The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1873-11-21
THE VIRGINIUS.

OF the steamer V1rginiUs, from which 1t
appears that on October 13 the Spanish
consul at Kingston advised the governor
at Santiago de Cuba that the Virginius
was in the vicinity of Morrant bay. The
Spanish war steamer Tornado had that
morning arrived at Santiago de Cuba,
and four hours after the governor re-
went in search of her. The following
day the Tornado, under full sail and but
little steam, as some slight repairs were
being made to her machinery, came in
sight of the Virginius, which probably
supposed the Tornado to be sailing
vessel, as her course was not changed.
On the Tornado every effort was made
to hasten the repairs they were engaged
in and at two o'clock the chief engineer
pronounced them complete. All the
steam possible was Immediately got up
and the vessel headed for the Virginius,
soon reaching a speed of fOurteen-knots
and slowly gaining upon her. The Vir-
giniUs had in the meantime kept on her
course, but divining the hostile inten-
tions of the Tornado, changed it toward
Jamaica, and being out of coal COM
menced to burn petroleum, grease, fat
and other combustibles from the provi-
sions on board, such as hams, etc.
Night closed In and the vessels were in
the same relative positions, the Tornado
however gaining. As soon as they got
within gunshot the Tornado fired a
gun, followed by three other shots and
shell. This brought the Virginius to,
and two armed boats from the Tornado
came alongside, took possession of the
vessel and made prisoners of all on
board
At the time of capture the Virginius
was flying the American flag, but this
was pulled down by the Spanish officers,
and the Spanish ensign hoisted in its
place, although the papers Of the vessel,
duly dispatched for Gallon, were handed
to him. After capture, the next two
hours were employed in transferring
some of the prisoners to the Tornado,
and putting d prize crew on the Virgin
ius. At midnight the two vessels
started for Santiago de Cuba, and ar
rived the following day at five in the
afternoon, having been joined by the
Spanish steamer CantabrO.
Upon arrival in the port the intelIi-
gence spread like lightning, and at
tracted large crowd of people. The
government palace and other public
buildings were illuminated, and all the
authorities, civil and military, went to
felicitate the governor, Burriel, upon
the news, who in the evening gave a
brilliant reception. The vessels were
surrounded in the bay by a number of
boats filled with bands of music and
cheering volunteers. The festivities
were kept up late into the night.
The following day the second court
martial was held on board of the lorna
do, which commenced at nine and ter
minated at four. All were tried as
pirates, and the findings of the court
and the sentences were sent to the cap
tain-generaI and admiral in sealed pack
cts. After the court had concluded It's
task, all the prisoners, with the excep-
ton of Benbeta, Jesus DeSala, Gen.
RYAN, and Pedro Cespedes, were trans
ferred to the jail of the city, escorted by
a force of one hundred volunteers and a
number of marines.
Gov BurrieI, it is said, coolly asked
that all the prisoners should be turned
over to him, with the exception of the
captain ard crew, who should be sent
10 Havana at the disposal of command
ants Gen. DeMarinals, and declared
that within twenty-four hours afterwards
all should be tried and executed in or,
der to avoid any complication with
exterior, that is foreign Intervention
He also detained a telegram which the
! United States consul decided to forward
| to the United States consulate at Kings
ton, reporting the capture, and inquir
ing as to the nationality of the Virgin
/ ius.
The Virginius had her papers in order
and was dispatched for Gallon, all the
passengers appearing On the papers al
/ Iaborers for the railroad building there
All accounts differ as to the position o.
the Virginius at the time of capture
One gives the capture as having beer
effected at twenty miles from Jamaica
and the official account states twelve
miles. The Diario states twenty-five,
miles. The journals of Santiago q,
Cuba say eight miles and twenty miles
and the version of the Vose de Cztbt
twelve miles. The commander of tn,
Tornado publicly stated in Santiago d.
Cuba, that in an hour later the Virgin
ius could have saved herself by enter
ing some port of Jamaica.
It seems that the Virginius, shOrtl!
after the departure of the French steam
er for Santiago de Cuba, left Jamica Ol
the oath uIt. It was the intention o
the expeditionists to sail direct for ca
ba, but a slight damage to the machln
erv obliged them to enter the port o
Hayti. This they left, touching at Port
, au-Prince, Hayti, and another port o
p the same island, until the 3Oth, uPo
: which dav they concluded to sail TO
= Cuba and attempt a landing, and upo
a which day the information that prove
f so disastrous to those on board wa
! given TO the authorities at Santiago d
I Cuba.
8 How pleasant it Is, in this wicked Ol
e world, says the Peoria Review, TO me,
a man, in the busy walks of life, who's
: face is an open book, bearing the IL