The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1896-04-09
WEYLER AS
A BUTCHER.
Horrible Execution of Five Gu.
bans by the Garrote-An
Awful Scene.

DC Affair was MiSeSaoiy bunEbe0 by tie Fa0oos
hesdsmas, Valeatise Rslz and - Asslstaat asd The
cesdensed Men Were Slowly Tsrtsred to Death In
Crest Asssy -Prissa Officials Turned Deadly Pale 1t
the hsrrityisg Spectacle.
HAVANA, March GA startling
exhibition of bungling in the execu-
ton by the garrote of FIVE Cuban
prisoners took place to-day. The
men were recently sentenced to be
garroted, and at O'Clock this morn
ing n strong force of infantry was
drawn up in the form of q square
around the spot where the garrote
had been erected.
chair with a post behind it, and an
iron collar and screw, which, when
turned, strangles or breaks the neck
of the victim. was set up by the IA
nous executioner, Valentine Ruiz.
who, for some reason not fully ex-
planned, acted upon this occasion as
the assistant to his own assistant,
instead of as the principal execu-
toner.
At the hour the troops were drawn
up the five prisoners were still in
their dungeons receiving the minis
trations of the priests. One man
confessed himself to be guilty of the
crimes charged against him, and as
serted that his companions were in.
nocent. The latter stoutly main
tanned their innocence to the last,
prayed that their deaths might be
avenged upon those who had falsely
sent them to the scaffold, and ther
the whole party was escorted inside
the square formed by the soldiers.
The man selected to be the first
victim of the strangling machine
quietly and coolly mounted the step.
leading to the death chair, took hi.
seat in an uncoacerned manner, ani
actually seemed to smile as the ca,
was placed over his head, after tn,
iron collar had been adjusted. Th,
man acting as executioner thel
twisted the lever or screw-handl,
controlling the garrote, but he wa
evidently terribly nervous, and thi
rendered him so weak that his hand
slipped repeatedly from the lever
There were horrible, smotheripg
choking cries from the scaffold, an
it was only after q long period o
agony for the condemned man an
almost torture for the spectator
that the Cuban was pronounce
dead.
The executioners, priests, soldiers
and prison officials present turne'
their heads away in horror, and be
came deadly pale as the stitled sound
came from the sufferer.
| But this was only a beginning q
the terrible performance.
The second victim was brought
the front and led up the steps to til
scaffold by the priests and assistar
executioner. Upon reaching th
platform the unfortunate man mad
|; an effort to say something to th
people surrounding him, but the 9,
ecutioner's hand was placed over h
mouth, he was hastily bundled in,
, the deadly chair, and in another m,
ment the iron collar was around b
neck, the cap was over his face, an
the first turns of the lever had bee
given.
If the actual executioner was ner,
Gus upon tho occasion of the fir
killing he was ten times more (,
D upon this occasion. He fumbled Al
= fumed. alternately turning to
, death-like whiteness and aushir
, crimson with excitement. The r
. suit was more slow, fearful strang
! lation, and another horrible exp
rience for the spectators.
By this time the prison official
the priests, and the officers in col
mand of the troops had endured
n much that they openly denounc
q the acting executioner and cali
4 upon him to get down from the SCI
a fold and let another man take
Z place. Thereupon the acting q
3 cutioner feverishly called upon t
r executioner in chief, Valentine Ru
a who, from long experience, is look
;. upon as being an expert in his liz
,, to come and help him out of the dill
IS Guilty.
vi Ruiz, however, was almost
n nervous and excited IS his assistal
p and fumbled badly as he handl
ot the third Cuban. But Ruiz succe,
CONTINUED on fourth page)