Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-02
RUIZ AND ARANGUREN
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and l do not dohbt That you will arrive
at my ideas. THUS p await for answer
your resolution, end Subscribe myself,
Your 1s,fnsiss PEREZ
Up. S. Lieutenant. Colonel Of Engineers
Don Joaquin Ruiz, director Of the Albear
canal. whom you already know, tells me
he wishes you to graft him an interview
at the point Witch you think opportune.
since he desires 10 talk with you.
Il suppose you know of the presentation
OF Cuervo with twelve officers and 12s
m men, and am m, sure that several chiefs are
In the same disposition. PEREZ
The Proposition Repelled.
The answer to- such miserable PROPOSE
tions was not as desired, through wishing,
to see if he would have the boldness to
say 1t to me in person. 1 sent word to him
that l was not thinking of sucn a thing
and regarding the appointment that Senior
Ruiz asked me 1 answered that If of pri-
vate character, there was no Inconvenience
In holding it. After a few days, or about
the Jd OF December, I received a letter
lows:
"Oiiice of the Canal Of Albear
HAVANA. December . 1897.
Senor Nestor de Aranguren:
Dear Friend: In this paper, the heading
of which is wall known to you, and with
my name and signature, which so many
times you have seen, l address you for
mal1y, in accordance with my character,
indulgent but firm and frank In these
writings l have no other object than to
arrange the preliminariss Of an interview
that l have asked you and you will
give me, being sure that what you may
write will reach my hands directly. I will
have no Inconvenience In going alone to
seek you. accompanied by guide. and
going with escort, have the security that
no imprudence will disturb our meeting.
What is necessary is to have the GER
tainty that you are the one who receives
and answers my letter. AS countersign
detail will be sufficient for me. Tell me
where is located thu fountain pipe that was
placed for my house, who installed it, and
approximately when.
From our interview you can draw great
utility, since the moment has arrived in
which enterprising young men like your
self take definite resolutions, and to do so 1t
is convenient that you may have all the
particulars and notices that should serve
to decide your purpose. Believe me that
the things are neither certain nor exact
which are stated in order to maintain the
disposition which Is persisted in. Listen to
q friend of whom you cannot be suspicious,
and then resolve as you please.
Remember that have always been very
cordial, and remember also the affection
which had for you, AID which LOYALTY l
offer you now. JOAQUIN RUIZ.
ADDRESS lieutenant coroner OF engineers,
adjutant to the orders Of the general-in-
chief Dragones (stfeeD, 50 ground floor,
Havana
Pcrsistency of Ruix.
answered this gentleman, showing him
1t was who received and replied TO his let
ter, and that under no conception could I
admit an official interview, because such
was prohibited by our laws.
1 went to the appointment on the day and
hour fixed and at the place assigned, and
with surprise l saw that those VINO came
were military persons, on which account I
decided to withdraw. l ought to add here
that / granted the interview asked by
Ruiz, depending on the friendship which
Bound us in times ofGpeace, since knew
him as director iof the Canal Of Albear,
named by the city council while was en-
ployed in the company which was charged
with verifying the works OF the canal
The 18th of December l received card
from Ruiz in these terms:
81 waited for you Friday without result
two hours. If you really wish the inter-
view, cite me punctually the day you desig-
nate, and for my part l will go without
care to the point that you may say;
Suspecting that there was not good faith
in this interview through what happened
previously. my answer to his card was
similar to that OF thel letter, insisting that
in no way should the interview be admit
ted with official character, fixing again
the point ana nOuF.
The 18th of December Ruiz presented
himself, after having been announced by
pair of my trusted men, ,a-s.
Aranguren then gives the particulars OF
ready published. He reiterates especially
Ruiz's offer to himself and his friends OF
money and employment II they would lay
down their arms and accept autonomy.
Ruiz and the two guides and their execu-
ton in compliance with the laws OF the Gu
ban republic. as previously described by
him. To this statement Aranguren adds
the following, which will be read with
greater interest since his own death:
justification Of killing of Ruiz.
should have liked to save him, but the
solemn obligation of my military position
forbade It, The blow was inevitable. His
rashness has lost him and my conscience
ia not enawed with remorse. I have felt
sorry for 1t in my private capacity as much
or more than those persons who may criti-
else me- Ruiz was gentleman and good
man. and these qualities always made him
winning in my sight, but to have passed
over without penalty his zeal would have
been to make me his accomplice. and there
fore guilty of the crime Of high treason.
The insensate world censures me unjustly.
1t matters not. am conscious OF not nav
ing committed assassination. Ruiz had be-
fore himself the precipice of which l
warned him. He chose to run the risk and
he ran 1t. l admire his Valor and commits
serate him. He is one victim more of
Spanish Quixotism and of the little which
Spain places on the lives of her sons.
Now, can the conduct be censured which
I observed toward the commissioned? Is
perchance criminal the carrying out of an
act brought to a head after the warnings
of danger? Would the Spanish government
have hesitated, or. better to say, has it
ever hesitated, before the most shameful
and criminal undertaking? For the SLAM
derers of my person l have only contempt,
and for those who taunt me l have pity.
It is only the consequence of pains.
The originals of the letters directed to
me by Perez and Ruiz remain in our pos
session, as also note of this latter (RuiZ),
in which he manifests to me his purpose of
visiting several chiefs of the revolution
with the same end in view. We have also
in our possession the safe conduct with
which Ruiz came provided. made out in his
favor by the general staff of the Spanish
army, bearing the number 1881.
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