The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-11-11
Steamer Virginius.

Steamer Virginius.
The capture of the Steamer Virgini-
us, a blockade runner to and from the
ports of Cuba is exciting some COM
mcnt. She was originally built by the
English and designed for Illicit trade.
She was captured and confiscated by
our government while attempting to
run the blockade of the southern ports
in the rebellion. She was then sold
and became nationaliZed Since then
frequently changing hands she has con-
tinued to sail under the register OBJ
tanned by the original purchaser at the
sale by the government, though having
several different owners all of them
aliens. So she has been officially rec
ognized at Curacao, Savanilla, Aspin-
wall as an American vessel, though in
all probability with only a superficial
examination of her papers 1t is well
known that her captain was a Dane
and the crew Columbian while her real
owner was Dutch merchant. 1t
would seem therefore that the Nirgini-
us could have no claim of protection
from the United States Government.
The question still remains, however,
Why has this vessel been protected in
foreign ports from the designs of Span
ish men of war during the last two
years, and conveyed to sea on the ground
that her papers rs an American steam
err were in perfect and legal order +:
What will be the legal effect of that
course upon our responsibility TO the
Spanish Government And if respon-
sible for her acts, what has she been
doing? 1t is admitted that she has twice
run the Spanish blockade of Cuba car
rying munitions of war and an armed
party of Cuban revolutionists. There
is no question as TO her liability to cap
ture during such an Illicit voyage, but
it is claimed that as soon as such liabil-
ity ceased on the completion of the
voyage no faint should attach to the
ship which would in any way justify
forcible seizure and detention by Span
ish cruisers. Under this superstition
the interference of the United States
has been invoked. Gen. Sickles ap-
piled to the Spanish government and
at his instance instructions were sent
from the home government to have the
executions deferred until the several
questions have been decided, though
report has it that four of the officers
had been condemned and shot before
these instructions reached Havana. The
capture occurred six miles off the coast
of Jamaica.
CuRIoslrIEs OF LuNAcY. There are
cases where blows on the head have bene.
fitted the brain, and produce extraordin.
ary changes for the better. Mabilion wa:
almost an idiot till, at the age OF twenty
six, he fell down stone staircase. trac
turcd his skull, and was trepanned. From
that moment he became genius. Doc
tor Pritchard mentions case OF three
brothers who we're all nearly idiots One
of them was injured on the head, ant
from that time he Frightened up, and Ii
now a successful barristcr. Wallenstine
too, they say, was mere fool till he fel
out OF a window, and awoke with enlarg
cd capabilities. A patient in an insane
asylum was the victim of many delusions
He was paying off the national debt, 60
ing into partnership with Baron Roths
child, and forming lodge OF female Free
masons. One day, an epileptic patient
irritated at being perpetually asked to bu.
imaginary shares, gave him tremendou
blow on the bridge Of the nose. From
that time he improved rapidly, and he &C
knowledged that the blow had a SOLDERING
effect aud had quite knocked the non
sense out Of him. There is no doubt tina
this was the secret OF that cruel old rem
edy for madness, the circulating swing
mentioned favoraDly by physicians of tn
last century. This horrible swing was
small box fixed upon pivot, and worke
by a windlass. The "infexibe" maniac
or the maniac expecting paroxysm, wa
firmly strapped to a sitting or recumben
posture. The box was then whirle
round at the average velocity of hun
bred revolutions minute, and its bene
fetal effect was supposed to be brightene
by reversing the motion every six @
eight minutes, and by stopping it occa
sionallv with a sudden jerk, The result
of THE swing (which occasionally brough
on conclusion of the brain) were profoun
and protracted sleep, intense perspiratio
mental exhaustion, and not an unnatul
al horror of any recurrence to the sam
remedy, which left moral impressic
that acted as permanent restraint. Thu
the results were often beneficial we ha,
indisputable evidence.
TIE --LATEST "AMERIcAN ABROAD.
1. III .