Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-11-15
FIFTY SEVEN MORE VICTIMS.
WHAT WILL CUR GOVERNMENT DO ABOUT IT
THE CABINET MEETING YESTERDAY.

THE CABINET MEETING YESTERDAY.
Preparations for Protection Of American Interests
The Excited Feeling Throughout the Country
The gravity of the situation with regard t.
| the NIrgnius affair deepens by the telegraph
announcement that but eighteen souls OF all
those taken on the captured steamer had been
saved. There were one hundred and siNty-iiyr
persons on board the Virginius, and it is pain
full TO contemplate that one hundred and forty
seven of them have fallen victims to the merc
| less authority of the armed mob who govern
Cuba.
FIFTY-sEvEN MORE VICTIMS.
The DIdTiO, Of CieDfuegos, says that fifty-seven
| on the 10th inst. No particulars of these al
ditional executions have yet been made public
| in Havana.
ONLY EIGHTEEN SAVED.
| Havana dispatch saws: The trials of all the
prisoners taken on the Nirgnius have been
| concluded. Only eighteen will be saved from
| men, who were ignorant of the destination OF
| the expedition, and four or five Will be set al
| liberty. The rest of the eighteen will probably
be condemned TO the chain gang.
MADRID JOURNAL ON THE BUTCHERT.
The impartial has long article on the exc
| cution at Santiago. IL endesvors TO show that
it is not possible Tor the United States govern
ment to make any demand on Spain in cOnse
Quence of these proceedings. 1t argues that a
great majority of the American people want .
| see the Spanish republic united and successful
| President Grant and his advisers know this.
and are not likely to imperil the hopes of re-
| publcanism in Spain by preeipitating a com
| plcation abroad when internal troubles deman1
| all her strength.
BALTIMORE CuRASs SHOT.
The following list, numbering fourteen in ali
| comprises the names of the Cubans of Balti
more who we're on board the Virginius when
she was captured, and who were executed, a
announced by telegram Capt Oscar Narona,
| Capt. Pastor Burgos, AnesdOr Saco, Manuei
Silveira, Andres Blanco, Jose Alarcon, \. Ra
mires, s. Esteban, Felix Moreion, Angel Ca
sillo, Il. Cambrera, Victor Soto, L. Socarras
Antonio Ramos and Juan Ortez, (cOlored.) Tn
above named came to Baltimore on the tilli
buster Edgar Stewart, and afterwards rern-
listed in the Cuban cause on the NIrginius.
BLOODY ENGAGEMENT REPORTED.
The Spanish Brigader General BasconeS
reports that he encountered strong force OF
insurgents az Sacra. in the central department.
on the ith instant. The lighting began at T.
defeated and routed, flying in all directions
Over 100 were killed, ana a large number
wounded. The Spanish troops lost 81 killed.
Important Action at the Cabinet Meet
Ing Yesterday.
The session of the cabinet yesterday continued
over two hours, and was the most important
which has taken place under President Grant :
administration. The capture of the Virginigs,
and the shocking barbarities perpetrste by the
Spanish authorities at Santiago de Cuba formed
the subject of serious consideration, and def
mite action towards maintaining the dignity o;
the United states in the existing comp ucatfons
was taken.
1t is stated that the government will demand
Of Spain the immediate arrest and punishment
of the parties mainly instrumental In conduct
irg the outrages OF which the government s.
seriously complains; and ii the CASTELAR, govern
meDt shall be unable to give the required salts
faction, this government will proceed 10 eN
TT me measures necessary to obtain it,
Though no cabinet officer admits directly thai
tbs is one of the conclusions arrived at durins
the deliberations, still upon its being presented
there is no positive denial The fact is that
owing to the determination adopted in the cab,
met session not TO make known for the present
any portion of the important proceedings, il is
more than ordinarily difficult TO obtain even the
slightest intimation from any one of the several
heads of departments, or from the President,
except as mentioned above-the admission that
the decision will meet the heartiest approval OF
the American people.
