The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-05-23
The Case Of the steamer virginiu,.

~ S'S W 'he S'eamer tlTglnluSs
New YoRK, May ga special from
Washington gives the official report TO
the Navy Departmental Lieutenant Com.
mander White, OF the United States
steamer Kansas, In relation to the depar.
ture OF the steamer Virginius from the
harbor Of Asplnwall, and the means taken
by his vessel to enforce respect for the
flag under which the Virginius sailed.
The following are extracts: Tho Ameri.
can Consul having informed me that there
was no cause whatever for the detention
Of the Virginius, and that he had shipped
her crew that. day, and that her papers
would be all ready at an. early hour next
morning, the Goth inst, therefore came
on board ship, and as soon as night
set In cleared the ship for action
and loaded the battery. This l did
under the cover Of darkness, for the rea.
son that l thought 1t best to make no
demonstration which might lead the COM
mander Of the Pizarro TO believe prepare.
tions were being made with hostile in.
tent, for the reason that they were pre-
cautionary measures merely, and ] did
not desire to do anything which he might
construo as being hostile. During the
next morning Goth instant) preparations
for sea were clearly visible on board the
Virginlus. Her motions were closely fol.
lowed by the Pizarro, and both vessels
were getting up steam, and their boats
were hoisled. The large pivot gun OF the
Pizarro, mounted on the mortar deck,
was pointed on the Virginius, as well
as her, two starboard hroadside
guns. therefore sent the men quietly
TO their quarters making no display above
the rail; neither showing crew at the
ritled twenty FOUNDER or fore castle, nor
makinga display Of the marine guard on
poop deck; served out an ample supply OF
ammunition for small arms and pistols
and inspected carefully all the arrange.
ments for supplying powder and righting
the guns; made preparations for slipping
and buoying the cable. This being done
caused the men to leave their quarters;
their belts equipped to be deposited at the
guns ready for use at moments notice.
At five minutes to two P. NJ, the Virgin.
ius got under weigh, at the same moment
we slipped our chain and went to quar-
tiers and cast loose the battery and sanded
down the decks fore and at, when the
Pizerro Immediately took up q posi-.
tion on our port bow. We steamed ahead
to bring the Pizarro on our starboard
quarter, In this relative position the two
vessels proceeded to sea, Virginius being
about two cable lengths ahead, and Pi.
zarro three cable lengths of our star.
board quarter. The Kansas stayed by the
Virginius until the Plzarro was some five
miles astern, and then returned to the
harbOr. l cannot conclude this report
without expressing TO you with what
pride looked on the officers and men OF
this vessel as we sailed out OF
the harbor, and they stood on
the sanded deck, armed and equipped TO
attend their loaded guns. l could read
determination in the faces of alL Every
man would have done his duty should an
engagement have taken place. l leave it
to those who believe in Dahlgreen guns
and American men.of.warsmen, to conjec-
ture what would have been the result.
The following is the endorsement ofthe
Secretary OF the Navy:
The whole course OF the conduct in re.
lation 10 the Virginius, is approved in
every respect.
[Signed GEO. NJ. RoBEsoN, Stc,y.