Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-11
Ryan's Farewell.
prison st. Iago de Cuba,


November 8, 1873 11:30 pm
my Dear George: Farewell, old friend
truest and best of all; for long ere this
| reaches you the earth will be covering
this body. Yes, George, my lamp of life
is nearly exhausted, and the. grave opens
to receive me. My race is run.
"At 6 o'clock tomorrow morning will be
shot The Virginius was captured three
days ago off the Island of Jamaica by the
Spanish war steamer Tornado. We were
helpless at the time, having no means of
defense and being a long distance from
Cuba. The captain insisted upon us sur
rendering after a chase of seven hours.
Il could have saved myself and several
others, but did not do so on account of
not wishing to desert my followers. Being
limited to what write 1 cannot go into
particulars. and, as the room is filled with
priests, officers and soldiers, 1 cannot col
lect my thoughts to give you a detailed &C
count of the capture.
"All that I have to say is that Capt. Jo-
Seph Fry is wholly responsible for this
great disaster. One hundred and sixty
five passengers and crew are here, and the
American and English consuls have made
no effort, so I am informed, to protect their
countrymen.
Gen. B. Varena. McCospiels, Col do
Sol and 1, myself, die tomorrow. God
only knows what will become of the rest.
I presume that they will go clear.
George, pay Gibbs and yourself. take
your part of the property and turn the
other over to my brother, John G. Ryan of
Pine Bluff Ark.
IF Katy Is in trouble, for my sake old
friend. protect her. Say I requested it,
Tell Belle to forgive me. and give my love
to Jessie. Belle is a true lady, do not
neglect her. 1 have written to her.
II did not expect this fate when I left
you, but Gods will must be DONE You
know do not fear death: that word fear
1 do not know. will die as becomes a
soldier, and the thousands who will see
me die will admit 1t. My only regret is in
dying before my object was accomplished.
hope to see you in heaven. / die, as L
lived. loving my friends. Be kind to Mont
my dog, and the little bird
'"rell Henry Wilson. Dan W. VOORHEES,.
s. s. Cox, L. B. Corwin and others of this
letter. I dare not write what I should like.
$50 farewell. old friend. farewell. Till
death the same,
ITO Gen'l- Geo. W. Cook, Washington.
d. c., U. S. of America.
P. 81 send you your watch. Good
bye send my medal, ring, bullet and the
shirt I am shot in to my brother-fareweI.
Also my trunks and keys. Keep the field
glasses yourself. ''WHACK.
Burn all letters in lady's Handwriting
do not read any. 'WHACK
.Send Miss Gerhard a lock of my hair
also send some to my brother. Give Belle
some. "WHACK"
The Latest and the Last.
$50 am.
ITO Gen'l Cook
"P. S.-George, this is my last request
the last words I pen-and 1 do it hand
cuffed, ready to be taken out For my sake
protect Birdy. IL she is in trouble. Do this
and God will bless you for it. The death
mass was a solemn and imposing one and
now fully realize my fate. will die game
and happy. One of my principal regrets is
fYrfo md tr,,lxr
friend. Goodbye. old boy.
Truly your friend to the DEATH
'WHACK."
Cuban and Spanish papers Of the day all
attest how he met his fate. This extract
from one Is the tone of all:
Ryan died like man and hero, un-
finching to the last. There was dash and
chfvalry about the man that peculiarly
qual4a.ed him. for the precarious mission In
which he had embarked, while 1t com
mands the admiration, IL not the sympathy,
of the whole world
Besides the medal, ring. bullet, ETC., trans
mftted to Gen. Cook with the rest Of his