There is reason to believe that one of the SUBJ
| jects accompanying the discussion of the situa-
| ton was that of the Spanish man. Of-war now
undergoing repairs at New York; and that it
was remarked in the course Of the consultation
that should that vessel by any possibility come
into the hands Of this government, its possession
would more than compensate for the loss of the
| Ehginius, so far as the comparative value Of
the ships are concerned.
THE PRESIDENTS POSITION.
| While the President cannot declare war he Is
| dett rmined 10 place the naval service OF the
country in such state of eff ciency that il NAV
1 be ready for immediate use should the present
| war cloud assume such dimensions as TO deter
mine Congress upon making formal DECLARE
ton. Should rupture occur between the two
governments, it viii be the policy Of the United
| STATES to land sufficient force of men on the
| island of Cuba, which can easily be done under
the protection OF our ron-clsds and other vessels
| Our Naval Preparations.
Secretary Robson Is well satisfied with the
neDt naval officers join with the Secretary in
| declaring 90 absolute fitness TO meet with thu
| American men-ofwar and iron clads readily
available, any emergency that may arise. S.
| far as ordnance l. concerned the navy is in a.,
/ efficient state, having on hand at the various
| navy yards most Of the ordnance which armed
| our vessels during the rebellion. 1t consists o;
| fifteen, eleven, and nlne-inch guns, weapons OF
| most formidable character.
TIRE NORTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON.
| The United States steam sloOp-ot-war Kan
| sas has already sailed direct to Santiago de
| Cuba. She carries three heavy guns, and j.
| considered one Of the best of the third rat
| vessels of the navy. The Mouongabela, which
| carries eleven guns, sailed from Newport o.
| Sunday last. to join the North Atlantic squad
| ron. The Ossipee, carrying eight guns, is nov
| at Newport, taking on board torpedoes, AMI
| will sail in few DAYS. The POwhatan is al
| Brook lyn, and will be ready for sea at a dav :
notice She carries seventeen guns. The Ju-
| necessary. The Worcester, of fifteen guns, the
| flagship of the North Atlantic squadron. is me-
taking on board provisions aud munitions OF
| war at Norfolk, and will sail for Havana
1 to-day. The Ticondercga, OF eleven guns
| is now on Der way from the Brazilian squadron
| to join the fleet in the West Indies. Orders were
| yesterday sent to the Boston nsvy-yard to have
| the Brooklyn, carrying twenty gus, fitted
| out as soon as possible. The Tennessee, carry
4 ing twenty three guns, now at New York, it Is
| reported, can be gotready for sea in three weeks
The CaDandaigua, Of ten guns, now at Phila-
| delphia, needs but few days work 10 DIT her
| for sea. The Colorado, Franklin and Minneso-
| Ia could be lifted out at New York in three
weeks. They are the largest vessels Of the navy.
/ The Colorado and Minnesota each carry forty
| five guns, and the Franklin thirty nine. OF the
iron -ciads, the Saugus Is now at Key West, in
| perfect condition. The Manhattan and Maho-
/ pac both 60 into commission Monday next
The Ajax, at Philadelphia, win be ready in ten
i days. and there are three other monitors that
| can be ready to sail in four weeks. DISPATCHES
| were sent 10 the conmandants Of every navy
| yard yesterday to ascertain just what fore,
| would be necessary to fit ont every vessel now
| in ordinary, and what was the shortest time In
| which II could he done. Large quantities of
| coal have been ordered to Key West and pre-
| cautionsry steps taken to have everything In
| readiness in the event of the government being
| Obliged to act promptly and firmly All the
av aiisbie vessels it Is understood will be order
| ed TO rendezvous At Havana, and general sur
| VIGILANCE Of the Cuban coast will be ut once
| begun. To this extent the Secretary Of the
| Navy Is ready to meet the question Of protect
l ing American interests n Cutn