The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-02-27
How Moncasi was Strangled.

Long before daylight stream Of
people poured out of Madrid on the
roads leading to the spot called "Campo
de Guardias, beyond the northern sub
urb Of Chambery 1t is lonely, wild,
dreary field, some thing like common,
in view of the distant chain of the Quad
arrama, and full i'll sight OF Madrid. 1t
stands between two roads, and the seat
fold had becD raised about three feet
above the ground, upon large square
blocks oi Stone ii /, d -ude sort Of
platform. vron which I.s-s POKE Or
elbbct, and is -ho- r0l .'y s,raus.od 10y
two o.. tArlc eAc-dtiyuecs. They had
been aorn 60 the Campo de Guardias
dulia. the night to prepare the scafold,
and they were waiting at daybreak at
the Saladero prison to go through the
Formally of asking pardon of the con-
Wet. In the Saladero it had been Il
sleepless night with the authorities and
those who watched the doing criminal.
Before the day had broke on that cold,
chilly morning the priests had aroused
Juan Olivia, and had said three masses in
succession, Vile he knelt at last, quite
moved and dry, we were told by the
Vicar him L. He, however never dur
ing those twenty-four hours expressed
any repentance for attempting to kill the
King. Tie submitted to be roped in a
dark colored, ponitent dress and cap.
Around his waist was cord belt and
on his cap cross He had his hands
bound, anu he very quietly told his exc
cutioner that he willingly pardoned him.
At { o'clock precisely Judge Molina
gave the signal, and all the soldiers in
the halls and passages Of the Saladero
stood to attention. The prisoner was
led down stairs by the priest and
brethren of the Paz y Carload. Many
of the wsrdens seemed much moved as
Moncasi passed, and he nodded to one or
two of them. AT the door of the Sala-
dero prison strong detachment of
soldiers of the line was drawn up near
TO closed carriage drawn by two mules
An uncouth looking and ragged driver
was on the box, and Moncasi stepped
into it without assistance. The two
priests sat by his side, and the officer
gave the order to march with fixed
bayonetS First in the sad procession
went two strange, pale individuals, &C
companied by warders. They were the
Calcrafts of Valladolid. Next came the
brotherhood with lighted tapers, and a
priest in robes, bearing aloft a crucifx.
Next was the coach, surrounded by the
brethren and a double line of soldiers
and police The crowd became silent, and
men took their caps off as the procession
moved slowly past. 1t is curious that the
vast majority of those present on the road
and at the Camp de Guardias were women
and young boys. Shch collection of
young rogues and ragged youths could
hardly be imagined The female part
of this herd was mostly composed Of
young girls from the popular suburbs,
and here and there you could catch
sight of old sight seers, who inspire you
with the idea that they oftener than
they choose to pay the Saladero visits of
a permanent character. The crowd on
the spot of the execution, hear from
trustworthy authority, was so great that
it was impossible to reach the scatfold.
The prisoner was led in the carriage and
amid profound silence, within square
formed around the scaffold by Hussars
and infantry. He alighted with the
priests, and stepped up to the gibbet very
coolly. He sat down, quite surrounded
by the priests and brethren of the
Paz y Carload When they left his
side the Vail dolid Calcraft had done his
work, and Juan Olivia y Monasi had
ceased to live. The crowd very soon
dispersed and not many people remained
to gaze on the body, which is exposed
until dusk according to Spanish law,
with face uncovered. This evening it
will be inferred. In the crowd on the
route and during the execution some
sympathy was expressed for the death Of
so young criminal. but no demonstra-
ton of any kind took place. Madrid
Correspondence London Standard.