The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-22
THE vIRalNluS SHOWS HER HEELS
The Pizarrc Shows Her Teeth, but
is Afraid to Bite.
Lieutenant Commander Whites
Gallantry.
TEE STARS AND STRIPES PROTECTED.

WASHINGTON, may II, lofZ.
Reference was made in these dispatches yester-
day of the cautious conduct of the commander of
the United States steamer Kansas in protecting the
steamship virginius ana in calmly bearing the in
! suit OF the commander of the Spanish man -ofwar
! PizarrO. At that time nothing had been heard
1 nom her commander, but to-day the official report
was received at the Navy Department, and, as viii
be seen the excuses made were not only uncalled
/ for but that the action OF Lieutenant Commander
! White in
/ GETTING READY FOR ACTION
SO aS TO he able to enter into an engagement with
the Spanish of-war, Pizarro at the first inti-
nation OF an insult to our flag, has received the
unqualified approval of the Secretary OF the Navy.
The following Is the report in full and the accom-
panying papers,
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER WHITES REPORT
UNITED STATES STEAMER KANSAS Thhd Rate)(
AsriNwALI, L. s. c., April u, 1872.
SIR have the honor to make the following
port i'm relation to the departure OF the steamer
Vileinius from this hafbor ana the means which
nag under which she sailed:-on the morning OF
the 2ath instant the mail steamer Rising star
from the Department OF State to the United states
| Consul, but informing him that man-of war had
vsa n to ne wo e v g ns the
arrival OF said vessel-oWar. But TINS he declined,
saying there was
NO CAUSE WHATEVER FOR HER DETENTION
ana that he had shipped her crew that day. ana
that her papers would be all ready at an early hour
the next morning. Goth inst. !. therefore, came on
board SHIP and as as night set III cleared
ship for action ana
LOADED THE BATTERY.
This did under of darkness for the reason that
thought 1t best to make no demonstration which
might lead the commander OF the Pizarro TO believe
the preparations were being made with hostile
intent, for the reason that they were precautionary
measures merely, and did not desire to do any
thing which he might COnstrue as mere blaVado.
During the next morning, 26th instant, prepare
tons or sea were clearly visible on board the Viz
fnl1,v thn
thcM hen; boats were hoisted. The large nae pivot of
the PiZarro, mounted on the mortar deck was
POINTED UPON THE yiRGiNiUs,
as we'll "a her two sarboard broadslde guns.
therefore sent the men quietly to quarters making
no display above the rail, neither showing crew
at the rned twenty FOUNDER or the lorecast'e nor
deck. Served on, an ample supply of ammunition
for small arms and pistols, and Inspected carefully
all arrangements for supplying powder and lighting
the guns; made preparations for slipping and buoy
ing the cable. This being done, caused the men
to leave their quarters; their belts equipped, TO be
READY FOR Use Al MOMENTS NOTICE.
At halfpast eleven the United States Consul
came board, handing me communication q
copy of which enclose marked "a" He brought
with him the papers of the Vrginus, her register,
original list shipping articles, certificates OF
discharge OF original crew, signed by consular
officers OF the United states; the discharge OF her
former captain, the appointment OF her present
captain, an American citizen. born in the city Of
New York; the shipping articles of her present
crew, said crew shipped by the united states Con-
sui at this port; her bill OF health and the papers
permitting her
TO CLEAR AS An AMERICAN VESSEL.
then asked Mr.. Perry, the Consul, whether the
manner OF clearing the Virginius differed IN any
respect from that which he was accustomed to pur-
sue in the clearance OF vessels concerning which
there was question. He informed me that he
had cleared her in the ordinary manner. Having
were correct, | sent Master f. A. Howes, in
whose presence had examined the papers,
on board the steamer Nirginlus, who, on
his return reported the papers IN the possession OF
her captain. then sent IA communication TO the
conmander OF ,ne rza,ro' enclose IN ,n copy
paper marked Az This communication, inform
ing him in regard to the papers of the virginius,
sent for the purpose OF letting him clearly under
stand the condition Of affairs, ana that
SHOULD HE THEN FIRE Uros THE AMERICAN FLAG,
he might the more fully appreciate the probable
action OF this ship and in order also, should he
carry ont the plsns indicated by the pointing Of
his guns and his movements in this port during the
last few weeks the responsibility might be the
more certainly ana strongly attached TO the COM
mander OF the piZarro and the nation he repre-
sents. Furthermore, being on amicable relations
4 with her commander, conceived II to be o matter
of courtesy to inform him myself regarding GER
tain Things, which would not permit nm 10 ascef-
tain by force.
At five minutes to two T. NJ,
THE VIRGINIus GOT UNDER WEIGH.
At the same moment we slipped our chain, went to
quarters and cast loose battery ana sanded
tely took up position on our port bow we
steamed ahead, so as to bring the PiZarro on our
starboard Quarter. III thiS telasive ~, position
I ginius being about two cables length ahead,
and the Pizarro three cables length OF our
starboard quarter The Virginus stood up the
coast about north-northeast, occasionally standing
more to the northward, thus gradually divorging
/ nom the coast until we were about four miles OF.
During the first tlree-quar OF an hour the Viz
glnus dropped us until we were rom half to
\ three fourths OF a mile astern. The pizarro we
dropped very rapidly, ana 1t soon became evident
y that the Niginlls was
MORE THAN MATCH roR HER
i'm Doint OF speed At $3.50, OF about an nom and a
haif after leaving port, the tirgEius slowed down.
aud as we Tapped her captain Bowen GOV her com
tensions whatever; that so far he had carried only
nine pounds Of steam, and that he Thought he
COULD LOOK OUT FOR HInsFLV
During this hour and half We had not logged
more than eight knots, ana the Plzarro about
three miles astern. continued In company with
the virginius for an hour longer, until hafpdst
four, at which time, as nearly as could Judge, the
Pizarro was about Ave miles astern. ] went about
and on my return passed close aboard the Pizarro,
50 closely that could recognize her commander
rIlE spANrARD's LABOR IN vAry.
She was pitching very much aud lrom The volume
OF dense smoke which was constantly emitted from
her two smoke pipes am of the opinion that her
fires being forced and that she making all
possible speed When abreast OF the PiZaIro |
looked at the Vrginus. She was completely huh
horizon. | reached our former anchorage
about hal-past SIX and picked up the cham
which had slipped. In returning to this port
without having conveyed the Nirpineies farther
was governed by these reasons .-in the FIRST place,
tile duty upon which this ship is ordered is OF such
a nature tnat were to absent myself for any con
siderable length of time from this coast / should
thereby seriously interfere with the plans OF the
department. In the second place. left her in what
| considered
A POSITION FREE FROM DANGER,
and because believe that under the circumstance
the Commander Of the Pzarro win not nioes, ner
without further Instructions nom ms goVeranenh.
In the third place, have Information that the
United States steamer wyoming II ordered ie h,
therefore permitting the Kansas 70 rcsunu "e'
duty In connection with the Nicaragua survey
WHAT THE sPASIARp LooEs LIKE. ,oo,,,or,
The Pezarro is paddle-whecI, ooonsa'II
built vessel, OF about, 81 ne enVo hostr
can Judge rom her outside ana a nas,y
glance on her deck when visiting her con-.
mander eight hundred tons, old measurement
Her captain volunteered the Information 10 me
- 1 lOO tons Spanish measurement.