The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-06
A RECORD OF BRUTALITY.
MACK AND BLOODY oATAL on
OF SPANISH ATROCITIES.

the dominant and CmClhl class OF Srnin II u
hardly necessary to go back TO the original con
quest of Cuba, when Spanish soldiers perpetra
ted the most dinbollc c~rueities upon an unarmct
mid amiable people who had offered no resist
nnce to their occupation OF the island, nor u
the atrocities OF Cortez In Mexico, nor of Pr
zRrro In Peru. We may omit the black and
bloody catalogue of those crimes and come al
once to the treatment of American citizens
After Mexico had gained her independence
Santa Anna, n Spanish dictator. overthrow tn,
Constitution of the country, and ut the head Of
n large army attempted TO suppress an Insured.
tlon in Texas. which had revolted against hi,
despotic methods. The small army OF TeKar
patriots was largely recruited from the United
States. Many OF our young men, inlamod by
his butcheries and inspired by an ardent
love Of liberty. formed companies and
marched to the aid OF their kindred who
were struggling for Independence. Santa
Anna took San Antonio. stormed the
little garrison in tho Alamo, and, after
a desperate struggle. shot down every ono with
in itH walls, with the exception of one woman
and child. who would have shared tho same
fate had they not boon covered by the dead
bodies of the garrison. Not content with this
butchery, he wont among the slain and drove
his dagger to the hilt into the bodies of tho
dead and the wounded. Shortly afterward he
encountered a small body composed OF Texans,
GeorEians, and Alabnmians. who successfully
resisted his attack until their ammunition
was exhausted. when they surrendered as
prisoners of war. DR.. Shackelford, who COM
mauded this small band, being a skiiful surgeon.
rendered valuable service to the wounded
Me1lcans after the battle. as well as TO his own
followers. Though Santa Anna promised tho
survivors that they might return TO the United
States. all. with the exception of Shackelford,
were marched out and shot Among the vic
tins was Shackelford's own son. In considera-
tion OF the services rendered by his father N
wounded Mexicans Santa Anna offered to spare
the life OF his son also. Shackleford approached
the lad and informed him OF the offer.
Il have enlisted all your comrades" said tho
father, upon the terms that l would treat each
of them as | would treat my own son. They are
ordered to be shot; and. though your life 10
offered to me. I cannot accept It without bstray-
ing my word. I will leave the question for your
decision"
The brave lad instantly declined tho PROPOSE
ton. and died with his comrades. Among the
captives on another occasion WAS young Crit
tenden of Kentucky. Santa Anna had ordered
one man out of every ten to be shot. Black and
white beans were put in q hat and each prisoner
was required to draw. Crittenden got a white
bean, which entitled him to exemptions: but.
seeing that q comrade next to him had drawn a
black one. he turned to him and said:
You have o wife and children; I have none.
Take this bean and give me yours"
The proposition was reluctantly accepted and
Crittenden took the condemned comrade 's place.
The execution, however, was deferred, and
through the interposition of John J. Crittenden
and influential friends at Washington his life
was saved.
Sir Philip Sidney has been immortalized for
giving his cup. containing his last drop of
water, to a wounded comrade when he himself
was wounded unto death. But the no less noble
act OF Crittenden has never been praised In
poetry or in song. and has never even been heard
of by a large number OF his oountrymen.
1t will be seen that neither the humanity. the
chivalry. nor tho generosity of Spanish Gen.
erals had been improved from the time Of Cor
tez to that of Santa Anna; nor has there been
any improvement from Santa Anna to Weyler.
When Lopez made his last effort to liherate
Cuba in 1851, his command Of 500 men was
Of citizens of the United States, in
scions Of many OF the best-known fami.
lies OF the South. Hawkins. Pickett. and Will
liam Crittenden. all OF kentucky. were his
the last two being graduates Of
West Point; and Crittenden. II not Pickett
also. had resigned his commission in
the United States army to join the enterprise.
Lopez. with the larger part Of the little army,
marched into the interior OF the island. leaving
in command Of 100 men to guard
their supplies and baggage. A Spanish army of
several thousand men attacked Lopez and cap
tured or dispersed his followers. An attack was
then made on Crittenden's command. which
successfully resisted. only to be followed by
two other attacks with an Increased force. The
80 had been red uced by casualties to SO, when |
the survivors took TO their small boats and put
to sea. All were captured by q Spanish Eunboat. |
They were put In irons, treated with the most |
lihboiio brutality. hurried to Havana, their
arms corded around the wrists so tightly as to
cause their hands to swell double their natural
size: and. without any form OF trial, even ny a |
tribunal. were condemned to be shot.
Half an hour before their execution their wrists
unbound, and permission was given to
vas ignorant OF the fate of Lopez. and there
indignant that he had not come to his
DEAR LucrEN-In half an hour l. with nifty Others, am
o no shot We were taken prisoners yesterday. We
NEE NC. Of ne qommsPd from ne. TGat Win mo sooa.
, GS' co Mas asta Of ha1 Sy 'w Tb ss naa. m.r Of ,n ,atansTy and
.ranss 10 tel, was no. Furnished with q single mus
sssr comes on. You vii md tia. b i did ia my du ine
ne, We Tad retired from the field and were going
ieamsr faeanero and captured, Tell Gen npAHi; u..
%" the M" i5,h, i ana nI ,lGns fot ys Separated npa tied n from atm, me
'"'N t-'S A'h E'f II iiIu bAhEt. l
10 may have stTaE+lea on and lo.n,d Lopez, WHO
yer, were entirely surro indrd on every side. Wa
that we had been d,c ived gruss y. ana wers
for I g United States when taIun. During
short journey in this Island i nave not met
lhgle patriot. Wo landed some forty or nifty miles
art OF ihei.iand Lopez ha. no friend- When l was
lacked LOPEZ was only rireo miles OIL. II he had
OF uern ae Giving us as 10 the state Of things 10
QUA have fallen Incl; with his fore ant made light,
alter or.
am requested to get you, to trll Mr.. Green of tho
aston House that his brother shares my fate. Victor
tr Is also Win me, also stanford. I rocollrct no
thtrs or your aoqual lance at present. | y III die
ke a man. MY heart ha. not failed me YET. nor do
ellrvr IL VIII. Communicate with my family.
This Ia an ilcoherrnt letter, but the clrrumstnnces
'ust excuse H.. My hands are swollen TO ioubi. their
resulting from having them tightly corded
lr mo at eighteen hours. Write 10 John and let
~ write TO my mother. nm AFRAID that the news
or now, Farewell. NY love 10 ali my friends ! am
'rry ] de owing a cent, but II Is inevitable. Yours.
,rong IN heart. ". l.. cRITTENpEs.
To Or. luclrn Hcnsley.
A crowd OF 10000 had gathered and wero
for the execution. The victims were
etaiied In squads Of ten, ordered to turn their
az ks and k"eel b"side the stone walls of the
One sturdy young fellow had to be
hot six times before he fell. When the order
'as given to Crlttenden to turn and kneei he
FnuHIv rnnliad.