Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-02-11
THE TRUTH ABOUT RUIZ.

THE TRUTH ABOUT RUIZ.
Was Not Killed Under Flag of Truce
Dared n Rebel War Order.
The president has transmitted to the
house the reports from Consul General
Lee relative to the execution of Col.
Ruiz, which the house called for by
resolution. These reports consist of two
dispatches to the state department from
General Lee. The first, under date of
Dec. %, is In the form of narrative
account of the circumstances attending
the execution. "As matter OF pubic In
terest," says Gen Lee, II have the honor
to inform the department that on Dec. 10
Lieutenant Colonel Don joaquin Ruiz
of the Spanish corps of engineers and
aide de camp of the captain general an
officer we'll and favorably known In the
CITY, visited Colonel Aranguren, an
active and enterprising insugent chiet,
with whom ne had been formerly well
acquainted, as he had been in his employ
ment when Ruiz had charge of the water
works of this city. Colonel Ruiz left
here at 6 a. m. Monday, Dec. l3, alighting
at Camp Flordo, 2l miles from this city,
where he breakfasted with the Spanish
commander, and in company with
PRACTICES (guides). white man and
negro. he rode on horseback in the
direction of Aranguren's camp. After
he had proceeded two leagues he was
met bv Aranguren, who was mounted
and had an escort of IA cavalry. Colonel
Ruiz, after the exchange of salutations,
began a speech to Aranguren and his
party, setting forth the prospective
glories of autonomic rule, and i'm
mediately advised them of offers made
on the part of authorities here for the
surrender of his command, whereupor
Aranguren, acting under the instruction;
of his general In chief, Maxine Gomez
had Colonel Ruiz and his two mer
executed.
''It will be remembered that In Novem
Der last Gomez issued proclamation
ordering his officers to put to death any
r person or persons that should approach
1 them with the effort to make them tral
= tors to their comrades or cause, or Il
r induce them to accept autonomy unde
! Spanish rule. Aranguren previous t.
e the war lved in Havana with his mother
;, but has since been bold and active in tn
a insurgent ranks.
'In accordane with request made b,
the Spanish consul and other friends
e Colonel Ruiz and with the knowledge
: consent and approval of General Blancc
f | made the attempt to save the life OF tn
e Spanish officer by sending to him Ernest
l. Tosca as my representative with tn
!. following note:-
q "'HABANA, Dec. l6, 1897
. "'Nr. Nestor Aranguren:
IL "'MY DEAR SIR am informed that Spal
u ish officer named Colonel Joaquin hulz
d your prisoner. l write to say that the sal
n officer is a personal friend of mine and hf
q shown me kindness and courtesy since IN
II arrival in Habana. / therefore request yo
as special favor to me to release Col. Ru
II and to allow him to return to this capita
\ The bearer of this note, Mr. Ernesto Tosc
," is my personal representative and cor
Is mend him to you. am, etc.
ID "'FIrZHUGH Lee
1t 81 regret to say" continues Gener'
is Lee, "that my representative did M
n reach the insurgent camp in time
ID deliver the note before Ruiz's execution
N which had taken place on the day
m RuiZ's arrival"
Of On Dec 30 Gen. Lee wrote as follows
IN "Referring to my previous dispatch,
o. wish to say further that the note to Ara
le guren contained therein was not deliver'
be because when my representative reach
at his camp this insurgent chief was tel
C. porsrily absent therefrOm, but the ne
til ranking officer In command gave N
to TOsca the ollow-information =
Id "'Camp of Cuba. Details of the death
bo Lieut.. Col. Joaquin Ruiz. This gentlem
~ came to these fields dressed in the unifol
~ of a Spanish military officer and before
to Cuban forces made to Col. Nestor Ar'
no guren propositions of autonomy for Cuba.
"a "'Col. Aranguren, respecting the orders
nN our army, made Ruiz prisoner and he
ell. executed later, after "A court-martial h
been held in the name of the law of
ri organization of onr army. And that II n
49, be known l furnish this information to
nc Ernesto Tosca, who came commissioned
es- the American consul at Habana.
"'Maj. ALFREDO LIMA
in 1t now appears that Col. Ruiz visll
ed. the insurgent camp in his private
s25 unofficial capacity and that with
He exception of one or two of the authorit
the of the place and possibly a few others
on. one knew of his errand or departu