The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-18
KEY WEST WILD WITH ANGER.
a STIRRING APPEAL FOR VEN
GEANCE ON SPAIN.

The People Hold Big Mass Meeting
10 Protest Against Spain's Brutal
Butchery of Correspondent GOWN
of That City-The Spanish Flag
Torn ANA Trnmpled in the Dust by
the EnrnEed F1Oridians.
Key West Fla. Aug. 17.-Several hun
dred of the most prominent citizens OF
this city gathered in front OF the city
han tonight, in response 10 a call pub
lished I'm one Of the local papers, to ex-
press their indignation at the barbarous
manner In which young Charles Gown
OF this city was killed by Spanish soldiers
details Of which reached this city last
Saturday night
The meeting was addressed by Mr. Ben
McLendon and several others. The
speeches were enthusiastically received.
The following was then adopted:
I'VE, the citizens Of Key West in mass
meeting assembled, are again driven to
the necessity Of giving expression to our
feelings Of outrage at Spanish cruelty and
oppression to American citizens on the
island OF cuba. News having been re-
ported to US that one of our own fellow
townsmen. Charles Gown, of American
birth, who was visiting the island OF
Cuba as a correspondent Of the Key West
Equator-Democrat. bearing credentials
from that paper under national seal, at
testing his mission as a correspondent,
has been foully murdered with no other
charge against him that that he was an
American citizen. We feel constrained to
bring the matter to the attention Of our
President and Secretary OF State, and
demand an Immediate investigation and
proper redress.
Gown was an American, and his father
IS prominent in American political ar
fairs, having represented the United
states at consul to LeghOrn, Italy. He
was afterward postmaster at Jacksonville.
Fla, and also collector of internal reVe-
nue., Young GOWN was an American by
birth and sentiment, and authentic ac-
counts state that GOWN was captured in
company with Cuban insurgents and made
a prisoner of war. That while being con-
veyed TO prison the officer in charge
learned he was an American citizen and
was apprised Of his business. He made
inquiries Of Gown, who, when he dared 70
knowledge his citizenship, was promptly
and securely bound, and literally hacked
TO pieces with machetes. The other prls
oners who were then in rebellion against
Spain, while he was not, were taken 10
prison. American honor and pride calls
FOR redress, and we as citizens believe
we voice the sentiment of all American
when we demand: therefore, be 1t
Resolved, That we communicate these
facts to the Hon. Richard Olney, Secre.
tary of State, and urge an investigation
without delay, and we ask that no time
be lost In vindicating the honor OF our ma.
tion in such manner that the world will
know that American life, liberty and prop,
erty will be defended no matter in what
country or CLINE Il may be-"
The following dispatch was sent to Sec.
retary Olney tonight: "A mass meeting
of 5000 Americans begs leave to call at.
tention TO the butehering in Cuba OF
Charles Gown, an American citizen, pres
ent In the peaceful vocation of a press
correspondent, a fun account Of which is
recited in the New York World and Her
aid Of Sunday. AS Americans, we urge
an immediate investigation, and vigorous
action, such as the atrocity demands
American citizens have been outraged
and our national honor insulted and civ
ilization horrifed by the crime"
One of the speakers, of whom there were
several, threw three flags, an American
a Cuban and a Spanish into the crowd
The first two were caught by the now
thoroughly aroused people and held aloft
while the Spanish flag was torn to threads
and dragged in the dirt,