The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-08
IFE TRIED TO SAVE RUIZ LIFE.
.,-~r SPECIAL ENVOY WITH A
REQUEST TO ARANGUEREN.

,,-ox Arrived at the Cuban Camp
,etar Execution Had Taken Place.
,.ngueren Not There When He
Arrived-COnsui General transmits
Report on the Incident to the
state Department.
washington, Feb. 7.-The President to-
49,. transmitted to the House the reports
80, Consul General Lee relative to the
-,.ao,,,ion of Col. Ruiz, which were called
for by the House.
These reports consist of two dispatches
90 the state department from Gen. Lee.
NJ FIRST under date of Dec. q, is in the
torr, Of a narrative account of the cir
cnn,stances attending the execution.
As matter of public interest,"" says
con Lee ~ have the honor to inform
the department that on Monday, Dec. 1S,
1ient Col. Don Joaquin Ruiz of the Span
,sb corps engineers and aide-de-camp of
.bo Cantain General, an officer favorably
known in this city, visited Col. Arangue-
rem an active and enterprising insurgent
chief with whom he had been formerly
we'll acquainted, as he had been in his
.r,nlovment when Ruiz had charge of the
water works of this city.
"Col Ruiz left here at a. m. Monday,
nee 13 alighting at Camp Florida twenty
,na miles from this city, where he break
tasted with the Spanish captain, and in
company with practices (guides), white
man and a negro he rode on horseback
in the direction of Arrangements camp.
After he had proceeded two leagues he
was met by Arangueren, who was mount
Cd and had an escort of fourteen cavalry.
Col Ruiz, after the exchange of saluta-
ttons. began a speech to Arangueren and
his nartv. setting forth the prospective
plories of autonomic rule, and, am ad-
vised made offers upon the part OF the
authorities here for the surrender of his
command, whereupon Arangeren, actlns
under the instructions of his general-in-
chief. Maxine Gomez, had Col. Ruiz and
his two men executed.
1T will be remembered in November,
last. Gomez issued a proclamation order
ing 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 induce them to ac-
cept autonomy under Spanish rule. Aran-
gueren, previous to the war, lived in Ha-
vana with his mother, but has since been
a bold and active officer of the insurgent
ranks
In accordance with a request made to
me by the Russian consul and other friends
of Col Ruiz, and with the knowledge, con-
sent and approval of Gen. Blanco, l made
the attempt to save the life of the Spanish
officer by sending to him Mr.. Ernest Tosca
as my representative here with the follow
ing note;
Havana, Dec. 16. 1S97.-Mr. Nestor
Arangueren: My Dear Sir--I am informed
that Spanish officer named Col Joaquin
Ruiz + your prisoner. l write to say
the said officer is a personal friend Of
mine and has shown me kindness and cour-
tesy since my arrival in Havana. 1
therefore, request you as special favor
TO me to release Col. Ruiz and to allow
him TO return to this capital, The bear
er of this note, Mr.. Ernesto Tosca, is my
personal representative, and l commend
him TO you. l am, ETC.,
'Fitz-Hugh Lee
Il regret to say" continues Gen. Lee
that my representative did not reach the
insurgent camp in time to deliver said note
before Col. Ruiz's execution, which had
taken place on the day of Ruiz's ar
rival"
On Dec 80 Gen. Lee wrote as follows
Referring to my previous dispatch, I de-
sire to say further that the note to Aran-
gueren contained therein was not deliV-
cred, because when my representative
IedcHed ms camp the inSurgent chief was
temporarily absent therefrom, but the next
ranking officer then in COM
mahd gave to Mr.. Tosca the
following statement: Camp of Cuba:-
Details of the death of Lieut.. Col. Joa-
gum Ruiz: This gentleman came to these
Ne!ds dressed in the uniform of a Spanish
niltary officer and before the Cuban
forces made to Col. Nester Arangueren
propositions of autonomy for Cuba Col.
AFahgueren, respecting the orders of our
oI'ny' made Ruiz prisoner and he was
executed later, after a court martial had
peeh neld, and in the name of the law
oi organization of our army. And that it
ma! De known, l furnish this information
70 Mr. Ernesto Tosca, who came commits
Si0ued I.ilsd 10y the American consul al Havana.
T. Y. L.)-Country and Liberty
army OF Cuba, Dec. IS, 1897.
Maj. Aldreo Lima
II now appears Col. Ruiz visited the
oalHp IN his private or unofficial capacity,
"su 'hat with the exception of one or two
ol the authorities of the palace, and pos
o,oE a lew others, no one knew of his
LtaHa or departure. 1t would seem,
therefore, he went into the insurgent camp
~ al uhofhcal or private character, ana
ny uhder flag of truce or other official
to'eciion of war, a proceeding always
,,-a1dIdous ,ou to the life of any one who at
Aa"3'H no'H these dispatches are addressed to
tS,s,aht ~ Secretary of State Day, and not
u secretary Sherman.
AhAlN WRECE<En nv nvN A xFTrrr-