The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-06-22
TO KILL BLANC0.
Brother of Cuban Executed by
Him
Attempts to ASSaSSinate the
Captain General.
SHOT IN THE THIGH,
While Stepping From the Pal.
ace Door.
Despite His Wound BlancO
Holds War Councils.

MY hGSl, uuG IA TGPOTL Oh an
attempt to assassinate Captain Gen
eral Blanco has created great excite
ment here. 1t came through Cuban
channels, having been brought out Of
Havana by one of the couriers. The at
tempt was made by Mariana Saliva, one
of the volunteers. In consequence, a
condition bordering on revolution exists
in Havana. The volunteers parade the
streets, unofficered, crying viva Wey-
Ter, down with Blanco.'' The people,
especially the autonomists, are leaving
as rapidly as possible. Gen. Blanco,
wounded as he is, holds daily confer
ences with the commanders of the vol
unteers, who are apparently powerless
to bring about a more peaceful state
of affairs.
The attempted killing of the Spanish
General took place as he was leaving
the palace to accompany some of the
officers of his staff to inspect the earth
works on the outskirts of the city.
Saliva, a young Cuban, sent rife
bullet into Gen. Blanco's left leg, above
the thigh. He is a member of the vol
unteer guard on duty around the
palace. His younger brother was also
a volunteer, and was recently arrested
on a charge of conspiring with the
enemies of Spain against the establish
ed government He was thrown into
prison, was tried before a court martial
and condemned to death. The elder
Mariana made every effort to save his
brother. Many appeals were made to
Gen. BlancO for clemency, but without
avail When the findings of the Span
ish court martial were laid before him
the captain general unhesitatingly APP
proved them, and the young volunteer
was executed.
There was considerable dissent
among the volunteers at that time, but
no open outbreak. Mariana Saliva
quietly continued his duties at the
palace and made no reference to his
brothers death. A number of times,
as it was afterwards learned, he was
seen inside the building, where he did
not belong, but being in uniform it
was supposed that he was on some
mission, and nothing was said to him.
His post was usually in a part of the
palace little freQuented by Gen. Blanco,
and his opportunities for meeting the
captain general were few. On the day
of the shooting he succeeded in obtain
ing permission from his commanding
officer to exchange with brother sol
der, and he secured the coveted post
in front of the palace.
Saliva waited until the time Gen.
BIanco usually came out in the after
noon and then took up his position on
the outer steps Of the palace, a short
distance from a platoon of volunteers
who were on guard, and waited. He
had not been there long when the doors
were thrown open and Gen. Blanco,
surrounded by several gentlemen, with
whom he was talking, emerged.
AS the general STEPPED out the young
soldier moved forward pace and
raised his rifle as if to salute. He
quickly brought the breech of the
weapon to his shoulder and before
those near him could interfere he had
sent a bullet into the group.
Gen. Blanco, with an exclamation of
pain sank down. In the midst of the
confusion Saliva stood calmly. He made
no effort to repeat the shot nor to
,<a1T1 1g00f fT~ArV
him for a moment. but when one of
the officers who had come from the
palace with Gen. Blanco rushed at MIN
with drawn sword and with evident
geance, the other volunteers quickly
Surrounded him and warded off the
strokes of the sword Saliva made no
efforts to avoid the sword thrusts.
"'I have avenged the death OF my
brother" he said, land that it all had
to live for"
AS soon as Gen. Blanco had been re-
moved. Saliva was arrested and was
thrown into MORO castle, where he
still is awaiting the death penalty.
The news of the attempted assassina-
ton spread rapidly over the city ana
long before nightfaH the inhabitants
We're in state of uproar. The volun-
teers, sympathizing with their dead
comrade and his Imprisoned brother
fomented their confusion, parading the
streets shouting, Down with Blanco;
long live Weyler." Places of business
were closed and the peaceful residents
took refuge in the country.
Gen. Blanco, realizing the seriousness
of the condition which confronted him,
called Immediately a war council OF
his own officers and the commanding
officers of the volunteers Appeals
were made to the patriotism of the
people. The difficulties which beset the
mother country were recited. The vol
unteer officers were urged to use their
influence in every way to stem the riS-
ing tide of hatred against Blanco and
to calm and pacify their subord1nates.
The position in which Gen. Blanco
now finds himself is a very serious one.
The volunteers are wildly excited. They
are bitter in their condemnation of
him and loud in their demands for the
return of Gen. Weyler. For the other
part the autonomists are rapidly de-
sorting him, taking refuge even with
the Insurgents themselves. Blanco has
few friends and all the nisfortunes of
the war, past and present, are laid at
his door.
Saliva, the young man who fired the
shot which came so near to leaving
Cuba without a Spanish governor, is
81 years of age and was born on Gu
ban soil He was among the hrSt TO
form a volunteer company, and with
his brother had served faithfully until
the latter fell under the suspicion of
the authorities and was condemned to
death. Saliva is of good family and is
intelligent.