Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-12-20
HACKED TO PIECES.
An Envoy from General BIanco
Killed by the Cubans.
Warned Not to Enter Cuban Camp
But Goes to Certain Death.
General Lee Sends Mess.nser to Plead Tor
Life But Too Late.

Havana, Cuba, via Key West, Fla,
Dec. 19.-All Havana is ringing with
the news that Captain General BlancO,
in order to save the life Of his adjutant
lieutenant, Joaquin Ruiz, has taken an
extraordinary step and submitted to
Consul General Lee to extend his good
offices in interceding for mercy with
Colonel Nestor Arapguren, to whose
| camp Colonel Ruiz was sent with
propositions of surrender.
That Colonel Ruiz has already paid
the final penalty formally prescribed
by General Gomez to be inflicted on
any person entering rebel camp to
negotiate terms of peace there can now
be no doubt.
The consequences of the death Of this
intrepid but imprudent officer, win he
Of the utmost importance, for with him
perishes the last hope of the govern
ment of being able to negotiate any
terms with the insurgents. It will be
useless now to attempt to find anyone
so foOlhardy as to deliberately invite
the fate meted out to the captain gen.
erals adjutant. 1t means the the in
surgents will now continue the strug-
gle with even more than their present
determination, and that it will be
marked by all the atrocities that at
tend war in which quarter is neither
asked nor given.
That General Blanco should have
adopted the desperate expedient Of
submitting to American Intervention
is taken as indicative of his extreme
anxiety to avoid these results. This
action places General Blanco in most
embarrassing position. the results Of
which can only be conjectured
Colonel Ruiz, as published in the
HeraldA went to Colonel Aranguren's
camp on Sunday morning, and on
Wednesday morning, it was confident
ly asserted in Havana, that he had
been killed. On the following day the
Russian consul, Mr.. Truffain, called on
General Lee and asked II he was will
ling to take action to save Colonel
Ruiz's life, the colonel having been
personally acquainted with General
Lee.
General Lee was much surprised and
said he wished to know positively first
whether the man was dead or alive. If
alive he would be glad to save his life,
but he declined to take any action unless
authorized or requested to do so by Gen.
ing at once to the palace, and the two
consuls drove there. General Lee saw
General Blanco, who expressed an ear
nest desire to the American consul to
place himself in communication with the
insurgents and exert all his influence to
have mercy extended to Colonel Ruiz.
General Lee expressed willingness to
oblige the captain general, and undertook
to send to Colonel Arrangements camp
Ernest Tosca. an employee of the con-
sulate and naturalized citizen, for
whom General Blanco issued a pass and
agreed to provide a guide. The question
of securing rebel pass was not touched
on by General Blanco, who tacitly left
that indispensable document to be pro-
cured by General Lee.
Mr.. Tosca left Havana at dawn, FRI
day, carrying in one pocket military
pass from the captain general and in the
other a safe conduct. signed by the presi-
dent of the Junta in Havana, addressed
by Jose Hernandez. the insurgent pre-
feet of San Miguel. near which place
Colonel Aranguren is camped. on the
estate of San Joaquin. He also took with
him letter from General Lee to Colonel
requesting that mercy be ex-
tended to Colonel Ruiz. if consistent with
the orders of his military superior.
With Mr.. TOsca went as a guide,
Cuban named Chacon. 1t is known that
the two men entered Colonel Arrangements
t is considered that two Spanish columns
sent out on Wednesday. when Colonel
RuizS death was first rumOred, are still
in the woods.
1t is stoutly asserted by palace officials
that Colonel Ruiz is still alive despite
the. receipt of this telegram by General
Lee:
"Jaruca, $40 A. M.
"Have just arrived from enemy's camp,
where l slept. Ruiz was executed on day
his arrived. l leave for Havana this even
ng with proofs. TOSCA."
1t seems. according to my advices, that
Colonel Ruiz left Havana on Sunday, in
pite of the earnest entreaties of friends,
t being fully understood that he had
,een solemnlt warned by Colonel Aran-
,uren that death was the penalty for
approaching the camp. without previous
assurance that his business was only of
personal character. This assurance
Colonel Ruiz refused to give. and went
o his death laughing and saying he knew
hat his old friend Nestor would never
lurt a hair of his head.
Colonel Ruiz went by rail to Campo
florida, where there is big cavalry
amp. There is procured two guides, and
tuesday,, he rode out to meet the rebel
hief. wearing his full uniform and all his
Medals on his breast. The three had
only few miles when fire was
pened on them. and both guides were
Tiled. A moment afterward, Colonel
(Cou<in,,aN ~. noun eN