Evening journal., 1889-08-26
BRAseLY he NET DEATH.
He Had Done Cowardly Deed but Their
Was (,ourasre In Him.


Was Courage In Him.
The steamship Hutchinson, from Havana,
brought, besides other passengers, a gentle
man who had witnessed the execution Ia that
city by the Spanish army Of a conscript sol
der named Aglllo. Agullo's offenss was the
murder OF his commanding sergeant A
Times Democrat reporter obtained from tho
gentleman a description Of the military exc
cution, which took place at Fort Principe.
II saw Agullo as he stood directing the sol
diers 10 aim ut his head and heart on the
morning Of bis execution, said the gentle
man. 1T was o'clock, on the elevation Of
Principe, whose crest Is crowned with that
gray granite fortress, and from which point
the harbor view Is grand, aud Aguilo, casting
one 6eeting glance to wave Tapped Moro, fell,
pierced by the three bullets in his head upon
the narrow parapet OF Fort Principe. One
bullet Of the four destined for him sped wide
Of It's mark, wounding an officer TO the rear
and iioar rne Tort.
EAeullo was man Of magnificent physique,
six feet tall, fine head, brilliant eyes and a
face denoting gentle birth and refined intel
ligence His long, military step as he
marched to the point Of his execution in the
square formed by the corps Of engineers, in
which he was enlisted, Of artillery, cavaify,
volunteers and infantry-caused murmurs Of
admiration to rise to the lips OF the 5000
Spectators curiosity brought together 70 wit
nesS the stern sentence OF the military court
''As he stood, the central point Of all eyes,
dressed in his fatigue uniform, striped trou-
sers and cap, directing his fellow soldiers to
aim with surety, the sad contemplation Of a
life which in other fields may have led to a
successful career broke In upon the specta-
tor with harshest feeling There is no telling
| what grief laden hearts beat with suffering
throbs in Ear away Spain, Innocent victims
alike with their soldier sons compelled to
serve the hated CONSUMPTION In Cuba. But
| such is often the case, and this poor Agullo,
| smarting under theoverbearing sergeant who
/ fed him his food In insult as to a dog, burn
| ing under the adverse fate, became the assas-
| sin and slew his victim when asleep.
| "The prisoners hours before the execution
were spent In calm, deliberate consideration.
| fIe had begged friend TO write 10 a brother
and sister telling them Of the close of his life
and altering his wiz by bequeathing small
house In Spain to his sister, which IN pre-
yious document he left 10 his brother, and
/ spent much time In religious exercise.
| "At 8 o'clock in the morning large crowds
| began steadily to wend their way toward
| Costello Principe. Senior Elias chief of police
| and tho colonel Ia command inspected tn,
square formed by the military on the north
west quarter Of the esplanade, in the direc
tion Of the chorera.
"The condemned soldier, accompanied by
| the Brothers OF Charity, saluted each on
locker with his farewell and, defying death
stood at tho spot where post had been placet
| for him to lean on to await his doom, with
out one qulver Of nervousness He was hearC
to remark: i was coward. / killed hin
while be was asleep. That was badly done.
In the preparations going on around him b
| took active interest in the direction Of on
thing and another, and then, calling ser
geant from some distance, bade him good-by
''When the soldiers advanced to place th
bandage over his eyes be told them, putin
his hand across his face: There is no neccs
ity for bandaghig my eyes, but If absC
lutely necessary, win bandage them my
! SELF He took his own handkerchief for tai
purpose, and loosely tied it 50 that he coul
SEQ over the edges This he was told woul
not do, and for the first time his fingers shoe
under tile strain upon his feelings, and on
Of Che chaplains stepped forward, securel
knotting the ends Of the bandage and firml
J pressing down Ills cap to hold them ia pos
7 tion. The soldier kissed the cross as his lal
giimrse Of earth was taken, and saw the fot
soldiers had come closer 70 him, as he u
quested that death might be quick and ce
tain They had previously been the militar
distance These four soldiers had beon give
a cigar each and some money by Aeull,
Disregarding thespecial plea OF Agullo, thei
four men, as they looked at the livid coui
, tenance and eyes Of faverish blazo when Il
! REQUEST was made to como closer and close
we're visibly disturbed Agullo could touC
) tho muzzles of tho pieces Standing close
the post placed to support tho prisoner,
4 tho order 'Kneer he quickly sank TO Ii
' knees. Then the four shots irregularly RAJ
out, and the body leaning against the po
fell TO the ground deadn--New Orlea
Timos-Democrat