Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-01
A SPARROW FUNERAL.
A Queer Incident of tho Cuban Revo-
luton of Nearly Thirty Years Ago.

A Queer Incident Of tho Cuban Rsvo-
tuition of Nearly Thirty Years Ago.
From the Pittsburg Dispatch.
What is a historical fact In Cuba. and
what appears to be a second edition OF
who Killed Cock Robin?" Is an interest,"
ing story related by Col Figueredo, q
noted Cuban leader.
1t appears that years ago a Spaniard.
with an idea Of rendering a valuable SER
vice to the city OF Havana, brought from
Spain a large number of sparrows similar
to the English variety, and which were
thought to be useful as city bird In
forming an army of diminutive city scav-
engers. Imagine his surprise and anger
when upon arriving at the city he was
charged an excessive duty on the little
birds. In a fit Of passion he liberated all
the birds. and became involved in trouble
for trying to evade the customs dues.
The sparrows invaded the city, where
they multiplied in a surprising manner.
They proceeded to wage war upon a small
city bird, which they drove entirely from
the city limits For this act the Cubans
called them the Spanish bird, and in time
began calling the Spaniards "gorrion,"
which means sparrow. On this trif1ing
subject a very bitter feeling obtained a
foundation. 1t was carried SO far that the
Spaniards recognized the sparrow as the
emblematic bird, much as we Americans
look upon the eagle, and they Zealously
guarded the welfare of the midget.
After the outbreak of the revolution in
1868 the bitterness in this line, as well as
others, became intensified. One day SEN
tinel on guard at the palace in Havana
found the body of dead sparrow, which
had fallen from one of the trees in the
park. With the greatest care and rever-
ence he took the little body before a coun-
Gil or volunteers then being held. The vol
unteers deliberated over the death of the
bird, and on the impulse of the moment
they passed resolutions of respect for the
deceased sparrow, and made an assess
ment among the members Of the volunteers
whereby they raised 100000. the idea being
to give the little Spanish sparrow a most
imposing funeral skillful silversmith
was summoned before a committee, and
ordered to make a beautiful casket of sill
yer, to be deliberately trimmed with gold,
for the bird. The handsomest hall in the
city was obtained, and the diapers put to
work to prepare it for the reception Of the
sparrow, which was to lie in state. In the
center of this hall a richly decorated cat
afalque was erected. and on this the little
casket containing the remains of the spar
row was placed.
All the city and military officers visited
the hall and paid homage to the bird. The
volunteers appointed a strongly armed
body to guard the remains A bishop was
forced to ofticiate at the ceremonies. While
the body was lying in state the occupants
or the houses on the streets on which the
funeral procession was to march were or
dered to have their houses draned.
men the Jay Oh lne IuIeral arrived the
volunteers were out in full force, and the
| procession was one of the most imposing
During the march several persons lost
| their lives. One was observed on the side
| walk laughing and presumably ridiculing
| the demonstration, and one of the volun
| teers shot him down in his tracks. A
| house was passed that had not been draped
| for the occasion. end one of the inmates
| being seen by the volunteers, was also shot
| After a lengthy march the casket was re-
turned to the starting point.
About this time an unfortunate cat, pre-
| sumably of Cuban inclination-asa Spanish
| cat would never have been guilty of such
an act-waS discovered on a houSetop eat
| ing one of these sparrows. The amazed
| feline was seized, tried, and after speedy
| court-martial was brought out into the
| public square, and four skilled marksmer
wero selected as executioners.