The morning call., 1892-09-22
FACING DEATH.

principles of humanity were set aside by
the ferocious butchers in authority till at
length guerra a la meurte death and exter-
mination) became the fearful warcry OF
each half-frenzied faction.
At the head Of the royalst forces was
General Morales, as savage and bloodthlrsty
a wretch as ever existed, aud opposed TO
him. as chief of the patriots, was General
Bolivar. the subsequent founder OF the five
republics of Venezuela, New Granada, Peru,
Bolivia and Ecu ador
On one occasion, some fve-and-twenty
patriots had been taken by the TOyallStS;
among them were three or four officers of
high rank. Morales had their heads cut
of and sent to Bolivar. with an insulting
letter in which he declared that every cap
tured rebel should be served in the same
manner. Upon this Bolivar gave immediate
orders for tile execution of all the royalist
patriots; and 10 turn for this act Of retalia-
ton Morales resolved upon a massacre
which should strike terror to the hearts
of all.
On one pretense and another the Spanish
authorities had caused the arrest OF all per-
sons suspected of being disGttected toward
the Government, and some 900 In number
were confined in the dungeons Of La
Guayra.
A large body of cavalry and infantry was
drawn up around the fortress where the
these aiter-pale, emaciated aud almost
naked-were marching forth in chains and
conducted to g gloomy spot called Macuto.
There CHANGED TO be British man Of-war
in the harbor of La Guayra, and the COM
mander believing that some of his own
countrymen might be among the victims.
and that some good 70 them might be
effected by MS presence, resolved upon
accepting the invitation sent him By the
authorities and being present at the execu-
ton. He accordingly, with some OF his Off
GERS and several of his men. fell into the
mOurnful procession. and on arriving at the
fatal spot was assigned to a post of honor
near the commander of the bloody work.
The prisoners were brought in body, and
halted upon spot which overlooked the
place of execution. At a signal from the
commanding officer, some fifty Of the victims
were selected and marched forth to the
place Of slaughter. On their way they had
10 pass within a few PAGES OF the place
where the general and his staff and the
British captain and his officers were sta
toned.
AS soon as they had taken their station on
the fatal ground, the priests slowly with
drew, while the infantry marched up within
few PAGES, leveled their pieces and fired
al the word. Many were killed outright by
this discharge; many were MORALLY wounded
but yet lived and WTltled, aud few were
scarcely injured.
None, however, were permitted to escape
lOng-fOr amid the prayers and gr0ans of
the poor wTetches, another line of infantry
took the place of the first, and another
muTderCus vOlley was poured into the
breasts Of the wounded and dying, and
what yet escaped were shot dead with
pistols, or cut TO pieces with swords In the
hands of the officers.
When the first fifty Of the prisoners had all
been dispatched the second lot was selected
and marched forward in the manner already
Ac fha
stand. the British captain was panied TO OBJ
serve some three or fOur faces which he
could not but believe to be fellow-cOuntry-
men.
Are not certain of these men English
senior c0mmandante? 2" be inquired, turning
20 the Spanish general.
1t is possible, senior captain, they had
English birth, but they tTansgressed Span
ISL laws, and must suffer the penalty"
Would your eXcellency not permit me to
intercede for them in behalf Of the English
Government
My orders are very positive, senior capt.
ta5, to putallthe prisoners under my charge
10 death"
The captain, seeing there was no chance
to save the poor fellows, remained silent,
and the Inflated group moved on to meet
the bloody fate OF those who had preceded
them.
Atlength. as the eighth or ninth division
OF victims was fling past, there looked Up
at the British officers pale, white face. and
pair Of blue eyes we're fixed search ingly
but mourDfully upon them.
Farewell, gentlemen and fellow-cOuntry-
men !! spoke firm and steady voice. And
when you return to our glorious native
isles pray report that Lorenzo Ferguson Of
Scotland met his death as became gentle
man and q soldier ~
Hal" exclaimed the captain, there is
no mistake this tlme-that man IS a BritOn
and must be saved Senior communicate,
ask the lie OF that man IN the name Of his
Britannia MaiestyP'
i regret senior captain, that my duty
eompels me to deny so natural a demand"
replied the Spanish general, somewhat
eoidiy. 'Senor Morales has the power Of
life and death in his hands"
Then grant reprieve till your superior
can be consulted" replied the other"
u would If dared, Senior Captain"
Meantime The excitement among the other
British officers and men was becoming in
tense. Angry denunciations of Spanish
tfhcers and Spanish tyranny began to be
spoken among them, while the printing of
more than one pistol was looked to and
more than one sword was lOosened in its
scsbbard.
The Spanish general was not little dis
composed by these unpleasant demonstra-
tlOns OF gathering trouble. but he still re-
NAMED firm and the procession moved on.
The British seamen, who were grouped
dp6ib ltUD lllb NIUc6ES. seemed even more
excited than the latter; and Just as the
prisoners, poor Ferguson among the num-
Der, had reached the horrid scene where
their companions lay piled in bloody heaps
the attention OF all was arrested by the
loud yell OF an IrishmaD, who ran swiftly
top of his lungs:
Hold up, We cowardly spalpeensl TOthe
OWL Wld ye, now, for set OF murtherin'
beasts! Would ye shoot white Christian
gintieman that way, now? Ii We does the
IKE NJ have to be through Barney OReiIly's
body"
While all eyes were fixed upon the shout-
Ing Barney he reached the doomed file of
prisoners, in front of the muskets of the
exeeutIoners, and throwing his arms around
the neck OF poor Ferguson, fairly yelled out
In Triumph:
'Now fire away. ye yaller nagurs. an,
sure an It's the British lion yen soon hear
rOarln' around ye, ye murtherin' thievesp'
These remarks were spoken in English
ana not Spanish. and were not understood
by the Spanish soldery, or it is quite posi-
bic MIR. Pat OReilly might nOt have lived to
repeat them.
Call back your fellow yonder, senior CAP
Hsn, or will not be answerable for the con-
sequences. said the Spanish general to the
British captain
Not | y was the reply; land if hair of
his head be Injured look to il. senior com
mandante. that you do rot wish Won had
never seen this day. for be, sir. is a British
SaDleet, and under the protection of the
British fiagp'
There was hurried consultation between
the general and his staff, and then an aide
oashed forward and delivered an order fo
the oflcer 10 command of the infantry. who
seemed to be in doubt as TO what was
proper lor him to do under the crcum-
This order brought Lorenzo Ferguson
"a
liberty. --A' anu
OF the 800 doomed prisoners Ferpuson
alone escaped the death decreed by the
hendlsh Morales, and on the spot where
they fell many of their bones NAV to this
day De seen bleaching in the sunshine and
burial. '--'AN