The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-05-30
PAST BUTCHERIES IN CUBA.
The TRAGIC End Of Lopez and His Fellow
Patrols.
THE AMERICANS HEADS BLOWN OFF.
In the Two Revolutions CUBA In "hieh
the Gallant Lopez Figured Many
American Were shot Down-lhe
Loader Chased By Bloodhound-.

five years ago, says the New YORK her-
aid. tho interest OF the American people
Ia cuban affairs was quite as intense rs
II is to-day In 1SJ1, there was. as Usual,
since the beginning or TINS century,
revolution rampant IN the island. IL was
the most important up 10 that GATE, eA-
ceeding in It's scope even the conspiracy
OF the BLACK Eagle IN lN-9. ano the
negro uprising in lsl4. General Narciso
Lopez was At its head, and ia IT'S ranks
were hundreds Of Americans
In ls4s. Lopez had headed ccisDl4"-
cy Of Cubans In their own island. lie was
himself "a Syaniard but most Of ms tol-
lowers were the native blacks. lie failed
and made his escape 10 the United states.
There he found ready sympathy. rms
country was rife Ia 1915 with a sentiment
favoring the acquisition ny pure nasc OF
otherwise OF the queen OF the Ahtucs.
IL was IN that year that President POLK
proposed. through the American Amuas-
sadOr at Madrid, 10 SurcAnsc tuDd IoI
100000. The proposal was renewed IN
the United States Senate ten years later,
but 10y this time the price offered had adj
yanced TO S3OeD.VO.
Lopez was able 90 organize in this coun-
try force Of 600 men. with which he
sailed for cuba in 1850. lie effected
landing and was Joined by the native
sympathlzers. For months he waged
dcsultory guerilla warfare achieving at
times a passing success, but for the most
part combining h.s chorts TO the noun
tains. lie eventually failed ana withdrew
from the island. but In the next year
made the third attempt. Like the others,
Il was unsuccessful. Not only did 10 fail
IN itself. 10 cost the life OF the leader
and most OF his followers, Americans
among the rest
Lopez was rarrotod. according TO the
custom which still prevails 90 Cuba,
and which has been cxcmpinrd more
than once in the Castle Moro during the
present war His head and face were en-
Ha. III" NHa d"
around his throat and the screw was
turned until, the collar slowly tightening,
he was chOktd 20 death. The capture or
Lopez was due 20 the separation from
the main body OF troops which De com
manded, Of Colonel Crlttcudcn and his
forces. Colonel Crittendcu was an Amer
lean. The natives. upon the approach OF
the Spanish forces, deserted their leader
and fed 20 the mountains. Lopez was
LETT with thirty followers, ana even these
finally deserted him He wandered about
in the mountains alone until Doe WAS CAP
tured with the aid Of hlOldh0unds. HIS
last words were "Adieu, dear Cuha''
\ GALLANT BUT FUTILE RAID.
The last attempt made boy Lopez 10
secure independence for Cuba resulted IN
much the same sort Of warfare as has
been inaugurated by General Weylcr.
