The Red Cloud chief., 1898-01-07
HAD NO TRUCE-FLAG.
RUIZ VOLUNTARILY WENT
TO HIS DEATH.
The Cuban Commander Who Caused the
Summary Court-Martiai Of the spanish
Omcer Defends His Actions-ScovIl's
Mission to Gomez.

New YORK, Dec. nj. The following
letter from Colonel Nestor Aranguerin
has been received by the Herald.
There have come TO my hands cop.
les Of papers printed In New York and
Am sorry to see how bad has been
judged an act which Is of such trans
cendental Importance TO the cause OF
Cuban independence. This Is not tho
time for me to defend my fellow oun
trymen by means OF the press His
tory will Judge the facts and the
world shall pass Judgment l wish,
however, - refute the calumny which
has been exposed to civilization, that
the bearer Of u flag Of truce was exc
cuted' when he entered our ranks
under q white flag. 1t Is false, .
thousand times false.
Lieutenant Colonel Ruiz wished to
have an interview with me and / did
not grant IL because I knew he wanted
TO talk about my accepting autonomy.
! know the word was sent TO him to
give 1t up, and his friends in Havana,
who also know me-, advised him also
to give II up. lie, however, persisted
md his temerity lost him his life. l
cannot be unfaithful to my oath to die
or to obtain independence from the
Spanish yoke, which four days prev
iously l had signed, together with my
companions In arms in this province,
in the protest issued. AS q soldier it
was my duty TO order n summary
court-martial, which tried Lieutenant
Colonel Ruiz and had him executed.
"'Tfe said lieutenant colonel entered
our camp guided by two Spanish
guides, who we're deserters from our
forces. and without any flag Of truce
or documents OF any kind other than
what has already been said. And as
SCOT as he came to my presence he
commenced, before my officers and
troops, to make us promises Of pardon
and amnesty and to offer us autonomy.
! leave IL to the people Of the great
American nation to say what was the
duty Of n soldier Of the country.
sCovEL SEES GOMEZ
HAVANA. Dec 3l.-Whcn tho insur.
gents SEN word to General Gomez
camp that two Americans. United
states Consul Madrigal and Sylvester
6covel the New York correspondent,
were on their way to headquarters to
induce General Gomez to surrender,
General Gomez directed that both DO
court-martialed on tho spot, but on
learning that they were special en-
voys from Secretary Sherman. acting
under orders OF President Mckinley,
no instructed that they be released
and agreed to meet them.
Mr.. Mndrigal. who Is United States
consul ut Sancti Spiritus, explained To
General Gomez that President McKin.
10y, In accordance with q promise To
Spain to use his friendly influence
with tho insurgents to bring the war
TO an end had selected him (Senor
MadrigaD and Mr.. Scovel to carry out
the mission. He then presented Sec.
rotary Sherman's letter to General
Gomez. The latter gave orders that
the commissioners should be treated
with oil consideration, and fixed an
appointment for the following day.
promising during the interval to con
reference to the action to DO taken.
The following morning General
Gomez assured Senior Madrigal and
Mr.. Scovel that no was much pleased
with tho interest shown by
the American government In the
island OF Cuba, and that he would
reply to President Mckinley through
the representative OF the Cuban gov
eminent at Washington, rs he Genera
Gomez was not allowed to correspond
directly with foreign powers