The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-02-08
THE RUIZ EXECUTION.
official Report Of His Killing Laid
Before the House.
GEN. LEE PERSONALLY INTERCEPTED.
Sent Special Messenger With a
Letter to Aranancn.
MAS TRIED By COURT MARTIAL
His Errnnd Was Personal aud He
WITS Not Protected by a. Flag Of
Truce, Il Dangerous Undertakings.
MAS TRIED By COURT MARTIAL

Washington. February Tho president
today transmitted TO the house the reports
from Consul General Lee relative to the
execution of Colonel Ruiz, witch the house
called for by resolution These reports con-
sist of two dispatches to the state depait-
! nent from General Lee. The first Is under
date of December 81 and is in the form of
leading TO the execution.
"As matter of public interest says
General Lee, Il have the honor to inform
the department that on Monday. Gccemher
u, Lieutenant Colonel Don joaquin Ruiz
81 the Spanish corps of engineers. TN aide
de camp OF the captain general, an officer
we'll and favorably known in the city. yis-
tied Colonel Aranguen. an active and en-
terprisng insurgont chief. with whom. he
had been formerly we'll acquainted. as lie
had been in his employment wnen Ruiz
had charge of the waterworks in this city.
Colonel Ruiz left here at 6 a. ~, Monday.
December 10, alighting mt Campo Florida,
twenty one miles from this city, where he
breakfasted with the Spanish commander
and in company with PRACTICES (guidasl,
white man and negro, he rode Oh horse
back in the direction of Arungusn's camp.
After he had proceeded two leagues he was
met by Aranguep, who was mounted and
had an escort Of fourteen cavalry. colcael
Ruiz, after the exchange OF salutatons he
gan Il speech TO Aranguen and his party.
setting forth the prospective glores OF au-
tonCmatie rule, and, | am ADVISED. made
offers upon the part of the luthoriics heie
for the surrender OF his commander wnege
upon Aranguen, acting under the iDsiruc-
tons of his general in chief, Maxine Go
mez, had Colonel RUIZ and his Two lncn
executed.
1T viii be remembered that in ScvoIn-
Der last Gomez issued proclamation CT
dering his officers to put to death any par
son or persons that should approach them
with the eficrt To make them traitors 10
their comrades or cause, or TO indnce them
to accept autonomy under Spanish rule
AranSuen, previous to the war, dyed in
Iliavana with his mother, but has SINCE
been bold and active officer in the in
surgent ranks.
I'm accordance with a request ,nalls 10
me by the Russian consul and other friends
Of Colonel Ruiz, and with the knowledge.
consent and approval of General B,anco,
made the attempt to save the life OF the
Spanish officer by sending TO him Ir.
Ernest Tosca, as my representative heIe,
with the following note:
Mir. Nestor Aranguen.
Havana. December 10, lsD7-My Dear
Sir: am informed that a Spanish officer
named Colonel joaquin Ruiz is your pris
oner. ! write 10 say the said officer is
personal friend OF mine and has shown me
Kindness and courtesy since my arrival IN
Havana. ! therefore request you as
special favor to me to release Colonel Ruiz
and TO allow him TO return TO this capital.
The bearer of this note, Mr.. Ernest Tosea.
is my personal representative. and com
mend him TO you. am. etc,
(Signed) Fitzhugh Lee"
Il regret to say" continues General Lee.
that my representative did not reach the
insUrgent camp in time to deliver said
note before Colonel Ruiz execution, which
had taken place on the day OF his arrest
on December 30 General Lee wrote as
follows:
Referring to my previous dispatch.
desire to say further that the motto TO
AraIguen contained therein was not deliy-
cred because when my repre- sentative
reached his camp this insurgent chief was
temporarily absent therefrom. but the
next ranking officer, then in command.
gave TO Mr.. Tosca the following statement:
".Camp of Cuba-DefaiIs Of the death
of Lieutenant Colonel Joaquin Ruiz
This gentleman came TO these fields
dressed in the uniform of Spanish mill
tary officer. and before the Cuban forces
made To Colonel Nestor Aranguen PROPOSE
tiors OF autonomy for Cuba
"'Colonel Aranguen, respecting the order
of our army. made Ruiz a prisoner aud he
was executed later, after court martial
had been held and In the name of the law
and Organization of our army. AMI that II
may be known furnish this Information
TO MI Ernest Tosca. who came comms-
stoned by the American conerl at Havana.
"sp. Y l.. Country and Liberty, Army
of Cuba. December Is, 1897.
fcrnsd) Major Alfredo Lima
"It now appears Colonel Ruiz visited
the camp in his private or unofficial ca
paclty. and with the exception o. one or
two authorities OF the palace and possibly
a few others. no one knew OF his GRAND
or departure. II would seem. therefore, he
went into the iasurgent catnp In an u12f-
fcial or private character and not under
flag OF truce or other official protection
IN war. a procedure most hazardous 70 the
life Of any one who attempts It,.
Both the dispatches are addressed TO As
sistant Secretary of State Day and not to
c