The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1899-11-29
DAY OF MOURNING.
November a7th Day of Deep
Sorrow Throughout Cuba.

Manner OF the Terrible Deed-fIrst
ola Series of Articles.
Through the gallant invitation of
the Editor of this popular newspa
per, | am going to write for YOU a
series of stories from my far away
country, the country that having a
past so unhappy, has now present
and future so bright and promis-
ing: this country is Cuba.
1t is almost unnecessary to say
anything about her modern history,
which, for her nearness TO this coun
try, is known to all. Hence, speak
ing briefly we shall say only that it
is country that, though small. has
fought half OF the Nineteenth Cen
tury for her Independence, rising
first in 81 and after in '6S against
the tyrannical domination of Spain,
sharp fighting that was sustained
ten years, from '6S to rs, by only
two provinces Santiago and Puerto
Principe); finally the whole Island
rising again in '95 with the resolu-
ton of finding death or liberty
war ended in '9S with the Interven
ton of this great Nation which
threw away forever the secular ty-
ranny from the New World opening
in this way for Cuba New Era of
prosperity and progress.
The story of the 9th of November
is indeed not only memorable one
for Cuba, but Of deep interest to the
University world. | would not be
gin this series of stories with sad
one, but the sadness is to day IN my
soul, as in every good Cuban's, and
hence my pen can write but sadness.
| want, too, that you, American stu
dents know this bloody page of the
unlucky history of your feflowwork-
ers the Cuban students.
/ shall speak to you, not about
patriots slain in the field of battle,
not about knights killed in duel on
the field of honor, but eight inno-
cent students, having no other guilt
than their being Cubans, killed, or
better, massacred, as lambs by the
treacherous panther, by the fanatic
hordes of the Havana Spanish Vol
unteers, thirsty ever for gold and
innocent blood. Not in vain the
colors Of their flag are yellow and
red
Now let us hear what the New
York Times of last August 18th, de-
scribing the monuments of the mag
nlficent Columbus Cemetery OF Ha-
bana, says about that nefarious
event:
"Another remarkable monument
commentaries the sad ending of
eight young students of the Univer-
sity-representatiyes of some of the
best Cuban families, who were shot
to death by order of the acting Cap
tain General of CUBE in 1871 under
the following circumstances: 1t was
during the ten years war, in Novem-
Der of that year, while Gen Balma-
ceda the Captain General of the
Island was absent and Gen. Crespo
was acting in his stead, that the Civ
| il Governor, in an attempt to obtain
money for his own benefit, accused
the students belonging to the Fresh
man Glass of the University of hay
ing disfgured the tomb of Span
lard who was noted for his hatred of
the Cubans. Owing to the influence
Of Doctor Cubas, the freshmen were
not imprisoned, but the Sophomore
class, composed OF forty five boys,
were arrested and thrown into a
dungeon, though later two of them
were released, -one of them on ac-
count of his belonging to the Span
ish Volunteers, and the other owing
to his English nationality. OF the re-
mainder, s whose names were Mcssrs
De la Campo, De la Tore, Bermudez,
Gonzalez, Laborde, Marcos, Verdugo,
and Rodriguez, the eldest of which
was 81 years old, were tried by a
military court martial and in the alb
sence of convincing proof lots we've
cast among them and the eight un-
fortunates were marched to the
Punta, mot very tar away from the
place were lie now the remains of
the Maine, J placed with their faces
against the walls of the prison and
their bodies riddled with bullets
And the rest of the class were con
demned by the military court mar
tial to hard labor in convict stone
quarry. In 1885 after IA years i'm
prisonment, these young men were
declared innocent by the Spanish
Government and released: the son of
the Spaniard submitting certificate
that his fathers tomb had not been
disfigured by students; and the Gov
eminent permitted the removal of
the s bodies (Which had been buried
in trench outside) to the interior
of the cemetery, and this exquisite
monument, which was designed and
made in Carrara, at cost of $780,
900, was paid for entirely by sub
scription among the Cubans. Every
year on the 9th of November relig-
ious ceremonies take place in the
Mortuary Chapel of the cemetery,
the University in the City Is closed,
and all the students attend the exer-
cises in body"
Yes, the 9th of November Our
mournful day! Mr.. Augusta de la
Tore, one of those inpocents who
fell under the homicidal lead and his
brother Alfredo, that was imprison-
ed with him though not killed was
condemned to hard labor in Spain,
both are cousins of ours. Alfredo
in Spain made his escape and went
to France, where ia the University of
Montpelier he finished his studies,
taking the degree of Doctor in Medi-
cine. He is at present in Cuba
where the American Government has
appointed him for very important
charge. Several times he has re-
lated to us the terrible details of
those two days, the last parting from
his eldest brother Augusta, after
wards when he from the dungeon
heard the shots accompanied by the
savage joyful crying of the low peo-
pie that witnessed the murder; and
he, remembering all that, can't re-
late it without tears, without signs.
To-day our Cuban home is all
grief, all mourning. Those mothers,
those families miss their dearest
boys whom they sent to an Institu-
tion of learning to find Education
and they did not come back home for
they found tragic death! Could