Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-12-24
Revengeful Cubans.
Their Camp with a Scheme for Auton-
omy, Hacked 10 Pieces with Machetes.

omy, Hacked 10 Pieces with Machetes.
Much excitement has been caused in Ha-
vana, Cuba, by the news Of the death of
Lieut.. Col Joaquin Ruiz, one of Gen.
Bla co.'s staff, who was sent to the camp Of
the insurgents last week with proposal of
surrender Col. Nestor Aranguen, bv
whose order Ruiz was killed, was a fri, nd
of the murdered man and had at one time
been in his employ; but the deed was in ac-
cordance with a proclamation issued bv
Gen. Gomez, TO the effect that mercy should
be shown to none who brought proposals Of
surrender to the insurgents. When 1t was
known that Ruiz was in the hands of the
Cubans Gen. Blanco applied to United
States Consul Lee TO intervene with the
rebels to save the officer, and Ernest Tosca,
an employe of the consulate, was sent 10
Col. Aranguen's camp Tosca arrived
there Friday and found that Col. Ruiz was
executed on the day Of his arrival, which
was Tuesday.
Acting under instructions from Gen
Blanco, Col. Ruiz despatched a letter 10
Col Aranguen, telling him of the mission
and requesting an interview. Replying TO
mis- letter, Col. Aranguen told Col. Ruiz
that he esteemed him highly as an old
friend and would meet him as such. Then
he drew his attention TO Gen. Gomez's
proclamation ordering that all who came TO
the insurgent camps with terms of surren-
der be put to death, and told Col Ruiz if
he came in that capacity he would be
obliged to hang him Notwithstanding this
warning Col. Ruiz started on his mission
He left Havana on Sunday, in spite of the
earnest entreaties of friends, it being fully
understood that he had been soemnly
warned by Col. Aranguen that death was
the penalty for approaching the camp
without previous assurance that his bust
ness was only of personal character.
When he neared the rebel camp he was
Immediately fired upon and his two guides
killed. Col. Ruiz then found himself face
TO face with Col. Aranguen who was &C
companied by a strong escort. Ruiz ex-
tended his hand to his old friend but he
was motioned back Col Aranguen then
turned and rode away That was the sig
nal, for instantly the rebel escort closed In
on the condemned man. His hand sought
his sword, but in an instant a score of
machetes fell on him and in a few moments
he was literally cut TO pieces. The body, 1t
is said, was burned on the spot Cards
found on it were sent to Havana as proof
of his death. One incident that may have
served to seal the fate of Col Ruiz Is the
fact that he was instrumental in sending
recently TO Major Collazos camp two men
with proposition to the rebels to become
presentados. Both were Immediately
hanged.
One report stated that Aranguren met
death with Ruiz, both being shot by order
of Gen. Rodriguez. This story stated that
Aranguren was holding consultation with
view to surrendering. This report is now
denied, and seems probable that Aranguren
is still living. Whether Ruiz was shot or
was cut to pieces with machetes is uncer-
tain. There seems to be no question, how
ever, that he went to the Cuban camp
openly, really as commissioner of peace,
his main object being to place before the
Cubans the plan for autonomy. His execu-
ton was a cruel, unsoldierly act, contrary
to the rules of civilized warfare.