The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-03
Intervene for CA5a!


On Tuesday Mr.. Call offered In th'
United States senate a joint resolution
as follows:
Resolved, That the continued violations
of the usages and rules of war between
civilized people, the inhuman and brutal
outrages on men, women and children
constantly reported ON reasonable evil
dence, either authorized or permitted. not
only on the Cuban revolutionists, but also
on citizens of the United States, in the
war now carried on between the govern
ment of Spain and the revolutionary
forces organized as the republic OF Cuba
demand immediate action by the United
States not only for the protection of the
citizens Of the United States who have
become residents and acquired interests
In Cuba under treaties with Spain for
their protection. but also under the higher
considerations of common humanity
and civilization, shamed and mperiled ly
barbarities and cruelties known only In
the darkest, most cruel and most bloody
periods Of human history.
Resolved, That an adequate naval force
of the United States shall be Immediately
sent to Cuba, sufficient to protect by force,
II necessary, citizens of the United States
from wrong and the violation of treaty
obligations between Spain and the United
States.
Resolved, That the president of the
United States communicate to the govern
ment Of Spain these resolutions and In
form that government that the United
States will forcibly intervene to protect
the rights Of American citizens and the
interests of civilization II there shall be
further occurrence of murder and out,
rage or the shooting or putting TO death
OF prisoners of war In the conflict be-
tween Spain and the revolutionary forces
Of Cuba.
On the same day q dispatch from
Havana gave details Of the garroting
of five Cubans who had been arrested
In that city and sentenced to death as
''murderers. violators and incendiar-
ies." The garrote'is is q chair with post
behind 1t and an iron collar and screw.
The turning of the latter breaks the
neck of the victim or strangles him to
death. The account says:
One man confessed himself to be guilty
OF the crimes charged against him and as
serted that his companions were inno-
cent. The latter stoutly maintained their
innocence to the last, prayed that their
deaths might be avenged upon those who
had falsely sent them 10 the scaffold, and
then the whole party was escorted inside
the square formed by the soldiers. The
man selected to be the first victim Of the
strangllng machine quietly and coolly
mounted the steps leading to the death
chair. He took his seat in an uncon-
cerned manner. The man acting as exc
cutioner then twisted the lever or screw
handle controlling the garrote. There
were agonizing, smothering choking cries
from the scaffold, and 1t was only after a
long period of agony for the condemned
man, and almost torture for the specta-
tors, that the Cuban was pronounced
dead. The executioners, priests, soldiers
officials haf,
heads away In horror and became deadly
pale as the stified sounds came from the
sufferer. This, however, was only u be-
ginning Of the terrible performance. The
and led up the steps to the scaffold by
The priests and assistant executioner.
Upon reaching the platform. the unfortu-
nate man made an effort to say some-
thing to the people surrounding him, but
the executioner's hand was placed over
his mouth. He was hastily bundled into
the deadly chair. and in another moment
the iron collar was around his neck, the
cap was over his face, and the first turns
OF the lever had been given. If the actual
executioner was nervous upon the occa-
sion Of the first killing, he was ten times
more so on this occasion. He fumbled
and trembled, alternately turning to a
death-like whiteness and flushing GRIM
son with excitement. The result was
more slow, fearful strangulation and an
other horrible experience for the specta-
tors.
We hesitate to go on with this chap
ter Of horrors. by this time" the dis
patch continues
the prison officials, the priests and Of
ncers In command of the troops had en-
dured 50 much that they openly de.
called upon him to get down from the
Scan0ld and let another man take his
place. Thereupon he feverishly called
upon the executioner In chief, Valentine
upon as being an expert In his line, to take
his, place. Ruiz was almost as nervous
ana excited rs his assistant. and fumbleu
badly as he handled the third Cuban, but
he succeeded in accomplishing the execu-
tion In shorter time and with less horror
than his assistant. The fourth victim
was then turned over to Ruiz for strangu-
lation. BY this time Ruiz was shaking
all over, and he was much slower and
considerably clumsier In sending the un-
that there was renewed murmuring at
the official incapacity. After his dread
duty had been performed Ruiz stumbled
away from the death post, insisting In
choking terms that his assistant must fin.
ish the days work. Consequently, the
assistant executioner again tried his hand
at the terrible screw. He was as un-
lucky as before, for there was another
scene of horror which nearly caused
strong men to faint before the fifth Gu
bans life was pronounced extinct.
When shown the foregoing dispatch
eenor Dupuy de Lone, the Spanish
minister at Washington, admitted
that the men had been killed.
but declared that the form Of
punishment was the one prescribed
by Spanish law: It IL Spanish lawlE!'