The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-04-23
THREE CUBAN PATRIOTS WERE
EXECUTED IN HAVANA YES
TERDAY.
1000 SPANIARDS IN THE HOSPITAL
Despite the Claim of Spanish That But
500 Have Been Wounded Since the
War Begun-Leader Bermudaz'
Tragic Death.

Havana, April 17.-Three prisoners of
war, Gregoro Borges, Estaban Herman
dez and Jose Bacallao, were executed
at o'clock this morning at the Guiana
fortress. They belonged to the insurgent
band commanded by Bruno Zayas, and
were captured by the soldiers of the Ara
piles battalion during the attack made
by the enemy on Managua, this province,
and the burning of property in that vicin-
ity.
Borges, while in the death chapel of
the fortress, was very nervous, while
Hernandez displayed admirable GOODNESS.
AT 4:30 a. m. Baccaloa and Hernandez
had breakfast of beefsteak and eggs
and each drank II cup of wine. They
confessed to several priests, having been
entreated to conform to all religious GUS
toms.
At Z o'clock the square was ready and
the troops were drawn up under Maj.
Carlos Justiz. The prisoners were con-
Quoted there in the usual solemn man
ner. Baccilloa and Hernandez were
courageous and cool. but, Borges, who
had been so nervous in the chapel and
who had refused any stimulant with his
breakfast, turned out to be the bravest
of all and met his fate with the most
remarkable courage.
BaccilOa smoked cigar during his last
moments and calmly threw it away as
he knelt down with his face to the wall
and his back towards the firing squad.
Borges knelt down with his hands in his
pockets and cody turned his head toward
the soldiers who were to shoot him.
When all was ready the officer in COM
mand of the squad lifted his sword, the
rifles were examined. there was another
movement of the sword and the report of
the volley echoed from the fortress walls.
Borges was killed outright, but Herman
dez and Baccilloa writhed on the ground
after the shooting, and it was found nee
esary to send BaccillOa to his last ac-
count
When the execution was over and the
bodies has been carted away the crowds
on the fortress heights silently wended
their way to more cOngenial scenes and
only three dark pools of blood, half hid
den by sand strewn over them by the
soldiers. remained to mark the place
where three more of the insurgent army
had fallen for Cuba.
The arrest of the Baptist missionary,
Bishop Alberto Jesus Diaz, was due to
the declaration made by some prisoners
who were captured at VivOra, near Ha-
vana, and to documents which were
found in their possession. The bishop
was arrested yesterday morning and was
denied communication with his friends
in the Office of the chief of police, where
only prominent persons are detained.
His case will be summarily rushed.
The bishop and his brothers were made
prisoners of war and handed over to the
military jurisdiction.
Mr.. Williams, United States consul
general, made active efforts today to get
to see Bishop Diaz, but this has proved
cut off from communication.
Jose MaceO was yesterday reported to
be between Marco and Saludad, this
province.
The Weyler guerillas were drawn by
force of insurgents into an ambush at
the Regilta plantation, Santa Clara
Eight insurgents were killed during the
fight which followed.
A soldier named Eulochio Cosade was
executed in Matanzas this morning for
having wounded his superior officer.
The guerilla force of MaceO Lazo, the
van guard of the column of the battalion
of Luzon. shortly after leaving the vii
lage of Rodriguez in the Sangue dis
trict, got in sight of group of men
which they believed were also guerilla
force. The two advanced and when they
were six PAGES apart the troops discOv-
cred that the other force were rebels. A
horribly bloody combat ensued with the
machetes. Twenty-one of the insurgents
We're killed and eleven of the guerillas
were wounded, one seriously.
Antonio Bermudez. the insurgent lead.
er, died in tragic manner in Santa Clara
province. He was concealed at the house
of his mistress when it was surrounded
by body of troops under Col. Lopez
Amor. After Bermudez fired three shots
without effect at Col Amor, a volley
from the soldiers killed the insurgent
his mistress falling wounded upon his
body.
Two American citizens have been ar
rested between Cardenas and Matnzas
on a charge of taking plans of defenses.
They have been handed over to the civil
authorities according to their treaty
rights.
In the course of several skirmishes in
Havana province, nine insurgents were
killed and two taken prisoners, while of
the troops one was killed and one
wounded.