The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-10
SEVEN MEN SHOT TO DEATH.
4 TERRTBLE PTCTURE or LIFE ON
CUBAN PA NATION.
Barbarous Treatment of n Creole Siave-A
Husbands Vengeance - Numbering the
Ovcrseer-A Strange Morning scene.

bhFDdFOuA recruitment OF n creole NlnVe-A
Husbands Vengeance Numbering the
Ovcrseer-A Strange Morning scene.
A gentleman who arrived in this city on
the 9th instan' in the steamship City OF Vera
Cruz, from Havana, gives the following account
Of the execution Of seven persons which took
place ON the Goth ultImo on plantation In Cuba
| called "El Santo Criato." This plantation IL
owned by Francisco Gonzalez Arrange, aud is
situated In the Vuelta do Abajo, near the town
Of Qubcan, in the jurisdiction Of Bejucd.
Arrange is a wealthy planter, and Is the owner
Of several sugar plantations, He is about 20
| years OF age. Some months ago he bought a lot
| OF slaves in the Vuelta de Arrlbl, and had them
taken TO his plantation I'll Santo Cristo. Among
them were an African woman, her son Luis, a
creole, born In Cuoa his wife, also a creole, and
Chinese cOOlie labUrer.
After they had been on the plantation short
time, Arango's mayOral, or uverseer, a white
man, made improper pfopOs lis to Luis's WIFE
She Indignantly rel cted his advances. and
after repeated refusals, the mayoral became
angry aud determined to take revenge. III
therefore went to Arrange, and told him such
stories about the woman as to induce him to
When slave / whipped In Cuba 1t Is the GUS
tom to lay him prone on the ground four others
applied to H. bare fkin NV" The WHIP used on
these occasions IL a most formidable instru-
ment OF punishment. Tn. handle, which is gen
about three feet long, with a heavy lash of
about four feet, tpped with strongly twisted
hempen cracker. With this whip, when welded
by a practical hand, the skin may be cut
through at each blow.
A BARBARoUs OUTRAGE.
When the sentence about to be executed
upon the woman, " was found that she would
soon become q mother. Her fellow slaves hoped
that on account Of this she might escape. think
Ing that her condition would preclude the in
Fiction OF the punishment in the ordinary man
ner Bat this did not avail and she was whipped
IN terrible manner. During the whipping her
Luis, incensed at tho terrible outrage TO
which his wife had been subjected, determined
to revenge himeelf upon his master. From the
cruclties daily practised toward all his fellow
slaves hc felt convinced that he could easily Sc
cure tho co69eratiOn of a sufficient number OF
them to accomplish his purpose. In a few lays
seven OF the negroes who bad been brought
with him from Nuelta de Arriba, together with
the Cninaman, had entered into solemn league
with MIN to Kill AranRo.
About the middle OF January all their plans
were laid, and one night they started out to do
tue deed. but Arrange, from some unexpected
cause, had left the plantetion. Meeting the
mavoral, they decided that he, as the execu-
TONER Of the cruel and inhumln DEGREES OF his
master. should paw the penalty. They accord
inglv ed HIM. and then went and gave them
selves up TO the authorities at Bejucal, telling
what they had done. They were az once put In
prison. mud an nyestig ,tion was begun.
Although the offence was one that properly
came under the Jurisdiction OF the reg ular
courts. Arrange made formal complaint before
the military Governor Of Bejucal, alleging that
he killing Of the mayoral was only the first step
toward causine an resurrection among hts
Luis and his eight companions were the con-
splrators.
DOUBLE TRIAL.
Upon this Information a court mar'la l. com
posed Of Uhcers " volunteer ORGANIZATIONS, was
convened, and the nine prisoners were tried.
Tho tri1l did not last long, AMI the result was
that Luis aud two other negroes were sentenced
to be sEOf, the ChinIman and two negroes were
sentenced 10 the chain gang for ten years and
the remaining three To hve years extra hard work
on the plantation.
Arrange was MOI satisfied with the sentences
10 aF..V aN.lN
decision. nj through the infuence he troaght
t. bear obtained another trial. This time the
prisoners were tired bv a court martial COM
posed Of on ccrs Of the spanish army. On Jan.
%, Luis, the tntnaman, aud Ave Of the negroes
were sentenced to death. and the others to ex.
ira hard labor on the plantation for such time
us Arrange might deem proper On the evening
OF the same day the prs ners were pat IN the
urison chapel and told TO prepare for death
The exec was ordered 10 take place on tae
foil wing morning.
So soon the sentence became known
throughout the town. many OF the most inng-
Cntia, citizens iatcrceded vita the GOvernoi Tor
respite for the condemned men. lie would
not grant II, and they then appealed to the
CaptIiu-G enet al, JovClar. These interce ssi ms
were IA vain, aud the preparations for the exc
u'ion were continued.
In spain. and IN ali OF the Spanish colonies It
Is the custom to administer the sacrament OF
tue communion TO all persons condemEed to
death, IN tho prison chapel. On this occasion,
when the priests left tie church IN the town,
bearing with them the Host. they were accom-
panied on their way to the prison by large
numocr IL the ladies' OF the place. who took
Aul- NAN 81 expressing tNelf sympathy ana pity
Tor tue men who were about to die.
Riding To THEIR DOOM.
Early on the morning Of the 18th the prisoners
were taken out and, surrounded 10y n strong
guard, we're placed on horses, their arms tied
behind their backs, and their feet securely fss-
tened. Eich had white handkerchief tied
about his head, and each was smoking a cigar
The scene Is said 10 have been one OF the sad
dest ever witnessed In Bejucal. All persons
watched the proceedings with eUrrowful faces,
aud the negroes of the town were loud In their
expressions OF grief, aud many OF them were In
tears.
When the procession was formed the prison.
ers were taken through the plaza, and thence
through the principal street OF the town, TO the
plantation FL Santo Cristo. There all the slaves
were called out TO witness the execution, and
Lus's mother was made 10 stand first IN the
line. His wife was too III In the inarmary to De
present.
The prisoners were then made to stand In line,
and platoon of soldiers were drawn up In front
OF them. They fred At The word, aud the seven
men, who all met their fate with courage and
resolution, fell at the first fire. Their bodies
were then thrown into cart, and removed
for immediate burial.