Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-12-20
SURRENDER or THE TJRGIN7Cs.


Spaniards. The formal surrendey was made
to the commander Of the Uni,ed States de-
spatch boat Despatch by the conmander OIL
the Spanish steamer Favor.ta, on Tuesday the
10th. The account in the Tribune says "A
Tuesday was albright day. The mist which,
on the previous day, had hung about the coast
and obscured the Spanish vessel now lifted,
and brought to view beautiful landscape.
The only spectators of the scene about TO take
place were the men on the Despatch and La
Favorita. and some ragged and dirty Clbans
in fishing smacks, apparently intent upon hsh.
ing alone At half past eight the gig came over
from La Favorta 10 the Virginius, contain
ing the oarsmen and single officer. As the
latter stepped on deck petty officer and half
y dozen men, vino had stood watch on the
Yirginius during the night, went over the side
and remaued in a dingy awaiting orders
Punctually as the bells on the Despatch struck
Tor 97o'clock, and before the echo had died
away, tie American flag flew to the Flagstaff
OF the Virginius, and at the same moment
boat containing Capt. Whiting and Lieut.. Ma
rix put away from the Despatch. AS they
assembled the accommodation ladder OF the
Virginius, the single man on deck, who proved
to be Senior de la Camara, advanced and made
a courteous salute. The officers then read
their respective Instructions, and Capt. de la
Camara remarked that, in obedience to the
require ment Of his Government, he had the
honor to turn over the steamer Virginins TO
the American authorities. Capt. Whiting ac-
cepted. and ascertaining that receipt would
be acceptable, gave one. a word or two
more, ciyilly spoken. and the Spaniard stepped
over the side, signeled to his oarsmen, and
in ten minutes he was again upon the deck OF
his own vessel, having discharged with be-
coming dignity the unpleasant duty imposed
upon HIM by his Government.
IL appears that the Vlrginius was towed to
Havana BY tie Isabel la Catolica, the Com
mander OF which retired Immediately, and left
the surrender to be made by La Fayorta,
which had been in the vicinity of Bahia Hon
da for several months, engaged in survey ing
duty. The notorious steamer being once IN
American hands, no time was lost in putting
her in order for sea Assistant Engineer Lam
din of the prize crew and Chief Engineer Har-
ris Of tn. Despatch first made an engineering
survey, and in twenty minutes reported the
engines very dirty, but otherwise in order.
In wonderfuliy short time thereafter fires
were lighted and the vessel reported ready tor
sea- The Virginius proved to be in most
| filthy condition, and was stripped of almost
everything movable, save a few vermin which
| haunted the mattresses and cushions in the
cabin, and half-a.dozen casks of water. The
| decks were caktd with dirt and nuisances re-
| Gently committed, combined with mould and
| decomposition, which caused foul stencil in
| the forecastle and below the matches. In the
cabin the odor of casbolic acid gave evidence
that a faint attempt had been made to make
| that part of the vessel more inhabitable. Our
| officers were reluctant to put the men into the
| forecaste, and slowed them away into hardly
more agreeable quarters, afforded by the state
rooms of Ryan and his butchered companions.
The search for trophies was partly reward
| ed by the discovery of bayonet, drill, and
chart. The latter a chart of the Wind
ward passages in the neighborhood of Cuba,
| Jamaica. and Hsyti, with annotations and
| marks of a course which must have been that
| of the Virginius, before or during the MEM
orable chase. This trophy was carefully pre-
served on the bare possibility that it may be
of use hereafter. At the stern were two very
small brass swivels hung on pivots. and on
| each of them the name of the Virginus was
stamped. The ship was leaking considerably
and the Spanish Captain stated that he had
kept the pumps going continually since her
| arrival in order to keep the water down. Bar
ring the filthy condition of the vessel, she was
much better than expected, aud some Of the
! men seemed much relieved to fluid 10 Internal
machine to blow them into eternity on going
aboard. At about 9 clock the Vrginius
steamed about 200 yards, all going well, when
the engines suddenly refused to do duty, and
! it became necessary for the Despatch to take
her in tow. The two vessels went out of the
harbor brskly, the Spanish flag being dis
played by the fort as they passed. that anti
| quated apology for a fertilization. In an hour
we were at sea. At o'clock an American
war vessel was observed, and the fine navy.
tug Fortune, Lieutenant-C Commander F. NJ
| Green commanding, soon came up and re-
I 4 4. IL 49,
| the mean time prize officers Mark, Calhoun,
and Lamdin were unremittng In their labors
on the Virginius, and at | o'clock she was
again under steam. %H =
At about s o'clock on Wednesday morning,
4 consultation was held, and, under orders of
/ Capt. Whiting, the Despatch ceased to draw
the Virginius, and the two steamed together
! toward Tortugas. while the Fortune went to
report TO Admiral Scott at key West, arriving
! here at o'clock in the afternoon. The For.
tune has been recently fitted out with the
view to the service OF the photographic Bu-
rcau in the West Indies. Like the Despatch,
! she is admirably officered and well fitted for
service as dispatch boat in time of war.
She arrived al Key West with dispatches from
/ Washington on Monday, and left Oh the next
! morning with orders TO intercept the Despatch
! and Nirgnius, and return with advices for
! the Admiral. The separation OF the Virgnius
and Despatch from the Fortune took place
thirty miles S. S. f. of Dry Tortugas. AT
| the separation the Virgnius steamed away
beautifully, the Despatch having a start Of
several hundred yards. Both steamers ar
rived at Tortugas about four hours later.
There they found the U. S. sloop- t-war
Ossipee and a coal schooner awaiting their
arrival
Provisions will be transferred from the
Osspee to the Virginius, aud whatever coal
may be needed will be supplied by the scho M
er; but it will he remembered, according to
the Spanish commander, the Vir4inius has
already coal enough for seven days. When
supplied with provisions and coal the Virgin
ius will probably be sent to northern port
Washington and Norfolk are mentioned
among the prize officers Much to the dis
appointment Of some of the officers, tile Fed
eral Courts are now anxlonsly looking out
for her arrival and immediate seizure. She
will not enter The harbor of Key West at all,
express orders TO that effect having been re-
ceived from Washington.