Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-05
JULIUS SYCLE son, THE TOWER 2Oi and 2O8 east Broad


condemned man, or az a protest against
the government. So no one spoke; even
the officers gave their orders I'm grum
whispers, and the men in the crowd did
not mix together. but looked suspicious
~ at one another and kept apart.
As tho light increased q mass of people
came hurryng from the town with two
black figures leading them. The soldiers
drew up at attention, and part OF the
double line fell back and left an opening
in the square. With us a condemned
man walks only the short distance from
his cell to the scaffold or the electric
chair, shielded from sight by the prison
walls, and It often occurs, even then,
that the short journey is too much for
his strength and courage. But the merci-
ful Spaniards on this morning made the
prisoner walk for over half a mile across
the broken surface Of fields. l expected
to find the man, no matter what MS
strength at other times might be, stumb-
ling and faltering on this cruel journey,
but as he came near I saw he led all the
others: that the two priests on either
side Of him were taking two steps to
his one; and that they were tripping on
their gowns and stumbling over the hol-
lows i'm their efforts TO keep pace with
him as he walked erect and soldierly at
a quick step in advance Of them.
lie had a handsome, gentle face, OF
pleasing type, great wistful eyes, and a
mass Of curly, black hair. He was
shocklngly young for such a sacrifice,
and looked more like a NeapOlitan than
a. Cuban. You could imagine him sitting
on the quay at Naples or Genoa, lolling
in the sun and showing his white teeth
when he laughed. He wore new
scapula around his neck, hanging out
side his linen blouse.
1t seems a petty thing TO have been
pleased over at such a time. but ] con-
fess to have felt thrill Of delighted
satisfaction when ! saw, as the Cuban
passed me, that he held a cigarette he
tween. his lips. not arrOganty or with
bravaHb. but with the nonchalance or a
man who meets his punishment fear
lessly and who will let his enemy see
that he can kill but not brighten him.
IT was very quickly finished with rough
and. but for one frightful blunder, with
merciful sWiftness. The crowd fell back
when It came TO the square, and the con-
demned man, the priests, and the firing
squad Of six young volunteers passed In
and the line closed in behind them. The
officer who had held the cord that bound
the Cuban's arms behind him, and which
passed across his breast, let It fall on the
grass and drew a sword, and Rodriguez
dropped his cigarette from his lips and
bent and kissed the cross which the
priest held up before him. The elder OF
the priests moved 70 one side and prayed
rapidly in a loud whisper, while the
other. q younger man, walked behind
the firing squad and covered his face
with his hands and turned his back.
They had both spent the last twelve
hours with Rodriguez in the chapel OF
the prison The Cuban walked to where
the officer directed him to stand, ana
turned his back TO the square. and faced
the hills and the road across them which
led to his fathers farm.
COOLLY WATCHED THE PREPARA-
TIONS.
AS the officer gave the first command
make readyr he Strengthened himself
as far as the cords would allow and
held UP his head and fixed his eyes i'm
movably on the light. which had just
begun to show above the hills. BE made
a picture Of such pathetic helplessness,
but Of such courage and dignity, that he
reminded me on the instant Of that
statue of Nathan Hale. which stands in
the City Hall Park above the roar OF
broadway. and teaches a lesson daily TO
the hurrying crowds Of money makers
who pass beneath. The Cubans arms
were bound as are those Of the statue
and he stood firmly with his weight rest
inc ON his heels Ike a soldier on parade
and with his face held up fearlessly as
that OF the statues. But there was this
difference-that Rodriguez, while proba-
blv as willing TO give six lives for his
country as was the American rebel, being
only a peasant, did not think to say so,
and he will not in consequence live IN
bronze during the lives Of many men,
but will be remembered only as one Of
thirty Clbans who were shot at Santa
Clara every morning for month, at
daybreak.
The officer had given the order and the
men had raised their pieces, and the
condemned man had heard the click or
triggers as they were pulled back, ana
had not moved. And then happened one
of the most cruelty refined though I'M
intentional acts Of torture that one can
very well imagine. AS the officer slowly
raised his sword. preparatory TO giving
the signal one Of the mounted officers
rode at him and pointed out silently
with his sword what l had already OBJ
served with some satisfaction, that the
firing squad were 30 placed that when
they fired they would shoot several or
the soldiers drawn Up on the extreme
end of the square.
Their captain motioned his men TO
lower their pieces and then walked across
the grass and laid his hand on the
shoulder of the waiting prisoner. IL j.
not Dleasant to think what that shock
must have been The man had steeled
himself 10 receive volley OF bullets III
his back. He believed that In the next
instant he would be in another world /,
he had heard the command given, had
heard the click Of the Mausers as the
1ocks caught. and then, at that supreme
moment, a human hand had been lalu
mon his shoulder and a voice spoke in
bia ear. You would expect that any man
who had been snatched back TO life IN
eich n fashion would start and tremble
a. the reprieve. or would break down
aitcpether: but this boy turned his head
steadily. and followed with his eyes the
direction OF the officers sword. then
nodded his head gravely, and, with ms
chin still held in the air and his should
.ers eyuared. took up new position
straiestened his back again, and once
more held himself erect. An exhibition
30 eelf-control that should surely be
ranl.ed above feats Of heroism performed
in hattie where thousands Of comrades
give inspiration.
This man was playing his hand alone
Z, The sight Of the hills he knew, with
onlv enemies about him, with no source
20 draw on for strength but what lay
within himself
HE MET DEATH CALMLY.
Tho officer of the firing squad, moru-
ea1 nv his blunder hastily whipped up
- sword. the men once more leVelled
their rifles the sword rose dropPen, .iie
- ared Al the report the Cuban
- snanned back almost between his
',o,,Iders but his body fell slowly as
,ho,,eb some one had pushed him gently
sn,.,yerd from behind and he had STUN
Ia He sank on his side In the wet
Grass without struggle or sound ana
Sid not move again. 1t was dificuit 20