The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-04-15

acted in accordance with the spirit of wey-
ler's order, which menat determination,
without regard to age, condition sex.
He, as he said, simply carried out the
ders of Canovas, without fear or favor.
1t was thus, as a subaltern in the ten years
war, he carried out the orders of Captain
General Balmeeeda, better known as 1.-The
butcher" Weyler shifts the onus from his
own shoulders to those of the prime min
lister, for whom Spain alone is responsible.
A remarkable instance of Weyler's firm
ness and unyielding spirit was shown in the
case of zabi Zarrate Varona. He was ed
itor of the Union Constitutional, semi
official organ of the Canovas-Weyler re-
gime Zarrate was also captain of Span
ish volunteers in active service in Havana.
His aunt had been married to General Az
carraga, then minister of war in the Cano-
vas cabinet Azcarraga, blu the way, was
a native of the Philippine islands. The
brother of Zarrate was secretary to the
captain-general of Porto Rico. A younger
brother was the tutor of English to the
young king of Spain. For some unexplain-
ed reason, Zarrate left Havana and Joined
the patriot army. He carried himself with
unexampled bravery and became a colonel
under Maceo. After Maceos death he was
ambushed wounded and captured while
carrying dispatches from Pinor del Rio to
Gomez, in anita Clara He was thrown into
Cabanas, and court martial was promptly
ordered by General Weyler. The news of
his capture reached Madrid, Azcarraga sent
a private dispatch to Weyler urging him
to treat him as leniently as possible. Wey-
Ter made no reply. He had the reputation
of doing his duty. regardless of fear or fa-
Vor. A private dispatch from the captain
general of Porto Rico met the same fate
The friends of Zarrate were in. despair
While the court martial was in session, Az
carraga sent Weyler official dispatch,
ordering the finding of the court to be
kept secret. If its sessions were not end
ed, he ordered Weyler to suspend the pro-
ceedings and forward the prisoner to Mad
drid. Prompt was the answer of the cap
tain-general to the minister of war: ''The
court martial has found Zarrate guilty OF
treason. The sentence is death, and II
am captain-general tomorrow the prisoner
will be shot" Azcarraga appealed to Cano-
vos and his cabinet and besought their in
tercession. They unanimously sustained
Weyler, whereupon the secretary of war
resigned
Providence, however interviewed in a
manner almost miraculous. The next MORN
ing the kings tutor came to him In tears,
saying that he would be unable to give
him lesson in English that day, and beg
ging to be excused. The little king asked
what was the matter. my brother is to
be shot today in Havana" was the reply.
The king instantly sought the queen re-
gent and asked her to call a cabinet meet
ing at once, as he wanted to make an APP
peal on behalf of a friend. The cabinet
happened to be in session at that moment
discussing the resignation of Azcarraga.
The tiny king walked into the apartment
with his mother. In neat little speech he
alluded to the grief of his tutor, and de-
tailed the misfortune of his brother. There
was no complaint against General Weyler.
His firmness was applauded, and his de-
votion to duty praised. But he desired in
this case to relieve the distress of his
friend save the brother, and temper JUS
tice with mercy. Never had he asked any
favor of the administration. although he
had been y oclaimed king long time ago.
This would be his first official act. He
directed that the royal pardon be promptly
transmitted to Havana, bowed, and walked
back to the royal apartments with the
queen regent. The cabinet, it Is said, were
deeply affected by this exercise of the
young kings prerogative The dispatch
announcing the pardon was sent to General
Weyler without delay. 1t arrived as Ear
rate was marching to the laurel ditch OF
the Cabanas, where so many patriots have
yielded up their lives for the freedom Of
Cuba. The king afterward complimented
General Weyler, and asked him to officially
inform Azcarraga and other relatives Of
the royal clemency. Zarrate Is now an
AIcade under the autonomist government
This pardon, 1t is averred, is the only one
on record that has not been promulgated
through the war department in Spain for
centuries.
A story fully as romantic and interesting
Is told of Captain Eulate, the commander
of the cruiser Vizcaya, the late visitor to
the haybor Of New York The incident oc-
cident occurred in La Guayra, on the Span
ish MAN, in 1891. The American consul
there was Mr.. Hanna, relative of the
Hon. Jerry Rusk, Of Wisconsin. The city
was raided by one of Dictator Mendozas
generals He imprisoned all OF the foreign
merchants and seventeen consuls represents
ing different nations, demanding large
ransom for their release. Hanna was out
of town when the raid began. On his re-
turn he sensed the situation and took inn
mediate steps for the rescue of his col
leagues. The only war vessel in the harbor
was the Jorge Juan, a little Spanish snip
with three small guns, detailed Tor coast
guard duty. Her commanding ofhcers was
Eulate then sub-lieutenant In the Spanish
navy Hanna tried to communicate by ca
BILE with the United States government, but
failed. He next tried to reach the Ameri-
can minister at Caracas, and was again
shut off, Finally as last resort, ne took
a. boat and boarded the Jorge Juan. Lieu
tenant Eulate received him with marked
courtesy, and listened graciously to his
story. Hanna detailed the startling events
that had occurred, and asked the aid of the
Spanish gunboat in rescuing the imprisoned
consuls Eulate listened with much inter-
est. He replied that Spain was one OF the
first nations to recognize the Independence
of the American colonies when they were
struggling with Great Britain for their free
dom. and she would not decline to assist
the United States at a time like the pres
ent. He said his ship was at Mr.. Hanna's
disposal, and asked him what he Intended
to do ST propose to demand the release
of the imprisoned consuls." was the re-
ply.
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