The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-01
All Were Prisoners Captured I'm War,
hut Convicted Under the ..Terror's"
OutIawry PrOclama tfon.
CRUEL, SICKENING SCENES
ExECUTIONERs WE'RE NERVOUS
AND BUNGLED THEIR WORK.
some of the Victims Forced to Endurs
Great Agony Before the Dread
Garrote Ended Their Lives.

HAVANA, March 31-A startling exhi-
bition of bungling in the execution by the
garrote of five Cuban prisoners took place
to-day. The men classed .'murderers. yio-
lators and incendiaries," belonging to Caya-
jaba, were recently sentenced to be sarroted,
and at o'clock this morning strong force
of infantry was drawn up in the form of a
square around the spot where the garrote
had been erected. The instrument of execu-
ton, a chair, with post behind 1t, an iron
collar and screw behind ii, which, when
turned, strangles or breaks the necks of the
victim, was set up by the famous execu-
toner Valentine Ruiz, who, for some reason
not fully explained. acted on this occasion
as the assistant to his own assistant, instead
of as the principal executioner
At the hour the troops were drawn up the
five prisoners were still in their dungeons,
receiving the mnistrations of the priests.
One man confessed himself to be guilty of
the crimes charged against him, and as
serted that his companions We're innocent.
The latter stoutly maintained their innocence
to the last, prayed that their deaths might
be avenged on those who had falsely sent
them to 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 strangling machine quietly and coolly
mounted the steps leading to the death chair,
TOOK his seat in unconcerned manner, and
actually seemed to smile as the cap was
placed over his head after the iron collar had
been adjusted. The man acting as execu-
tioner then twisted the lever or screw handle
controlling the garrote. but he was evidently
terribly nervous, and this rendered him so
weak that his hands slipped repeatedly from
the lever. There were horrible, 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
spectators that the Cuban was pronounced
dead. The executioners, priests, soldiers and
prison officials present turned their heads
away In horror and became deadly pale as
the stified sounds came from the sufferer.
But this was only beginning OF the terrible
performance.
The second victim was brought to the
front and led up the steps to the scaffold by
the priests and assistant executioner. On
reaching the platform the unfortunate man
made effort to say something to the peo-
pie around him, but the executioner's hand
was placed over his mouth, he was hastily
bundled into the deadly chair, and in an
OIneT moment the IRON cOldT was dTOunu
his neck, the cap was over his face and the
first turn of the lever had been given If
the executioner was nervous on the occasion
of the first killing, he was ten times more so
on this occasion. He fumbled and fumed,
alternately turning to deathlike whiteness
and flushing crimson with excitement. The
result was more slow, fearful strangulation
and another horrible experience for the spec
tators.
BY this time the prison officials, the priests
and officers in command of the troops had
endured so much that they openly denounced
the acting executioner and called on him to
get down from the scaffold and let another
man take his place. Thereupon the acting
executioner fevershly called on the execu-
toner in chief, Valentine Ruiz, who, from
long experience, is looked on as being an
expert in his line. to come and help him out
of his difficulty. Ruiz, however, was almost
as nervous and excited as his assistant, and
fumbled badly as he handled the third Cuban.
But Ruiz succeeded in accomplishing the ex-
ecution in shorter time and with less horror
than his assistant, which was a great relief
to everybody.
The fourth Cuban was then turned over to
Ruiz for strangulaton. By this time Ruiz
was shaking all over, and he was much
slower and considerably clumsier in sending
the unhappy man out of the world. So much
so that there was renewed murmuring at
the official incapacity, and Ruiz stumbled
away from the death posts, insisting, in
choking tones, that his assistant must finish
| the days work. Consequently the assistant
executioner again tried his hand at the ter
rible screw, and was as unlucky as before,
| for there was another scene of horror which
cfr 10 foi int hofo he
| fifth Cuban's life was pronounced extinct.
And then the bodies were carted away. the
shame-faced executioners gathered up their
| sickening framework and it's accessories. the
| priests, prison and other officials hurried
| away, the troops were marched back to their
quarters and another chapter had been added
to the black history Of Cuba.
Alleged Yankee Citizens.
MADRID, March 3.-The Madrid press
scouts the notion that the American governs
ment can claim indemnity for alleged Amer
lean citizens and their property damaged
| during the present Cuban insurrection as it
will be easy for the Spanish authorities to
| show that most of such alleged Yankee
citizens" were conspiring with the rebels.
| and passed themselves of as Spanish SUBJ
| jects until they believed they could profit by
| dubious claim to American protection.
| The government will send to General wey-
| Ter by the next mall it is reported in official
| circles, letter asking his opinion upon GER
| tain important political and military projects
| affecting the colonies, which will be laid be-
| fore the new Cortes, and upon the expe-
| diency of putting in force the tariff-reform
| and home-rule measure passed last year. The
/ letter will contain also Instructions designed
| to impress on General Weyler the necessity
| OF pushing operations for financial and In
/ ternational considerations. Furthermore, IL
| will be insisted that he carefully avoid COM
| plcations with the United States on sea or
| land.
The latest cable advices from Havana re-
port excellent results from General Weylers
threat to withdraw protection from the
| planters il they decline TO resume the har-
| vesting OF the sugar crop. abandoned because
| they were terrorized by the rebels.
Held Up ON the High Seas.
KINGSTON, Jamaica. March 31-The
American schooner William Todd lay be-
calmed six miles south of the Isle OF Pines.
her captain reports to United States Consul
Eckford. when she was fired on by Spanish
| gunboats. Captain Campbell, her master.
did not at first realize the Importance OF the
incident, and only reported the outrage when
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