Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 November 1886 — HOW BRAVE MEN DIE. [ARTICLE]

HOW BRAVE MEN DIE.

Story of the Execution of Leaders of the Expedition Against Honduras. [Now Orleans special.) The Times-Democrat publishes an account by an eye-witness of the exeention of Gen. E. Delgado, Lieut. Col. Indalecio Garcia, Commander Miguel Cortez, and Lieut. Gabriel Loyan, who were shot at Comayagua for leading au expedition against Honduras. Tho lour officers above uamed were lodged in a small prison at Comayagua when the news of their sentence reached them. Gen. Delgado’s wife was there to plead with a wife’s tears and a woman’s devotion for her husband’s life. It was the desire of President Bogran to spare Geu. Delgado’s life if possible, and any pretext would have been readily seized upon to give an opportunity of saving him and at the same tune vindicate the tribunal which had condemned him. The President sent a messenger to him to say that if he would promise never again to take up arms against Honduras he should receive a pardon. Tho soldier was too brave to accept even his life on these terms, and ho sent back word that he would'see Honduras in au oven more tropical climate than she now enjoyed before he would accept his pardon on suoh a pledge. When his answer was received, there was nothing loft but to prepare for the execution. In the countries south of this there are few preliminaries to such not uncommon events. A priest, a firing squad, and a coffin are soon obtained. On the morning of their execution the men were taken to a point near the church of Comayagua. Four coffins were placed near the wall and the four condemned men were led to them. They accepted their positions as easily and as gracefully as if they were in the boxes at the opera, and not a face was blanched, not a nerve quivered. Gen. Delgado asked and received permission to order the guard to fire, which he did, first requesting them uot to shoot him in the face but in the breast. There was no rattle, no spattering reports, but one sharp, stunning report. The four men for half a second remained in an upright position, as if still unhurt, and then rolled over limp and bloody, dead. The soldiers had complied with Gen. Delgado’s request, for three balls had penetrated his breast.