New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-12-09
THE SANTIAGO SLAUGHTER.
Another Acc0unt-A Horrible SceDe-HOw
a British Oficer BrOugh. Burriel to

| Reason.
New York Telegram December y in ChIcag
Times.I
The Morning Star, from Santiago de Cuba
arrived here this morning. The Mornin!
Star was in port at Santiago when the Vir
ginius was brought there, and during III,
week of executions. The second mate
Coffin, gives a graphic description OF til.
scenes of that memorable period, and Incl
dents, many Of which are new. Mr.. CotfiI
is an intelligent and respectfully connected
young American. His narrative is corrobo
rated in every detail by the other officers Of
the Morning Star. He says that the Nir
ginius was conveyed in by the Tornado and
another Spanish man of-war on the evening
of the first ultimo. 1t is not true that the
| inhabitants of Santiago were wild with JOY
On the contrary, they were excessively
quiet, and no demonstration whatever was
| made.
| The American flag. which had been borne
at the masthead of the captured vessel lay
conspicuously upon her quarter deck to be
rrampled upen by her captor's crew, and
was not removed until the next evening.
| On Sunday afternoon the prisoners were
landed by the Tornado's boats. All, with
the exception of Ryan. Narona Del Sol and
| Cespedes, had their elbows piniOned behind
and their hands handcutfed in front. This
treatment of the four latter seemed to be a
sort of respect to their supposed leadership.
| After they had all been drawn up upon the
| wharf they were marched in the centre OF a
strong guard to the prison. At quarter
| to seven on Tuesday morning Ryan, EaroDa,
| Del Sol and Cespedes were conducted
| to the slaughterhOuse, walk Of about ten
| minutes. Ryan wore blue shirt over his
white shirt, with a silver star on his breast
| and trudged gaily along as if going 20 his
| wedding. He smoked cigar the entire
| route. md did not throw il away until the
moment came for the firing. a priest ad-
vanced to his side and offered the consOla
ton of religion, but Ryan waved him Off
Even the Spanish officers were loud in their
admiration of the GOODNESS and indifference
with which he met his death. The Aneri-
can consul having attempted A protest,
General Burriel placed a double row of
sentinels around the consulate, thus keep
ing our representative virtual prisoner
until after the butcheries. At Jour o'clock
on Friday afternoon, Captain Fry and
thirty-slX OF his crew were shot. Mr.. Coffin
witnessed their execution from the wall of
the slaughterhouse.
The victims were ranged facing the wall,
and at sufficient distance from it 10 give
them room to tall forward. Captain Fry
having asked for glass Of water, one was
handed him by Charles Bel, the steward of
the Morning Star. Fry then walked from
lbC Gnu VI lluC W luc centre, ana cd4Ullt
awaited his fate. He was the only man
that dropped dead at the frs5 volley not
withstanding that the firing party were but
distance OF ten feet away. Then ensued
horrible scene. The Spanish butchers adj
vanced to where the wounded men Law
writing and moaning in agony, and placing
the muzzes of their guns in some instances
into the mouths of their victims, pulled the
triggers, shat:ering their heads into trag-
OtbarS nf Tho Il VII
the weapons thrust at them with a de-
spairing clutch, and shot after shot
was poured into their bodies before
death quoted them. p O. Sanderson. the
first mate of the 4IoInir Star, who was
standing on the bridge of his vessel when
the first vOlley was fired, SAYS that Tor
about ten minutes the firing reminded hun
of a fourth of July celebration. All the
bodies were tumbled into carts and taken
at once to the cemetery. Mr.. Coffin says
that this batch OF victims a. least. seemed
to have no notion of the fate that awaited
them. They walked along quite merrily,
singing, chatting, laughing and smoking.
as if on pleasure party. On the following
morning twelve Cubans We're led 10 the
slaughter and similar disgusting scenes
were re enacted. The moment the pTelim-
mary order was given the twelve turned
their heads as il in obedience 10
preconcerted agreement, and throwing
their hands aiOtt, shouted. 'Eive Cuba
libra This finished the executions. That
day the British war vessel Niobe arrived
Her commander, Lambton Lorraine, lett
Jamaica in such haste that several OF his
crew. who were ashore on leave. were
left behind. He hardly stopped to cast
anchor al Santiago before he fastened
ashore and protested agains: the kill
ing of any more OF the |irginlus
crew. General Burriel answered Lin
saucily in letter, which has already been
published here, saying that any executions
that had been ordered would be- proceeded
with. Commander Lorraine instantly ee-
turned reply TO the effect that in the alb.
sence of an American mau-of-war, be woul. |
protect not only the interests eff hls own
country, bnt those of the United States and
that il General Burriel harmed the hair 0t :
another prisoners head he would lombard ,
the city. 1t was generally believed az SAINT. !
iago that this action OF the British com.
saved the lives OF the Sese az the .
Fir2inius crew. Commander Lorraine atteS. !
ward obtained five copies Of the process 81.
cOndemning them 70 de.. he ewH I,
of which he intended to transmit to our |
COVE rnment and two others TO his own. Nro !
Coffin closed his narrative by the assertion |
that he would have been shot BY the Span. !
ish volunteers but that they believed him |
to be British subject. his vessel sailing !
under British colors. He says he IS asham
ed to be an American.
From the New York World, December g. :
We are under obligations TO Senior de ::
Comic, editor of the Cr0ilistU of this city. /
for advanced sheets contaiDing"a Spanish !
translation Of the letter sent 70 General :
Burriel by Captain Fl. 3. Cushing, com
manding United States war steamer Wy
Dming, and General Burrlels reply 70 the
Captain CushinS's note is
dated November l6 /
Captain Gushing informs General Burriel |
that he communicates with Lltn N conse-
Iuence OF the capture on the nigh seas Of
5he American merchantmen Eirginius. and
If the events following the capture. He in
orms Burriel that the Firginius left Kings
;on, Jamaica, for Port LirIo1, Costa Hica,
supplied with regular sailing papers and all
necessary documents certified 20 by the
American consulate at Kingston. After de-
ailing the circumstances OF the Illegal cap |
ure of the NirgiDius. he proceeds TO explain
% Burriel the rules of international law in
such cases. He protests against the use OF
be word pirate "a applied 70 the Viz
,inus, and informs him that, in iuterua-
ional law, pirate is what is known a.
public enemy and a vessel that flies the tlag
If no nation, and then pronounces the exc
,ution of the Nirginius prisoners an assase
nation. Ia the name of the United States
he protests against all that has happenedo !.
rot doubling that the United States viii
protect its honor. He also solemnly pro.
ests against the shooting Of any more pr;s-
'ners who may be citizens o. the taite:
States. which, be assures Hu.s;e.. S.sr Jed
o serious complications
General Burriel, in his Se.''o claims % Ne
My subaltern, and Informs Captain.
cushing that he has sent liz nD'e 20 'he
captain General at Havana Fg: himself.
he remarks. he protests mose energet,cs
gainst the qualifications o assassination as
gross insult, and libegtysf language in.
proper in an official noee, ana in ehe c'a.-