Connecticut western news., 1897-11-25

break or the rope sever them. His hands were also bound together and sticks were used to twist the throngs into the flesh until 1t bled.
 Could Not See Consul. In this manner he was conducted to prison and for six days was held in- communicate. Even the United States consul, he ayers, was denied admit tance to them. Hard they all fared then. Melton says. but finally the con- sul general was allowed to see them. and then their condition was better. To ! him 1t appeared that the Sraniards had become alarmed at the interest taken by the consul general in the case. and he has reason to believe that orders were given which led to an ameliora- ton of their condition.
 | will you tell something of your pris- i on lifee" he was asked.
 Don't. don't ask mel" he said, with a shudder. Plainly, the question had ! conjured up black memories that he was too anxious to forget.
 | In describing that trial by court mar i tial, a procedure which. 1t will be re- ] membered. met with a quick protest from this government. Melton said that the first the prisoners knew that they were to be tried for their lives was | when a list of Spanish officers was handed to them. and they were told to select from the list the officer whom they wished to defend them.
 Their ..Triai" Described. ! Their lives were at stake. and they did not want to face it blindly and asked that the consul general be al- lowed to see them. so that he could ad- wise them which name to select. but | that they must select defender from ! the list of names and do 1t at once. i As 1t was all matter of chance any way. they chose the name that stood ! at the head of the list. for no other req son than that 1t was at the head. The officer the defender they had in- i.cated-not chosen-came to them and staid one rinute and asked no ques- tions while there. They had no oppor- tunity to tell him anything.
 Their ''triaP' came next day. The prisone.s He described by Melton were brought .. t~'h' nal. the charge against Il. z-l itnesve for the pres rI.on hsard end then their own ''counser asl ed tat the .ou he ~-e~oif'-' and the sentence of 1eath was passed.
 The rest J. la noted case has long ago found t way 'nto history-tt at on the prote Of this government tn sen tence 9. suspenlei-that the z n nave been T. prison evsr since the sub Iect of d!r' attic controversy.
 Ter Rel as Dr mstic.
 The release of \ ton and his three companions was more dramatic than that of Lab rde. ho was confined n a sera ate cell Melton says that in the cell he occupied ere 10 other prison CTS. An officer a int the cell an
 beckoned to him. He had no idea wiat was wanted. but obeyed the summons One by one the GtheIs were picked out Gildea, Leavitt and Ba nett
 | It was an om.nous gathering, Melton Thought. Did 1t mean that the long de- | layed senter~e was at last to be car ried outf I r:' ~Gxiously searched tho
 face of the oi -. as they were led out
 fror. the cell but 1t gave no hint oi 1 WI at tlis strange prooe ding meant.
 Gut in the corridor two forms were
 standing. but. accustomed to the gloom
 of their cell, the prisoners eyes did not
 distinguish them at first. The officer
 paused and they heard him say. I'll ere
 are the prisoners: they are free to go.
 As they heard this they saw that tho
 man addressed was Consul Genera
 F'tz Hugh Lee. Not until then did they
 fully realize that a n " lease of life ] was theirs. The British consul was alsc