The New York herald., 1873-12-29

isted ana IL was determined 10 touch at Caymltes
where she was thoroughly overhauled. His object
in going to Port Limon was to seek employment
The Virgfnius, to his knowledge, carried coal, pro
visions and passengers. He did not see any arms
or ammunition on board th6yessel When she was
captured, the Spanish officer who boarded the YES.
Sci ordered the transfer OF all persons on board
to the steamer Tornado All hands were placed
in irons. Subsequently the irons were removed
and the prisoners were tied On the
Sunday morning after the capture those not be.
longing to the crew were sent ashore to the city
jail On the Sd OF November, Ryan, BemDetta,
Varona, Del Sol and Cespedes were placed In lone
cells, ana ON the following morning were taken
out and shot. on the 7th OF November 81 Of the
ships crew were conveyed from the Spanish gun.
boats in the harbor and, alter spending some time
in prison. were sent into the chapel prepare for
death. They remained there six hours and were
then marched to ta
THE SLAUGHTER H0UsEu
and shot. They were Captain Fry, Winiam Bal
lard James Flood J. y. Harris John N. Bosa, b. p.
Chambers, William Kose. Ignatio Ditenas, Antonio
Deloyo, Joseph Manuel Lerrau, Ramon Larramendl,
Eusebio Gariza, Edward Day. James Truio, Jack
Williamson, Porhrio Corrison, p. Alaro Tom Grgg,
Frank Good, Paul Kraemer, Barney Herald,
James Samuel, Henry Frank James Reid, Samuel
George Thomas, f. Dursha E. Walker Williams
Simon Brown Leopold la Rosa, A. Aicy, John
Stewart, Henry Bond and George Thompson The
day following he (Gratz) was taken up to room
In the prison court before three Spanish officers,
one OF whom acted as interpreter, and was
charged with being connected with the Cuban In
surgents. He denied the accusations. lmmedi-
ately succeeding his trial twelve OF the prisoners
were sent to the chapel to make final preparations,
and were then marched to the slaughter house and
executed Their names were Augustin Varona,
Oscar yarona, ]. Conseguera, Herminius Quesada,
Francisco Porrespita, Jose Boitel Salvador PAN
edo william Walls, jose Otero, Henry
Castillana, A. Mola and Augustin Santa
Rosa The day on which Ryan, Ces-
pedes, Del Sol and Bembetta (yarona) were
taken out to be shot one OF the prisoners IN cell
became deranged, and when the ships crew lett
the jail another man, named Sydney Atcheson
completely lost his mind. The shooting could be
heard great distance on While in prison the
jailer used his club freely, especially on the Eng
iish subjects. On the trial the Spanish officials
used every means in their power, both by
BRIBERY AND THREATS,
60 induce the prisoners to admit that there were
arms ana ammunition on board the virginius prior
to the capture. Samuel Hall was offered 5000 and
his liberty If he would make such statement but
he, as well as others, affirmed that there were no
munitions OF war on board. The treatment while
In prison was horrible. The men were not Afforded
any facilities for washing themselves tor days to-
gether. Gratz further states that he was
twice sent to the dark cell under SEN
tence Of death under the supposition
that the officials would induce him to
Criminate the Others. At length, however, some
OF the prisoners became intimidated ana, under
promise Of liberty related the supposed objects
the prisoners had In view, and alleged that the
vessel carried arms and ammunition. He was sew
eral times informed that he was to be executed
After many entreaties ne was sent to the hospital
and on the 18th inst, was, with all the others, re-
moved to the Morro Castle. On the night Of the
nth, that preceding the morning Of the surrender
of the prisoners to Commander Braine Of the
Juniata, they were all informed that they were to
be executed at daybreak. Gratz added that on the
morning OF the eth Of November trenches for the
reception OF thirty bodies dug, but that owing
to the arrival OF the man-of-war Niobe the execu-
tions did not take place. He changed his name
out OF anxiety for his friends. He was formerly
the morning Of the Sth the charitable societies,
headed by the Clergy Of the city, proceeded to the
Governor and implored him, in the name OF
Heaven, not to shed any more blood
= ANOTHER VERSION.
In the course OF conversation with Henry Ca
nales who confirmed all said about the ship, some
fresh and interesting facts were developed in con-
nection with the trials OF the prisoners captured
on the now famous steamer. / give the facts as
related to me. He said he had been a clerk in
New York, and resided at No. 224 Second avenue.
He, too, lett on the Sd OF October in the steamer
Atlas, for Kingston, JAM, and, arriving there,
embarked on the virginius for Port Limon. The
vessel, he said, was in very bad condition, and
she touched at several ports in Hayti for repairs
Prior to the capture of the vrginius the Tornado
fred five shots at her, none OF which hit the mark.
The ships crew were detained on the gunboat in
the harbor OF santiago, while those claim
ing to be passengers were taken ashore to
the Jail. He was tried at three O'Clock in
the morning-each person being brought singy be-
fore the Court. He denied all connection with any
expedition on behalf OF the Cuban patriots, though
he believed information had been furnished the
authorities which led them to suspect him. He
told them he was simply passenger on board the
steamer. "Well," continued Canales, 'they then
offered me my liberty II would say that saw
arms and ammunition on board. told them that
might tell stories. but would not do so at the risk
OF other peoples lives. was then asked whether
i had paid my passage, and told them paid f3
also that the reason had left Cuba for New York
was to better my condition and learn the language.
In reply to the question as to what was going to
Go in Port Lmon, l told them l was going
there to work" 'Everything,n said one OF
the Spanish officers In rage, "that you
now tell us is lie and you viii be shot tomorrow
morning. Remember, you have yet little time II
you want to save yourselfn Ireplied that l had
told him the truth and that could not tell lie.
He then asked me If there was any person VINO
could identify me, and told him Ricardo Trujillo
could do so. which he did. was twice recalled to
the Court, where
PROMISES fOF LIBERTY
were made to me II Iconsented to state that there
were arms and ammunition ON board, but declined
TO DO 80 and was sent to the dark CELL At four O'Clock
on the morning Of the sd Of December our arms
were bound and we were marched at quick pace
from the City Jail to the MORO Castle, distance
OF six miles. We were, in ALL 81 men and boys,