Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-08-17
CANOVAS ASSASSINATED.
Shot to Death at Santa Agueda by q Nea-
politan Anarchist.

MADRID, Aug. 9.-Senor Antonio
Canovas del Castillo, prime minister of
Spain, was assassinnted by Michele
Angino Coli, Neapolitan anarchist,
Mt Santa Agueda, yesterday. He was
shot to death. The murderer fred
three times at the aged Spanish minis
ter. One bullet passed through his
forehead and another penetrated his
chest. He fell dying at the feet of ms
wife, who was with him. For an hour
he fingered IN terrible agony, strug
Cling against the rapid approach OF
death. With the cry of Long Live
Spain on his lips, the head of the
government that tried to crush the
Cuban rebellion by policy of exter-
mination, passed away. The Spanish
premier had gone to Santa Agueda to
take three weeks course of the
baths. Upon his return he was to
take up the Cuban problem with Uni
ted States Minister Woodford, who was
then to be presented and officially re-
ceived by the queen regent. The as
sassln arrived at Santa A9ueda the
same day that the premier arrived.
He met Canovas in the bathing estab-
lishment. Without word he fred at
Senior Canovas when only one pace
from him. The first bullet passed
through the body and came out be-
hind under the left shoulder. The
prime minister uttered "a cry of agony
and clutched at the wound in his side.
He reeied. but before he fell the assas-
Sin fired two more shots, both bullets
lodging in the head. The assassin Of
fered no resistance TO arrest He is a
NeapolItap. and gave his name as Ri
naldi. 1T is believed this is an assumed
name and that his real name is Mi
chelc Angina Coli. II killed him in
Accomplishment of inst vengeance"
he exclaimed boastinQly. He declared
the deed was the outcome of vast
anarchist conspiracy. lie spoke OF
Pietro Santo, the Italian assassin of
President Carnot, as "a hero who be-
longed to band of similar "hei oes
devoted to the work of destroying ty-
rants" The assassin narrowly es-
capped lynching at the hands Of the
walters and attendants, who rushed
forward to the scene of the murder.
Detectives and civil guards immedi-
ately secured him. He was at that
time very pale, trcmblcd violently and
evidently feared that he would be
killed on the spot, but later he dis
played remarkable nerve.
Madrid, August l0.-The cabinet
decided to publish the appointment of
Lieutenant General Don Marcola de
Azcarraga, minister of war, as premier
adj interim.
New YORK, August 10.-Estrada
Palma, president of the Cuban junta,
believes the death of Canovas will be
Cuba's advantage. lie says Canovas
was responsible for the cruel'ies prac-
ticed in Cuba. He was sponsor for
Weyler. who will now be succeeded by
Gen. Polavieja The Cubans, while
regretting the assassination, are glad
that Canovas is no longer at the head
OF the government.
BY coincidence the foreign Office
report dealing with Spanish finance
was issued Sunday, giving approx
imately for the first time the total
Spanish debt This, including Cuba,
amounts to 1,765, 100000 gold with
charge for interest of $4,000, 600.
Beyond this $40, coo. 900 in interest for
liabilities on operations in Cuba means
81 per cent additional TO the debt.
This means the utter bankruptcy of
the country, whose income is $780,
900, 600.