Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-11-30
VIVA CUBA LIBRE"
Shouted Coloma As He Was
Led Out to Death.
The Cuban Patriot Full Of Defiance
for Enemies to the End.
Gagged 10 Stop His Cries, He Is Shot Down
Like a Dog.

havana, NOV. "a, via Key West. Fla.
Nov. 29.-There was another frightful
scene in Laurel Ditch. in front Of the
Cabana fortress, late, Thursday after
noon. just as the sun was hiding it's
head, as il ashamed to lend it's light
to such a cruel deed. The victim this
time to Spain's heartless custom of
dealing with prisoners of war was An
tonic Lopez ColOma, well known as a
Cuban soldiers since the very outbreak
of the revolution.
Coloma was white man of fine ap-
pearance and Of education He was
rather under the medium height. He
was captured at Ybarra in Matanzas
province, on February "A. 1895. the day
Of the outbreak. together with the mu-
latto journalist Juan Gualberto
Gomez. Coloma was one of the prin-
cipal witnesses in the trial of General
Sanguilly. but nothing discriminating
against the latter could be elected
from him.
The poor fellow has been locked up
all these long II months, hoping
against hope. which at times passed
into certainty that he would not be
executed. Yesterday afternoon. after
p hours in the chapel. where prisoners
of war about TO be killed are kept for
either that period or for Il hours, ac-
cording to the method of their trial.
Coloma was led out to his death.
These dreadful scenes have already
been described but feeling was in
tensified by the character of the man
to be shot. Certainly those who wit
messed what occurred in Laurel ditch,
Thursday, will remember it while they
live 10 the shame of Spain. There
was the same great cliffs, which con-
stitute one side of the ditch, black
with the crowd which had come to see
Cuban patriot die Below was the
ditch itself more than 80 yards in
width, and the other side the stern
ramparts of the Cabana. with the gate
leading into the ditch. which is so
narrow that four men can hardly pass
through abreast.
At last the waiting crowd was
hushed into silence by the music of the
band playing that peculiar air. half
dirge. half quickstep. as it marched
through the gate directly forward. and
then turning sharply to the left took
the prisoner was to be shot, some 80
yards away. To the music of the band
then filed out, in files of four 100 men
With guns at their right shoulder
shift, who formed the usual hollow
square, with the band inside at the
lower end.
Then came the prisoner. with n white
priest at his side and four colored
acolytes behind. hearing The ac-
customed lights and other symbols of
the church. Coloma wore a wide
white collar and white cuffs. His face
was pale but his bearing was fun Of
courage, without swagger In fact. a
drawer. handsomer young patriot
never went to his death. His hearing
and appearance had its effect on the
crowd. which became still as death.
once through the gate Coloma gave
q quick look around. In an instant
his glance swept the cliffs above. and
then fell to encounter that array of
soldiers. everywhere pitiless
faces. thousand against one. Two
more steps he took forward, then,
viva Cuba Libre." About
to die. he defied them all.
AS the words left his lips the officer
Of the guard drew his sword, and with
uplifted blade sprang toward the man
acled prisoner But before the sword
could fall the priest. holding up the
crucifix. stepped between Coloma and
the coward, who drew back.
tndamted. Coloma again cried out.
Viva Cuba Libre," This time he was
seized and gagged with white hand
kerchief tied over his mouth that he
might utter those hateful words no
more. Then with firm tread he
in the hollow square to the
spot where he was to die. Here again
there was another scene.
Coloma, when told to kneel, motioned
hat he would not, and. turning about
faced the shooting squad, intimating
hat he wanted to die that way Again |
the brave Spanish officer drew his
sword. but the priest finally persuaded !
Noloma to knell down. Then the shots !
rang out, Coloma fell forward on his /
face. and another cuban hero lay
lead shot like dog in the Laurel |
Itch.