Crawford avalanche., 1897-08-12

000oln - 0u Allcms
Spain Mourns Her Premier.
Senior Antonio Canovas del Castillo,
prime minister OF Spain, was assassinated
by Michele Angino Coli, a Neapolitan an
archist, at Santa Agueda, Spain. at
o'clock Sunday afternoon. He was shot
to death. The murderer fired three times
at the aged Spanish minister. Two bull
let's passed through his forehead and an
other penetrated his chest. He fell dying
at the feet of his wife, who was with him.
For two hours he fingered in terrible
agony, struggling against the rapid ap-
proach of death. With the cry of Long
live Spain" on his lips, the grim old pa
triot, the fierce monarchist and leader
of the Alfonsist party, and the head of the
government that tried to crush the Cuban
rebellion by policy of determination,
passed away.
Spain was his love and his life. His
country was his idol and its progress his
pride. He fought for the monarchy that
now rules Spain. He fell by the hand
of one to whom all monarchies are detest-
able and all men in power are tyrants mt
only for the knife or the bullet.
A~sassinnted by an Alien.
Like President Carnot of France, he
was assassinated by an alien. In each
case the murderer came from Italy, and
followed the victim from the seat of the
government to n spot where the crime
would be made easier by the absence OF
guards. In each case the crime was COM
mitted on Sunday.
81 killed him in accomplishment of
just vengeance" exclaimed the assassin
of Canovas, boastingly, when arrested.
Coli declared his deed was the outcome
Of vast conspiracy to assassinate the rul-
ers of Europe. He spoke Of Cesare Santo,
the Italian assassin Of President Carnot,
as hero who belonged to a band Of SINH
lar .'herocs devoted to the work of de-
stroying tyrants."
turope Shaken by the News.
The terrible news swept over Spain and
the people went into mourning for the
victim of the awful crime. Europe was
shaken by the story of the assassination,
and words Of sorrow and sympathy were
flashed from every court. The revolution
lists in Spain were silenced and the liber-
ais, who had fought the monarchist lead
er, were Mortified at the crime.
Senor Canovas passed through the
storm and stress Of ministerial crisis
only two months ago. His cabinet was
again in the saddle. lie had won vic
tory over his political opponents. His
plans for the suppression of the rebellion
in Cuba and the re-establishment of Span
ish supremacy in the Philippine Islands
were strengthened.
Sought Rcst and Met Death.
The Spanish premier determined to take
a rest and three weeks course Of the
baths ut Santa Agueda. He was to re-
turn to the summer residence of the Span
ish court at San Sebastian to meet Uni
ted States Minister Woodford, who was
to be presented and officially received by
Maria Christina the queen regent.
He sought rest at this time SO that he
would be able to take up the Cuban prob
lem with the minister from the United
States and learn the attitude of the latter
country toward Spain and the Cuban
struggle for independence.
The murderer was well dressed and did
not attract particular attention. 1t is
remembered now that he often wandered
about the passages and corridors in the
bathing establishment. His actions were
suspicious but, as he was attired like the
fashionable freQuenters of the Santa
Agueda baths, nothing was ever said to
him.
The Neapolitan had wandered around
the establishment on his usual search for
the Spanish prime minister. He saw him
in the gallery, and, walking slowly so as
not to attract notice from the attendants,
he stepped up to the premier.
Without word he fred at Senior Cano-
vas when only one pace from him. The
first bullet passed through the body and
came out behind under the left shoulder.
The prime minister uttered cry of
agony and clutched at the wound in his
side. He reeled, but before he fell the as
lodging In the head.
The roar of the revolver was heard in
every part of the establishment. and the
attendants rushed to the scene of the tra-
gedy. Sonora Canovas flung open the
door of her dressing room and caught her
husband as he fell. The horror of it all
overcame her and she swooned and fell
over him.
For few minutes only did the prime
minister recover consciousness. Then he
opened his eyes, dulled with agony. and
murmured the words:
Long live SPAIN
The assassin offered no resistance to
arrest. He is q NeOpolitan, and gave his
name as Rinaldi. 1t is believed this is an
assumed name and that his real name is
Michele Angino Coli.