Lopez and his followers took ship az
New Orleans. on board the PamDero. ON
August 3. 15Jl, IN Colonel Crittcndcus
regiment on the 18th the Pampero stood
of Havana. Lopez took the captain and
mate out OF q SPANISH schooner and
compelled them 20 act as pilots. Despite
this precauu0n ,le PampcrO "a few logr3
later. running under full head u steam
westerly along the coast. ran upon
coral reef. The men and arms were there
upon taken ashore IN small boats. ln
the cargo were 10000 cartridges, 5000
muskets and several hundred kegs OF
powder
Lopez sent a prouunciamento 10 the
village OF Las Pesas demanding srircn-
der. Later lie marched upon the town
with 1913 men, leaving Critteulen ON the
coast at Cabanos with 80 f1eu 20 guard
the ammunition and stores. Cfiftepdcu
followed soon after having found carts
in which 10 carry the stuff After Skin
mishing with the Spanish along the road
Crittendcn formed a Junction with Lo9ez
at Las Pesas, and an cngagemnt took
place with the Spanish. Jriar General
Emma. The Americans We're Victorious
losing but thirty men 10 the s.aniards
two hundred, including many officers LO-
PEI rode about the field during the en-
gaGement wholly unarmed, except for
rawhide, which he pitilessly laid upon the
backs OF such men as he thought might
be melted TO firing faster
The Spanish again attacked and were
again defeated two days later at ha-
ton was one Of the hottest IN the re-
bellion The Spanish lost go men, LO-
pcz thereu9On actually made q forced
march of eighteen miles over mountain
road. In five hours. a turn I'm the tide
OF success occurred on August 20. when Lo-
poz, his ammunition having been greatly
damaged by rain, was taken by surprise
by superior force Of the enemy about
two leagues from Bahia Honda. The
lender fled with his surviving followers
10 the top of mountain and then cn-
hounds and publicly garrotcd.
More than twenty years later the hearts
| Of Americans were once more profoundly
! stirred hv cuban incident" boo which
their compatriots were again interested.
| and IN which once more American citi-
zens lost their lives. This was the cele-
| hratel Nirginius affair which occurred
| in 1873
The Vreinius am American ship. UNI
! der Captain Joseph Fry am American.
was chased by the Spanish cruiser Tor
| nadO and captured ar the east end OF the
! island Of jamaica. within sight OF the
| Morant Point lighthouse she was towod
/ into santiago dc cuba, and there. after
/ trials lasting in some Instances only ten
| minutes. hfty-three of those on board
/ were shot in the public square near the
! slaughter house Among them We're Cap
/ tain Fry. Ncrnande Naroua W A. O.
/ Ryan. Jesus de- Sol and Pedro Ccspolcs.
/ Both the United states and England at
/ once entered vehement protest against
/ this airoclty on the part of Buriel. who
/ was the butcher ~ the day and both
/
the other prisoners. The latter. who
came TO be known as the survivors"
| were delivered up 20 our government and
brought 10 New York on the Juniata.
The Virginius finally sunk of Frying Pan
! Shoals.
STORY OF THE VIRGINIUs.
The Virginlus left Kingston. Jamaica.
! ON October %. 1873. with 1876 souls aboard
| bound. according TO advertisement. for
| Port Limon. After putting 10 sea she
| sprang a leak Proceeding 10 Jeremie a
port of Hayu. for repairs. she subse-
| qucntly touched an Port au-Princc and
| Caymites on october 81. she was sight
| ga by q Spanish cruiser. which proved 10
| camped in most appalling SURROUNDINGS
THE DEFEAT OF THE REBELS.
| The weakened forces OF the invaders re-
! manned I'm the mountains for nearly q
| week. suhsisting upon roots. and exposed
| TO the most dreadful extremes Of wealth
er At length their sufferings became so
severe that they decided 10 descend 20 the
| plains and risk battle with superior
| forces. preferring death on the Geld 10
| the slow torture they were enduring At
| San CrlstOhal they learned OF an order
! by the government promising immunity TO
| all the fhnustcrs except Lopez II they
| surrendered Soon afterward they Were
| surrounded by a force OF Spaniards IN a
| house. where they had been offered hospi-
| tally. ana taken Ia Havana. They were
| by this time reduced 10 100 men. the
| others having fallen In battle or succumb-
| ed to Illness and fatigue. Twenty
| had escaped 20 the mountains. or the
| prisoners only two Americans were par
! donod. The others were sentenced 20
! twenty years penal serVitude In Spain.
| Tonez as told above. was taken by blood
he INC Tornado. and after a chase. cap
/ turad off the Jamaica coast. The Ameri-
! can shin was boarded by two officers and
/ thirty men. Captain Fry handed his pa
/ mora 10 The former. who insolently crum-
/ Ia, h.f hands