The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-02-08
He Mode On Effort 10 S0Ve The Life
Of |T-F0Ied Ruiz.
CORRESPONDENCE With THE INSURGENTS
Interesting Report Concerning the
Matter Transmitted TO the Rouse
Censul>eicneral, Tells How Ruiz
Rodo TO His Dcnth-Therc Was no
Flag of Truce.

Washington, d. c., Feb z. 1898.
The President to-day transmitted to
the House the reports from CONSUL
General Leo relative to the execution
OF Colonel Ruiz, which the House
called for by resolution. Those reports
consist Of two dispatches 10 the Sen
ale Department from General Lee
The first, under date of December 21st,
is In the form OF q narrative account
OF the circumstances attending the
execution.
AS matter of public interest" says
General Lee, II have the honor to in
form the department that on Monday
december 18th, Lieutenant-Colonel Don
Joaquin Ruiz, of the Spanish corps Of
engineers and aide-de-camp of the
Sdptaln-Senelol. an officer well and
IaVorably known in the city, visited
Colonel Aranguren, an active and on
.erprlsing insurgent chief, with whom
ne hau been formerly we'll acquainted
as the latter had been In his emDloy-
ment when Ruiz had charge of The
water water works Of this city. Colonel Ruiz
ieit mere at q a. nj. Monday, Decem-
ocl ioIh, aHghting at Camp Tovido,
oWenty-one miles from this city. where
ne breakfasted with the Spanish com
mander and in company with l,rac-
tlcos (Euides), white man and
negro ne rode on horse back in the
direction Of Alunguren's camp. After
ne had proceeded two leagues he was
met by Aranguren, who was n,ountad
and had an escort Of fourteen cavalrv
Suiohel Ruiz. after the exchange OF
saiutations, began q speech TO Aren-
suren and his party, setting forth the
prospective glories Of autonoma tic rule
ana, l am advised, made offers, upon
me part or the authorities here for
.i.e surrender or his command, where
upon AranGuren, acting under the in
structlons of his general-in-chief
MaNimo Gomez, had Colonel Ruiz and
his two men executed
~ VIII be remembered that in No
Vemper last Gomez issued n Droclan,n
Lion ordering his officers to pu, to
ueath any person or persons mar
should approach them with tho oerart
10 make them traitors to their com
RACES or cause, or to induce them to
accept autonomy under Spanish ruIe
AranSuren, previous to the war Iivnd
III Havana with his mother. but has
since been a bold and active officer of
the insurgent ranks.
In accordance with renuaet ,,,do
to me by the Russian Consul and otbor
friends OF Colonel Ruiz, and with tha
khowledge, consent and approval OF
General Blanco, 1 made the attempt To
save the life OF the Spanish officer NV
sending to Colonel Aranguren Mr..
ernest Tosco. as my representative
here' with the following note:
Havana, December 16, 1897.
Mr.. Neston Aranguren:
My Dear Sir--I am informed that
Sranish officer named Colonel Joa
yum ~ Nulz rs your prisoner I write
10 say that the said officer is a per
sonai friend of mine and has shown mo
kindness and courtesy since NV ar-
rival In Havana. ], therefore, request
YOU as special favor to me to reie, ca
Colonel Ruiz and to allow him to re-
turn to this capital. The bearer of this
note Mr.. Ernest Tosca. is my per-
sonal representative and I commend
him to you. 1 am. etc
(Signed FITZHUGJ LEE,
Il regret to say" continues General
Lee that my representative did not
reach the insurSent camp in Time to
denver said note before Colonel Ruiz,s
execution, which had taken place on
the day Of Ruiz's arrival"
on december 30th General Lee wrote
as follows:
referring to my previous dispatch
desire TO say further that the note
to Aranguren contained therein. was
not delivered, because when nv rnn-
resentatve reached his camp this in
surgent chief YVES temporarily absent
therefrom, but the next ranking oDi
Ger, then in command, gave to Nr
Tosca the following statement:
Camp OF Cuba
Details of the death of Lieutenant
Coionei Joaquin Ruiz: This gentleman
came to these fields dressed in the uni-
form e Spanish military officer and
before the Cuban forces made Ia Colo.
mel Nestar AranGuren, respecting thc
orders of our army, made Ruiz nris-
oner and he was executed later. after
| n court-rnartial had been held and l.,
The name of the law organiZa ton of
our army. And that it may be known
| furnish this information to Mr.
Erncsto Tosca. who came commission.
cd by the American Consul at Havana
"'U. y. L., Country and Idbortyl
Army OF Cuba, December IS, 1897
(Sgncd)-
"'AnNJOR ALFREDO LIMA.
''It now appears that Colonel R,iz
visited the insurgent camp in his pri
vatc and unofficial capacity, and that
with the exception of one of two M
| the authorities of the palace and ms
sibly a few others. no one knew of his
ernnd or departure. 1t would seem,
therefore. that he went into the in
surgent camp In an unofficial or private
character and not under flag of
truce, or other official protection IN
war, procedure always hazardous to
! the life Of any one who attempts it,"