Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1897-12-23
REBELS KILL AN ENVOY.
COL Ruiz Sent by Spain to Urge
Acceptance Of Autonomy.
He Is Put to Death-COnsuI-Gen
Lee Tries to Save Him, But ls Too
Late-Insurgent Leader Arangu
rem Said to Have Been Shot.

Havana, Dec. 2o.--The Cuban insur-
gents have given further evidence of
their grim determination that death
would be the portion of every envoy
sent to them with offers of autonomy
or with efforts to secure submission.
The latest victim of this grave measure
is Col. Ruiz, who was sent by Blanco
to induce the insurgent leader Aran-
guren to surrender. What makes this
particular instance of short shrift all
the more noteworthy is that when Ruiz
was reported not to be in imminent dan
ger Blanco appealed to Consul-General
Lee to use his good offices to save the
young man. In compliance with Blan-
cos request Lee sent Senior Tosca,
member of the United States consular
service, and Senior Montalvan, Cuban
friend, to plead with Aranguren, but
the missionaries of peace have just re-
turned TO Havana, bringing with them
the news that when they reached the
insurgent camp 1T was only to find that
the prisoner had been executed.
Seror Tosca says he met outposts of
Aranguren's force, and that the chief
of the party confirmed the report that
on his arrival Col Ruiz was met by
Aranguren and an escort of 12 men,
who received him warmly. Ruiz urged
the party to accept autonomy, and con-
graduated himself that he would in
duce them to return with him to Ha-
vana. The insurgents in camp had not
been prepared for the visit by Aran-
guren, and. seeing Ruiz in his uniform
and learning the object of his visit, they
demanded the application of the proc
lamation of Gomez and Rodriguez,
which orders infection of the death pen
atty upon all persons who attempt to
induce chiefs of the rebellion to surren-
der. In compliance with their demands
a court-martial was formed and the SEN
tence of death was passed upon Ruiz.
Senior Tosca adds that Aranguren
stood aloof during the trial and allowed
the death sentence TO be carried out.
Col. Ruiz was executed with machete.
The consequences of the death of this
intrepid but imprudent officer will be
of the utmost Importance, for with him
perishes the last hope of the govern
ment being able to negotiate any terms
with the insurgents. 1t will be useless
now to attempt to find anyone so fool
hardy as to deliberately invite the fate
melted out to the captain generals ad-
jutant. 1t means that the insurgents
will now continue the struggle with
even more than their present determi-
nation, and that it will be marked by
all the atrocities that attend war in
which quarter is neither asked nor
given.
Washington, Dec. 2O.-The following
cable advices were received at the Span
ish legation Sunday:
Havana. Dec. 19.-Absolutely trustworthy
reports permit us to affirm that Ruiz was
shot with Aranguren Friday by order of
Alexander Rodriguez. After several let
ters exchanged between Ruiz and Aran-
guren, Ruiz left Havana on Monday to
meet Aranguren, not upon official mission,
and only as friend. 1t is not known how
Rodriguez arrived, but the fact is that that
leader ordered the shooting Of both. The
veracity Of such act and proceeding indi-
Gates better than anything else the faith
in autonomy the intransigents being
obliged to resort to terror to prevent the
disbanding of their bands. Such is the gem
eral opinion and public opinion unanimous
ly qualities such act as savage and I'M
worthy. CONGOSTO."
There is no confirmation of the news
given in this dispatch from Congosto.
The information, if true, makes the
case almost absolutely the same as that
of Benedict Arnold and Maj. Andre, ex-
cept that Arnold escaped while Aran-
guren failed to do so. Aranguren was
a Havana boy of 81 years when the war
broke out. He joined the rebels and
soon became partisan leader of much
distinction. He repeatedly captured
railroad trains loaded with supplies
and took prisoner their military escorts.
His death, if the report be true, will
be severe loss to the rebels, just as
that of his prototype, Benedict Arnold,
was a severe blow to the struggling
colonials.