The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-08
EXECUTION OF GEN. RUIZ
FTTZHUGH LEES ACCOUNT TRANS
MITTED TO THE HOUSE.
The Consul Generals Efforts to Save
View of Affairs in Cuba.

WASHINGTON, Feb. THE President
to-day transmitted to the House the reports
from Consul General Lee relative to the ex-
ecution of Colonel Ruiz, which the House
called for by resolution. These reports con-
sist of two dispatches 10 the State Depart
ment from General Lee. The first, under
date of Dec. q, is in the form of a narra-
tive account of the circumstances attending
the execution. AS matter or public inter-
est says General Lee. Il have the honor
to inform the department that, on Monday,
Dec. 13, Lieut.. Col. Don Joaquin Ruiz Of
the Spanish corps of engineers and abide
camp of the captain general, officer well
and favorably known in the city, visited
Colonel Aranguren, an active and enterpris-
Ing insugent chief, with whom he had been
formerly We'll acquainted as he had been in
his employment when Ruiz had charge of
the water works of this city. Colonel Ruiz
left here at a. m. Monday, Dec. 13, alfgnt-
ing at Camp F1oyido, twenty-one miles from
this city, where he breakfasted with the
Spanish commander and, in company with
PRACTICES (guides), white man and a ne
gro, he rode on horseback in the direction
of Aranguren's camp After he had pro-
ceeded two leagues he was met by Aran-
guren, who was mounted and had an escort
of fourteen cavalry. Colonel Ruiz, after an
exchange of salutatiOns, began a speech to
Aranguren and his party, setting forth the
prospective glories of autonomous rule and,
/ am advised, made offers on the part of the
authorities here for the surrender of his
command, whereupon Aranguren, acting
under the instructions of his general in
chief Maxine Gomez, had Colonel Ruiz and
his two men executed. 1t will be remem-
bered that, in November last, Gomez issued
a proclamation ordering his officers to put
to death any person or persons that should
approach them with the effort to make them
traitors to their comrades or cause, or to
induce them TO accept autonomy under
Spanish rule. Aranguren, previous to the
war, lived in Havana with hi: mother, but
has since been a bold and acflve officer of
the inSurgent ranks.
I'm accordance with a request made to
me by the Russian consul and other friends
of Colonel Ruiz, and with the knowledge,
consent and approval of General Blanco, I
made the attempt TO save the life or the
Spanish officer by sending to him Mr.. Err
nesto Tosca, as my representative here, with
Havana. Dec. 16, 1897.
" Mr. Nestor Aranguren:
MY Dear Sir-I am informed that
Spanish officer named Col. Joaquin Ruiz Is
your prisoner. / write to say that the sad
officer is a personal friend of mine and has
shown me kindness and courtesy since my
arrival in Havana. / therefore request you,
as a special favor to me, to release Colonel
Ruiz and to allow him to return to this cap
ital. The bearer of this note, Mr.. Ernesto
Tosca, is my personal representative and
commend him to you; ! E am; Fiji LEE.
'T regret to say" continues General Lee,
that my representative did not reach the
insurgent camp in time to deliver SAID note
before Colonel RuiZS execution, Whlcn Eau
taken place on the day of Ruiz arrival
On Dec 80 General Lee wrote as follows:
Referring to my previous dispatch, l de-
sire to say further that the note to Aran-
guren therein was not delivered, because
when my representative reached his
camp this insurgent chief was temporarily
absent therefrom, but the next ranking Of
ficer, Major Alfrido Lima, then IN COM
mand gave to Mr.. Tosca the following
statement dated Camp of Cuba, and head
ed "Details of the death of Lieutenant
Colonel Joaquin Ruiz
This gentleman came to these fields
dressed in the uniform of a Spanish mill
tary officer. and before the Cuban FORCES
made to Colonel Nestor Aranguren PROPOSE
tions of autonomy for Cuba. Colonel Aran-
guren, respecting the orders of our army,
made Ruiz prisoner and he was executed
later. after court-martial had been held,
and in the name OF the law or organlza-
ton of our army. And that it may be
known, ] furnish this information to Mr..
ErneSto Tosca, who came commissioned by
the American consul at Havana.
1t now appears that Colonel Ruiz visited
the insurgent camp in his private or I'M
official capacity and that with the eXcep-
ton of one or two Of the authoritles or
one knew of his errand, or departure. 1t
would seem, therefore, that he went into
the insurgent camp in an unofficial or prl-
vate character, and not under a flag or
truce other official protection in war, a
procedure always hazardous to the life of
any one who attempts il. Both these dis
patches are addressed to Assistant Secre-
tary of State Day, and not 10 Secretary
Sherman.