The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-08-31
TRIAL OF WIRZ.

A the opening of proceedings in the wrz court mar
tia yesterday the fact elected in response to in
Ques that the prisoner handcned at tho instance
OF his own counsel who had expressed apprehensions
chat owing to his distracted state Of mind, he might
commit suicide wirz, 1t appears, threatened his legal
defenders that II they deserted him he would never
again come into court Several additional witnesses
were examined yesterday, including both national
soldiers and men who had been in the rebel service,
thsr various narratives forming chapter of the most
horrible revelations Alexander W. Persons, who
lieutenant colonel in the rebel army and at
lime post commander at Andersonve, testified to the
provided filthy condition Of the prison pen and his
ports 10 have tho nuisance abated which he finally
compelled 10 abandon In accordance with orders from
Howell Cobb. The utmost capacity Of the prison, he
said for ten thousand men, whereas at times
thirty thousand packed together within it, The
effects Of this tnhuman crowding added 70 the other
crucltios and the starvation from insufficient and rotten
food, were testified to by the other witnesses Vast
numbers became the lingering prey Of foul
Diseases and from all the light of in.
tslloct faded, leaving thcm hopeless idiots.
II appeared from the evidence that the starva-
tlon OF the prsoness caused by deficiency In
houses there shown to be well filed. Numerous
instances adduccd personal brutality and cruelty
OF the most atrocous character on the part Of wirz
towards tho capvcs in his charge The court will not
be In Session to-day but will meet again tomorrow
wirz has issued appeal 10 his friends for contrbu
lions Of money 70 did him in conducting his defence
II UyR O H.
The steamship Africa, which arrived at Halifax yes
4srday, brought two days later news from Europe
Respecting the prospects Of the cable opinions vary.
Captain Anderson Of the Great Eastern who is perhaps
che most reliable authority considers that ten months
win DO required to provide tho necessary gear for
graphing the cable and repair the Great Eastern He
recommends that a cable DO constructed and laid
before any attempt Is made to recover the submerged
portion OF the old cable On tho other hand newspaper
critics believe that the attempt to pick up the wire vii
DO renewed October after the equnocta gales have
passed
Tho cholera had travelled far Marsecs and fears
wore entertained OF its spreading into England
Tho Suex Canal, the scheme which British engineers
have long pronounced impraccablc, opened for
trafic the nth inst and vessel laden with coal
passed from the Red Sea TO the Mediterranean.
United States nve-twenty bonds had advanced in the
london money market They quoted on the 10th at
~ esk British consols quoted at s9x soX.
THE ME w -.
Intorossina wcst India brought TO by the
ssoamshp Columbia which arrived here yesterday from
Havana on tho 2oh inst The republic Of st. Domingo,
even before has got rid Of Its Spanish invaders, has
again become involved in domestic difficulties Tho capi
ri and other principal have declared against Gene
raj Pmental who since January last has assumed to DO
q the heed Of governmental affairs and General Cabral
has boon chosen Protector Of the republic II charged
chat rmontal has been acting In complete defiance OF
law and consulting only his will Cabra has accepted
the ofnco imposed on him, formed gov.
srnmont, placed himself at the head Of body
Of troops TO pu, down his opponents issued procama
Zion, and written conciaiory letter to Pmcntal, in
which tho latter adjured sacrifice his ambitious pro
jects and submit To the will Of the people Nothing
later Is furnished by this arrival regarding the move
ments or intentions Of the spaniards in st. Domingo
Advices regarding tho progress Of the rebellion In the
republic OF Hay are 10 the ed instant, and are do
cdodiy favorable 70 the revolutonists who had taken
Fort g. Michael opposite the town OF Cape Haytien,
thus compelling a cessation o! the bombardmcn Of the
latter and the evacuation Of Petite Ansc by the forces Of
President Gerhard Atrocities by the rebels In Cape
Haytcn are reported and II said that white persons
were threatened with death IL they appeared the
streets
Tho Cubans have lately received fresh shocks Of Amer
can enterprise and electricity. Petroleum having been
discovered In the island, q company to proceed with
boring operations has been formed In Havana, and
secasIon 10 lay submarine cable nom the town Of Porto
Rioo 70 this country has also been organized The
rsbsl ram stonewall and the exrobel General Kirby
Smith still remain In Cuba--the former OF Havana and
che latter On the plantation Of friend near Maanzas
II h concluded that General Dulce the Captain General
viii nos BE- superseded for q. least some time yet
The Democratic STATE Convention Of New Jersey met
n luaisp ySaepdAy. I'd Wa largely attended sGen.