Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-02-10
Buried a Sparrow with Pomp.

What is a historical fact in Cuba and
what appears to be second edition of
''Who Killed Cock Robin?" is an inter-
esting story related by Col. Figueredo,
a noted Cuban leader.
1t appears that years ago a Spaniard
with an idea of rendering a valuable
service 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 q city bird
in forming an army of diminutive city
scayengers. Imagine his surprise and
anger when upon arriving at the city he
was charged an excessive duty on the
little birds. In fit of passion he liber-
ated all the birds and became involved
in trouble for trying to evade the Gus
toms dues.
The sparrows invaded the city, where
they multiplied in surprising manner.
They proceeded to wage war upon a
small city bird, which they drove en-
tirely from the city limits. For this
act the Cubans called them the Spanish
bird, and in time began calling the
row. On this trifing subject a very
bitter feeling obtained foundation. 1t
was carried so far that the SpaniardS
recognized the sparrow as the emblem
attic bird, much as we Americans look
upon the eagle, and they zealously
After the outbreak of the revolution
in 1868 the bitterness in this line as
we'll as others became intensified. One
day a sentinel 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
body before council of volunteers then
being held. The volunteers deliberated
over the death of the bird. and on the
impulse of the moment they passed res
olutiOns of respect for the deceased spar
row, and made an assessment among
the members of the volunteers whereby
they raised 100000. the idea being to
give the little Spanish sparrow a most
imposing funeral. A skillful silversmith
was summoned before the committee
and ordered to make a beautiful casket
of silver, to be deliberately trimmed with
gold, for the bird The handsomest hail
in the city was obtained, and the diapers
put to work to prepare it for the re-
ception of the sparrow, which was to
lie in state. In the center of this hall
a richly decorated catafalque was erect
ed, and on this the little casket contain
ing the remains Of the sparrow 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 Ofhclate at the cere-
monies. While the body was lying in
state the occupants of the houses on the
streets on which the funeral procession
was to march were ordered to have their
houses draped.
When the day of the funeral 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 OBJ
served on the sidewalk laughing and
presumably ridiculing the demonstration,
and one of the volunteers shot him down
in his tracks A house was passed that
had not been draped for the occasion,
and one of the inmates, being seen by
the volunteers, was also shot. After
lengthy march the casket was returned
to the starting point.
About this time an unfortunate cat,
presumably of Cuban inclination-as
Spanish cat would never have been
guilty of such an act-was discovered on
a housetop eating one of these sparrows:
The amazed feline was seized, tried and
after speedy courtmartial was brought
out into the public square and four
skilled marksmen were selected as exc
cutioners.- Dispatch.