of May Sd says the foreign res.
idents on the Pacific coast are much
incensed against the Spaniards on
account OF tragedy that has occurred
at San Jose de Guatemala. 1t ap-
peara that the e0mmandant Of that
post, Col. Gonzales, had Q personal
difficulty with H. B. NJ. Vice Consul
John Msgee, In reference to the
clearance for = vessel lying in the
Tort, and they had an exchange oI
bloHB on the street.
On April 4th, Gonzales summoned
Magee to come to his Office. The lat
ter excuse himself alleging that
lamensss prevented his walking. A
party Of armed soldiers were sent to
bring him, dead or alive. Mr.. Ma9ee
was arrested, thrown into q cart, and
j0lted over the stones to the gov. rn-
ment headquarters. Here Gonzales,
not daring to shoot, took the butt oil
q pistol and struck his prisoner vio-
lently In the face, heaping on him, In
the meantime, every obscene epithet.
At the same time the COmmandant
declared that he should receive four
hundred lashes, and IL he survived
this torture, lhe should be shot the next
morning.
The unfortunate Viee-Consul VAIN
ly Invoked the protection OF his flag,
and the remonstranees OF Mr.. James,
United States Consular Agent, were
also disregarded by the Command
ant.
The Pacific Mail steamship Ari-
unna oRnfNroH - AAn y. q.
Francisco ut noon, but her presence
did not keep the Commandant from
his purpose. He seized the telegraph
station, planted two cannon on the
wharf that commanded the Arizona
as she lay at anchor, and then pro-
eeeded to work out his own plans.
At4 O'Clock in the afternoon Mr.
Magee was brought out, stripped OF
his coat and vest, and then thrown
PROSTATE on the stone floor. Four
soldiers sat on his hands, feet, and
head, and four others proceeded to
administer the lashes with rattan
sticks.
The CommandAnt cOoIIy kept tally
OF the stripes. After two hundred
blows had been inflicted, the victim
became insensible, and the surgeon
Of the port interfered, protesting that
the man would die II bis torture was
continued. TheEeupon the remain
ing two hundred Iashes were post
poned until the next morning, imme-
diately before the hour appointed for
the execution.
Mr.. Magee was then taken back to
his cell. With . hellish refinement
OF cruelty, the eOmmAndant visited
his victim several times during the
night, and placed the muZzle Of his
revolver against Mages's temples,
asking, "Why don't I shoot you?j
and "Don't you want me 70 put you
out OF your mIseFy?''
RumoTs Of these extraordinary pro-
ceedings had reached Salvador, and .
detachment Of troops under Gen.
SOlano was dispatched TO San Jose de
Guatemala. These came In sight lust
a. Mr.. Magee had been placed In
position to receiYe the remaining two
hundred lashes. The COmmandAnt,
seeing his downfall near at hand,
ordered his soldiers TO fire upon Mr..
Magee. They refused, and he then
fed to the OrZona. He was followed
by boat bearing orders from Gen.
SOlano on the captain Of the steamer
TO secure him, and return him to the
shore, but as Gonzales was standing
on the side Of the steamer, he was
fired upon by some Of the passengers,
three shots taking effect on different
parts of his body. He managed to
get into his boat, and was taken
ashore, but lived only q few hours.
No clue 10 the person who fired on