The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1896-05-12
SPANIARDS ANGRY
THE COMPETITOR AFFAIR CAUSES
EXCITEMENT IN SPAIN.
There was Great Rejoicing
the FiIibusters Were
Int the spaniards Fear That the
waited states VIII Not PERMIT tine
Americans in the Party 10
ecuted.

Madrid. May IL. There are evi +
denoes of growing popular eAcit os tbo
Sroin over the attitude OF Tue
Tinted States government toWaIu 'l ~,
o,1astion Of the filibusters captured Oh
hoard the Competitor. The rlots anu
o,1thraaks of popular hatred toWaLu
+ho United States at the time OIL 'ne
massage in congress of the resolu.lone
fovorinp the recognition OF the Cupans
&c hollfoerents have not been 1orsot
+or and the sentiments which causeu
tbano arc hnt smouldering. The Span
ieh Government has on all pOSslple "
casions expressed its appreciation u
on6 satisfaction with the efforts mace
nv the United States government 70
nrevent as far as lay in its power Tue
Giving of unlawful aid to the CUBAN
insurgents by citizens OF the OAlleu
states. But the widespread sympa-
thv felt for the insurgents III the
United States is well recognized Dy
the Spanish people, and the news OF
expeditions from the United States
landed from time to time liz CUBA Gre
ates intense irritation. The news OF
the capture of the men on the Coln-
netitdr was received with great satls-
faction and rejoicing. 1t was telt 10
be the first opportunity that had Deen
offered to make an example OF tnose
engaged in feeding the insurrect1on.
The popular demand for their eXecu-
ton is general and is likely TO become
yociferous Little account is taken OF
the refined questions of treaty inter-
probation involved in the protest or
the United States government against
the execution of the sentences. Inc
action of the United States is regard
ed rather as an expression of sympa-
thy with the insurrectlon, ana there
will be strong popular clamor TO us
regard it.
Sentenced to Death.
Havana. May 12.-Tbe Spanish gov
eminent has been asked to approve
the sentences of death passed by
court martial upon the men captured
on the Competitor on a charge of
piracy and rebellion. The men SEN
fenced are Alfredo Laborde, said to
be the leader of the party and claim
ing American citizenship; DR.. elias
Bedia, also claiming American citizen
ship; William Gildea, said to be
British subject; John Melton, native
of Kansas, and TeodorO Mata. This
places the fate of the men in the
hands of the authorities at Ma drid,
and insures that they will not be exc
cuted without an order from the Span
ish government.
James Creelman, correspondent or
the New York World, and Frederick
w. Lawrence, correspondent of the
New York Journal, who were ordered
by the authorities to leave the island
for having sent dispatches to their
papers offensive to the government,
sailed for New York to-day on board
the Ward line steamship Seguranca.
1t is known that the British consul
is interested in behalf of the Competit-
or's captives sentenced to death. He
invokes clemency for the prisoners.
This action of the British government
in the case has caused a sensation
here, and it has been the topic of COM
ment to-day by all social classes in the
community. 1t would be difficult to
say from any admissions made in Of
fetal circles what effect this new de-
velopment will have in the case There
is a marked absence OF irritability
manifested in the comments on the
subjects and the action CT the British
official seems to be taken in very good
part. It is pointed out that the inter-
vention of the British consul is
couched in different form from that
of the United States consulate, and is,
in fact, expressed in very friendly
terms, invoking the clemency of the
Cuban authorities The question of
the execution of the captives of the
Competitor is recognized to be one of
the most important which has oc-
Cured since the instruction broke
out. Now that the question has been
referred to the government at Madrid
the situation here has Quoted down.
the ugh there is no cessation of inter-
est and discussion of the question. The
attitude of the public is rather one Of
waiting on the resolution of the Mad
rid government The waiting is at
tended by much impatience and no
little anxiety
Executions Delayed
London, May 1.-THE Madrid cor
respondent CT the Standard saws:
"Senor Canovas Gel Castillo has pub
hcly stated that America has not pro-
tested against SPANS right to punish
f1libusters, but only against the sum
mary trial American citizens are en-
titled to be tried in the civil courts
under the treaties of 1895 and 1877.
The Spanish government is willing to
consider the demand, and has cabled
Capt. Gen. Weyler to delay the exc
cutions pending the result of negotia-
tons which are actively proceeding
between Washington and Madrid to
define the Interpretation of the afore-
said treaties