Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-06-22
AN EXECUTION IN CUBA
Shooting Of an Insurgeat Who Trusted the
Amnesty Offer.
His Sweetheart Saw Him Die Like .
Man-SOldiers' Brutal Ex-
ultatiOn.


Speclal COrresfOn0eoce OF L ne ESehinS StdH-
HAVANA, Cuba. June 10. 1897.
One of the most eventful executions took
place yesterday in the Cabanas fortress.
William Molina. insurgent. and Jose Fer
nantez, private Of the Caradores Battalion.
were to be shot. Molina for incendiarism.
the latter for characterization, beating and
kicking his superior officer.
The military evfnced great interest in the
case of the Spaniard. and at an early hour
immense crowds were gathered on every
point of vantage. These brutal scenes have
been so frequently described that their
horror pals to accustomed ears. 1t was
the usual scene. the band played a lively
quickstep and the Cuban Molina walked
steadily across the parade. accompanied by
the priests. 1t was a humliating specta-
cle-that mere youth, bound and surround
ed by the solid square of armed men.
strongly reinforced by reason Of the In
subordination sentence to be carried out
The brave young Cuban faltered for mo-
ment but suddenly recovered himself,
looked for moment at the sea of un3ity-
ing faces. then quietly knelt and met ms
fate like a man. The brutal Spanish SOL
diers, crowded on the ramparts. gave
tiendish yell of triumph as the volley'rang
out.
Close TO where l stood a pretty young
creole girl was watching the horrible spec
composed. 1t seemed strange woman
should unblushingly come in crowd OF
men to witness such scene. AS the vol
ley rang out her composure left her. My
God! my God.' she wildly exclaimed as
she staggered back
She was the atfianced wife of that mu-
tiiated being whose life blood was flowing
out just below. The soldiers were aware
of the fact, and indecently Knocked the
maiden in her distress. She gave them no
heed, but approached the edge of the ram
part again, Sobbing bitterly. A glance was
enough-the youth was being lifted into
coffin. and she sank to the ground, two
elderly men taking her away in a fain ting
condition. 1t was horrible doubly horrible
as Molina was a victim of Weyler's pertidy.
He surrendered, accepting the amnesty Of
fered, and received a pardon, but he had
been with the insurgents in a dislric;
where a plantation had been burnt m onths
before. That was enough, and he was SEN
fenced and shot on the mythical crime OF
incendiarism.
AS the procession again wendell its way
across the parade there was a dead silence
The soldiers could jeer at poor youth
tr:cked to destruction, but Spaniard, to be
punished for gross Observation-Disclosures
was a different matter. The procession
stained place Of execut- on. The officer hour
ished a paper over his head.
Fernandez was pardoned. The soldiers
raised cheer after cheer, dancing and clap
plrg their hands One could but feel the
sense OF eXultation also at a life spared
but as if in irony at the royal clemency &c
the Spaniard, the calm face of the Cuban
sprinkled with quick lime, peered from be-
meath the shroud, silent witness of a
brutal crime that adds another blot to the
furnished csc utcheon of Spain, of which
Spaniards are unjustly proud, and which is
a disgrace to the men who have ..uDhald
the Integrity of the nation" by starvation
massacre and deeds of blood which ma Ike
civilized nations shudder.
Fighting is general throughout Havana
province and the Insurgents are evidently
gathering near the city. Several skirmishes
have taken place and a severe engayem mi
| at Managua. where Arrange attacked q
Spanish column and drove them back
Many sick and wounded were brought ir
yesterday Thanks to vaccination, small
| pcx misses the army but yellow fever anc
| dysentery are causing fearful ravases
among the troops.
GEORGE CLARKE MJTSGRAVE