3-053-619 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

General Washington Ryan, the Cuban Insurgent Leader, 1873. Engraving from a photograph by Mr. Brady, of New York. 'The execution at Santiago, in Cuba, of the American and British citizens captured on board the blockade-running steamer Virginius, while attempting to convey arms and warlike stores from Jamaica for the Cuban insurgents against the Spanish Government, has nearly provoked war between Spain and the United States. The Virginius was cut off by two Spanish frigates on Oct. 30, and surrendered without resistance...Among [the prisoners] were Generals Varona, Del Sol, Cespedes, and Ryan...On Nov. 5 the four Generals were taken out and shot in front of the slaughter house - Cespedes and Del Sol first, then Ryan and Varona; the two latter, refusing to kneel, were rather roughly handled, but were presently dispatched...Washington Ryan was an Irish-American, who had been engaged in the Cuban service since the breaking out of the rebellion. He had much to do with the fitting out of gun-boats that were built for the Cubans in New York in 1869, and he was arrested when they were seized. He was again arrested in another vessel which attempted to sail from New York to Cuba; and he had in many ways made his name notorious as a Cuban agent'. From "Illustrated London News", 1873.