HEROISM OF A BRITISH CONSUL.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume IV, Issue 370, 29 March 1876, Page 3

HEROISM OF A BRITISH CONSUL.

The following interesting aud exciting narrative from Santa De Cuba ia extracted from the Jamaica Guardian : —

A poor unfortunate soatnan had been apprehended on a charge of being implicated in a filibustering expedition, and he was thrust into prison ami afterwards condemned-to bo shot, on evidence as unlikely and • improbable as anyone • could conceive. . He was an American,, theson of English parents, and

notwithstanding the most strenuous exertions on the purfc of the Pnglish and American Consuls, the Spanish authorities seemed determined to Baorifico this poor man's life. On the morning appointed for bis execution he was-marehed out to the usual placo, amidßt a great show of solemn solemnity. He was immediately followed by Mr Raonsden, British vice- consul, and the American vice-consul, to make a Btill further protest in the prisoner's favor.?. " Mr Ramsden read the document, protesting in the name of England and America, declaring that the prisoner was altogether innocent of the charge which had been laid against him, 'demanding his immediate release, and deolaring if the unfortunate man's life was taken, those who tookife would be guilty of murder, and be alike answerable to the Governments of England' ar.d the "Dmted States of America. During tho reading of this document, which was done with calmness and determination, the prisoner fainted from excitement, and there wore strong signs of impatience on the part of the Spanish troops, who manifested a thorough determination to force the authorities to take this man's life in spite of all remonstrance. " A consultation followed, and Mr Ramsden j and the American Consul were evidently in- | formed that their remonstrance came too late ; the prisoner had already been sentenced to death for having taken up urms against Spain | and that the sentence must be carried into effect. With this the order was given lo the firing party to 'present.' It was the work of | an instant, and Mr Consul Bamsden and the American Consul rushing with the flogs of their respective nations before the levelled rifles 1 of the Spanish troops, and in front of the unfortunate naan, Bhouted ' Hold !'- And, throwing the English flag around himself and the prisoner, and addressing the officer .in charge of the firing party, said : — ' Gentlemen, as a Consul of her Britannic 1 Majesty, I cannot stand silently by and see th ; s foul murder of an inooent man. It is my duty to protect his life, and if you take hie you must take it through these !' placing himeelf immediately in front of the condemned seaman, his eyes sparkling, while his manly form heaved with the indignation his speech hod so heroically expressed. The American Consul, wrapped in the ' stars and stripes ' of Ihe Union, stood abreist, and for some I moments the Spaniards stood aghast, the conduct of these two Consuls being more than they could comprehend- The emotion of the prisoner was extreme : he was supported right and left by the consuls, and the poor fellow shed a profusion of tears from weariness and excitement. A consultation was again held, and the prisoner marched back to the goal under an escort of troope, the Consuls supporting the unhappy man all the way along. The furore wa3 beyond description. After dark tho prisoner waa reprieved t and finally shipped off from the country through the indefatigable exertions of the Consuls.