The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-17
A ROMANCE OF THe WAR.
How a Veteran Onicer Was Court.
Martialcd.


Many Of the tragedies OF the Spanish
American war remain unwrittcn and
many will probably never be told. For
the soldiers of Spain the horrors of the
war did not altogether cease with the
declaration Of peace. The story which
| am about To relate proves this.
I know of at least one gallant officer,
who had served his country well for
many years, and whose reward was a
sentence of ignominious death at the
hands OF his own countrymen. says n
correspondent of the New York Herald.
For aught I know the execution OF the
decree may already have taken place.
At any rate. | saw him sail for Spain
a hopeless and broken old man. The
death sentence had already been passed
upon him. and at his own request he
was going home-to die.
| was in San Juan. Porto Rico, about
a week before the evacuation. The
streets m cafes were flled with Span
ish officers. I found them to be both
courteous and dignined. Yet there was
much of pathos in their bearing. Like
the French who contemplate the draped
statue. representing Strasburg In the
Place de la Concord n think Of
Alsace-Lorraine, SO these men gazed
fondly at Casa Blanco. once the resi-
dence of Ponce de Leon. and thought
sadly of their four centuries Of pos
session.
One OF our officers volunteered n
day to take me on a visit to Colonel
San Martin. who had commanded the
Third battalion of the Spanish troops,
and who was then "A prisoner In the
barracks. When I was told that he
was under sentence of death for cow
ardice was not presisposed i'm his ia
vor. But when ! saw the man n
talked with him my feeling Of reyul-
sion changed to one Of great pity.
The story Of his disgrace is soon told.
He was in command of the Spanish
troops In several interior cities. and,
being opposed by u nth regulars,
under command of Colonel DE Russy,
he retreated from place to place with
out as much resistance as tho Spanish
commandment at the capital thought a
brave man should have made.
As a matter Of fact. his forces were
entirely Inadequate to cope with ours,
and the Spaniards were SO outgen-
eralled by the United States troops tSat
resistance was suicidal. Upon Colonel
San Martins arrival at a nan he
was our martialed i'm n most theatr!-
cal manner by order OF General Ma
cias. governor general Of Porto Rico.
and the outcome of IL was that he was
sentenced to be shot.
The old colonel was too proud to
show how keenly he felt the disgrace.
ne poNeu To the judgment oI the rum
head court. and had only one request
To make. II he must he shot. would
the honor OF shedding his last blood ON
the mother soil be refused him.? He
should like TO die in Spain. Could the
sentence not he carried out there in
stead OF in Porto Rico. which was vir-
tually I'm the hands Of the enemy?
The court deliberated. Yes. In view
Of his many years Of m%eritorious serv-
ice. his request would he granted. TAen
he was confined i'm the barracks. to
await the sailing of the transport for
Spain.
I could not help admlrinE the mans
fortitude. He mad a brave show ~
dignity. but ! could see hat his heart
was breaking. He was a fine old IA
Of so. straight as an arrow. n full
OF that restless energy which even
years annot rob the born soldie- or
His smooth shave face was full OF
character. IL was a rugged. strong
face. combining the determination o.
the soldier with the tenderness Of a
sympathetic nature.
We had n long talk. Of a rambling
character. and IL was with some ;rep-
his own misfortune. His eyes became
moist, N his reserve melted away. He
recOunted To me his many years OF mil
itary service. of how he had fought for
his country. and how finally Spain
had cast him away. like a battered old
hulk that had oGtlivcd it's uscfulness."
He was in full uniform n y med