Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-30
AMERICANS pLEADEDFOR LIFE
Details of Execution of Groce and
Cannon by zelsya.
GROCE BEGs AS BROTHER MASON
Men Are Notified OF Their Fate
only Night before They Are
shot-sympa:- acrA Are
TasthtrHed.

AtuCs
The facts were In the possession Of the
State department. at Washington a month
ago, and Il was5 generally supposed here
that the details Of tho tragedy had been
given publicity through official channels.
As 1t is. aGyantJSe has been taken Of the
opportunity Ia so.Gs instances to paint a
picture that Nd5 IuO,e interesting than
truthful. ,"'
The glory Of Captaln hnibal Chaves, who
refused 10 obey an .rd-r to take ommand
OF the firing squad, Is dlmued somewhat
by the light of known circumstances
Generals .Ioieco. 1iedlna and Irias had
implored Zeiaya 10 abandon his purpose Of
shooting the Americans.
Zelaya, however, could not be Influenced
and General Toledo finally ordered Captain
Chaves not, to assume. COMMAND Of the
squad, Chaves chose to obey Toledo rather
than the president, and. as a consequence.
was put in jail Tor Blk weeks. Upon his
release, Chayes made the most OF the
episode. fr
1t is also untrue that u meeting OF peace
commissioner appointed by Madriz and
Estrada had been arranged for Saturday.
Groce and Cannon were notified Of the
death sentence imposed upon them at 1890
o'clock on the night of November 10. They
we're executed at ~ o'clock the following
morning. AS they were marched out Of the
fortress a ugi4L.o OF rain fell.
GrOee r-e.,ua tor Life.
On the WY 10 L4e scene VI execution they
passed the Oge.t EIpves that had been pre-
pared for them. AZ one time Groce stepped
out OF the line OF march and pleaded with
General Medine; DO not shoot me-; l am
a brother Mason, he said.
Cnnnon ~ GaIyaI hla Loo, and
pulling him back into line said: Brace
up, Old inGH. We ituve no chance under
zelaya's g, oIuers,'
Standing al tne center Of tho square
formed BY lUU sJidieis .tAe two men heard
their sentence read from the four corners
together with me usual warning in such
cases:
ANY one displaying evidence OF sym
pathy will be shot In a similar fashion"
The hands OF the condemned men were
bound and their eyes bllndfolded. Cannon
shook his head attempting to prevent the
bandage being placed over his face, but
his protest was unavalllng. They were
seated on a low bench side by side. The
firing squad was made up of twelve
soldiers who advanced in three rows,
within six feet Of their victims. Captain
Saenz was in command and instructed two
soldiers at the right to fire upon Groce
and two soldiers at the left to fire upon
Cannon.
All four bullets were fired. Groce was
shot through the heart and death was in
Simultaneous. The bullets intended for Can
non tore the breast and abdomen. He
survived his wounds a few seconds When
the body OF Gro9e WIS buried a blanket
hid his features. but the body of Cannon
usaa htrla1 urith,.,t an,y rroNa,sI.u 1900.
Crel Leaves washington.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 29.-Governor Creel
OF Chihuahua, who came to Washington
some weeks age as, the personal repre-
sentative of President Diaz of Mexico,
today had a conference with Secretary
Knox. Crsels mission here was in the in
tsrest OF peace In Nicaragua and par
teularly to adjust as far as possible the
differences between the United States and
the Zelaya. administration No statement
has ever been made either by Governor
Creel or by the officials Of the State de-
partment as to the particular suggestions
made by President Diaz to accomplish this
end. However, there is reason TO believe
the United States has not changed its
policy in any particular with respect to the
Zelaya faction.
Governor Creel said he had called on
Secretary Knox merely to say goodbye. as
he expected to leave for New York within
the next day or two and then would pro-
coed to Mexico CITY,
UP to noon today the State department
had received no telegram from Nicaragua.
1t is assumed that General Estrada Is max
ing rapid preparations for the movement
of his army on Managua. That he will
have determined opposition is very prob
ahlS In yiANp .af the fact Nhak AIaA,t- a.. -.
ported to be organizing an army to meet
his advance.
Reyes Scores Estrada.
NEW ORLEANS, La, Dec. a.-Special
correspondence OF the Times-D Democrat
from Port Limon, Costa RIca, says:
General Juan Pablo Reyes, major general
in the revolutionary army Of Nicaragua.
who resigned his command and has taken
up his residence at Carriage. Costa Rica,
has sent the following telegram to his late
chief, General ESTRADA:
II have certain knowledge that you as
chief Of the revolutionary party have re
fused to accept the candidature OF the cere-
brated jurist and patriot. DIT. Madriz,
whose appointment would bring peace and
establish order in the republic and that
you are determined TO continue the war
which will ultimately be the ruin of the
country. AS LIDO not consider your action
patriotic 1 beg to resign my position as
major general IN your army.
(Signed) JUAN PABLO REYES"
1t was reported here that the revolutions
lists had set up as their candidate for the
presidency DR.. Don Adam Cardenas, who
is 70 years old and Of remarkable vigor.
ZeIAya stu Pr~esIdentF
CORDOBA. Mex, Dec. 2s.-Jose Santos
zelaya declared tonight that he is sim
president of Nicaragua. although he may
aever go back to that country to enjoy the
privileges Of the office, Madriz. he asserted.
5 only a provisional president and that he.
ielaya, has not relinquished the office.
Asked about the conditions imposed by
ne British government in reply to his re-
uest for asylum aboard the British
ruisCr. shearwater. zelaya admitted that
e was told he could board II only with the
understanding that he was to agree to
cave Nicaragua forever. These conditions
10 said, he declined to accept.
Mexico, on the other hand. he declared.
nad no reservations In granting him per
nissioa 20 board the Guerrero.
In a statement made 70 an Associated
Press representative on the train in which
he IL travelling to Mexico City. Zelaya said
he was sim the head OF the Nicaraguar