NEWS FROM CUBA—EXECUTION OF GENERAL LOPEZ.

Otago Witness, Issue 40, 21 February 1852, Page 4

NEWS FROM CUBA— EXECUTION OF GENERAL LOPEZ.

"We (" Wellington Independent") have been favoured with California papers up to October 3rd. From the " Daily Alta" we extract the following important intelligence from Cuba. By the latest dates from Panama we have intelligence that Lopez has been taken and garroted. a large number of Americans impxusoned, and the insurrection quelled. The history of the war up to the latest dates can be learned from the accounts below. We extract the following from the " Panama Echo" of September 10. The U.S. steamer " Vixen" arrived at Pensacola from Havana on the 20th ult. in four days, and bring intelligence of the struggle between the Spaniards and the Patriots. General Lopez has made a stand at Mariel, and has had two engagements with the Spanish troops, and was successful in both. They lost 300 men and 80 officers. The wounded and dead were carried to Havana, where the latter were buried with great military pomp. The force of Lopez is increasing with great rapidity, from 1200 to 1400 per day. There is a report also that one entire regiment has gone over to the Patriots. The public mind is shocked at the barbarities of the Spanish soldiers, and disgust is aroused in every Cuban breast by the revolting profanation of the dead bodies of the Americans who were massacred. Their remains were given up to the unbridled rabble, who, like vultures, divided the .inanimate bodies, and " dragged them around the streets, using the

most profane and savage language against the Americans. They were principally Spanish officers and soldiers, and Spanish rabble — not a Cuban took part with them, but looked on with horror.

The " Echo" of the 13th September is before us. By it we learn that General Lopez was garroted on Monday, the Ist instant! and that the revolutionary movement on' the island is suppressed for the present. The report of the number of Spanish troops slain in the second engagement, when General Enna was killed, was greatly exaggerated. The official accounts admit that there were two thousand killed and wounded, and that the number under the command of Lopez did not exceed three hundred. There are now in prison at Havana one hundred and fifty-five Americans — the balance of those composing the expedition have all been killed. Two only of the Americans have received an unconditional pardon; the rest are to be sent to Spain to work in the chain-gang for ten years.

In the " Panama Herald" of September 15th we find the following account of the execution of General Lopez and condition of affairs at Havana.

After the engagement, in which the Lopez party fought with great desperation, killing and wounding some four or five hundred of the Spanish troops, it was discovered that the Spanish forces became reinforced by a large number, and that it was impossible to contend against them in their weak and nearly prostrate condition. They had already suffered for want of food and rest, and their ammunition was becoming nearly exhausted. More than half of their number had already been killed, and the remainder were suffering dreadfully for the reasons we have named. Seeing this state of things, General Lopez advanced to the head and addresssed his brave followers. He told them that there remained no chance to escape. They could no longer contend with the unequal force sent against them, and if they were taken without a voluntary surrender, they would all suffer instant death.

" Therefore, my brave comrades," said he, "go to the enemy and surrender — your lives may then be spared — go ! leave me to perish at their hands, for I know that my fate is scaled — it is certain death !"

Obeying their commander, they called for a parley, which being granted, they marched out in a body and laid down their arms. General Lopez made his escape into the woods. The Spaniards immediately set some blood-hounds on his track, but he succeeded in avoiding them for a considerable time. At length, however, he found there was no hope of escape, and rushing to a steep precipice, he plunged headlong over it, unquestionably with a determination to kill himself. In this fall his thigh was was broken in two places ! Thus mangled and bleeding, he lay on the ground until he had partially recovered, when he crawled out to a shantee, or peasant's hut, where he asked for a glass of water. He was then taken by the peasant to whose hut he had crawled and conveyed to Havana.

He walked up to the scaffold with a firm step, and addressed the multitude (who numbered 20,000 troops) with a remarkably loud and clear voice. He said that he had been actuated by the purest motives in all his endeavours to free the island from its thraldom — that he regretted no step he had taken — that he forgave his enemies, and hoped that they would forgive him, and that he died a Christian. He then bade farewell to his beloved Cuba, and adjusted tbe garoteto his neck himself. There were muttered execrations among the Americans present, but none dared to express any sympathy openly.

The Americans at Havana all concur in censuring Mr. Owen, the American Consul at Havana, for his non-interference when Colonel Crittenden and his men were shot. Although he could have done nothing officially, yet he failed in his duty to humanity in not visiting them, and attending to their last requests, Americans in Havana are treated with civility by every one, though the lower orders grossly insulted passengers ftom the American steamships on shore on the receipt of the news of the riot at New Orleans.

Over one thousand Creoles are imprisoned in various parts of the island, arrested upon suspicion of having extended aid to Lopez — several of them men of wealth and influence. It is supposed that they will be dealt with leniently, as the Gbvernment dare not proceed to extremities with them. A band of Creoles is still secreted in the mountain fastnesses near Puerto Principe, whence they occasionally de. scend and commit depredations upon Spaniards residing in the vicinity. A .reinforcement of troops is expected from Spain, to be concentrated at the latter place, where the disaffected i feeling is the strongest. The Creoles generally sympathised with the late revolutionary move-

ment, but they dare not now avow their sentiments openly — with the certainty of bfeing garroted if they attempt to send money or munitions of war to the United States. It is thought by the Americans at Havana that the day is not far distant when the island will be relieved from the present arbitray and despotic government.