The contents of two or three wine and provision shops (pulperias) that were plundered kept the “enthusiasm” alive.

The next day the Republic of Boriquen was proclaimed.  To give solemnity to the occasion, the curate was forced to hold a thanksgiving service and sing a Te Deum, after which the Provisional Government was installed.  Francisco Ramirez, a small landholder, was the president.  The justice of the peace was made secretary of government, his clerk became secretary of finance, another clerk was made secretary of justice, and the lessee of a cockpit secretary of state.  The “alcaldia” was the executive’s palace, and the queen’s portrait, which hung in the room, was replaced by a white flag with the inscription:  “Long live free Puerto Rico!  Liberty or Death! 1868.”

The declaration of independence came next.  All Spaniards were ordered to leave the island with their families within three days, failing which they would be considered as citizens of the new-born republic and obliged to take arms in its defense; in case of refusal they would be treated as traitors.

The next important step was to form a plan of campaign.  It was agreed to divide “the army” in two columns and march them the following day on the towns of Pepino and Camuy; but when morning came it appeared that the night air had cooled the enthusiasm of more than half the number of “liberators,” and that, considering discretion the better part of valor, they had returned to their homes.

However, there were about three hundred men left, and with these the “commander-in-chief” marched upon Pepino.  When the inhabitants became aware of the approach of their liberators they ran to shut themselves up in their houses.  The column made a short halt at a “pulperia” in the outskirts of the town, to take some “refreshment,” and then boldly penetrated to the plaza, where it was met by sixteen loyal militiamen.  A number of shots were exchanged.  One “libertador” was killed and two or three wounded, when suddenly some one cried:  “The soldiers are coming!” This was the signal for a general sauve qui peut, and soon Commander Rojas with a few of his “officers” were left alone.  It is said that he tried to rally his panic-stricken warriors, but they would not listen to him.  Then he returned to his plantation a sadder, but, presumably, a wiser man.[57]

As soon as the news of the disturbance reached San Juan, the Governor sent Lieutenant-Colonel Gamar in pursuit of the rebels, with orders to investigate the details of the movement and make a list of names of all those implicated.  Rosas and all his followers were taken prisoners without resistance.  Bruckman and a Venezuelan resisted and were shot down.

Here was an opportunity for the reactionists to visit on the heads of all the members of the reform party the offense of a few misguided jibaros, and they tried hard to persuade the governor to adopt severe measures against their enemies; but General Pavia was a just and a prudent man, and he placed the rebels at the disposition of the civil court.  They were imprisoned in Lares, Arecibo, and Aguadilla, and, while awaiting their trial, an epidemic, brought on by the unsanitary conditions of the prisons in which they were packed, speedily carried off seventy-nine of them.