The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-11-20
THE vIRGINIUs oUrRAGE.
IasuIt 70 the Ansricau Flas-DctafIs oi
the Capture-TEIal and Execution Of IN.
Prisoners e F1frates.

THE VIRGINIUS OUTRAGE.
IasuIt 70 the Ansricau EFlnx-DctaIIs of
the Capturs-TrIal and ExecutIon Of the
Prisoners as Pirates.
A letter from Havana states that
shortly after the departure of the
French steamer from Kingston, ON the
24th ult., for Santiago de Cuba, the
Virginius left Jamaica. Itwas thein-
tention of the expeditionists to sail
direct for Cuba, but slight damage
to the machinery obliged them to en-
ter the port of Hayti. This they left,
touching at Port au Prince, Hayti,and
another port of the same island, until
the 30th, upon which day they con-
clnded to sail for Cuba and attempt q
landing, and upon which day the In
formation that proved so disastrous
to those on board was given to the
authorities at Santiago de Cuba.
THE sPANIARDs WARNED.
On October Both the Spanish Consul
at Kingston advised the government
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 received the information of
the Virginius she went in search of
her. The following day the Tornado,
under full sail and but little steam, as
some slight repairs were being made
in her machinery, came in sight of the
Virginius, which probably supposed
the Tornado to be- a 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 en-
gineeF announced them completed.-
Ali steam possible was Immediately
got mp, and the vessel headed for the
Virginius, soon reaching the speed Of
fourteen knots, and slowly gaining
upon her. The Virginius had in the
meantime kept on her course, but di-
viuing the hostile intentions Of the
Tornado, changed it towards Jamaica
and being out of coal commenced to
burn petroleum, grease, fat and other
combustibles from the provisions on
board, such as hams, etc. Night
closed iin,i and the vessels were in the
sameirelative positions, the T0Fnados
however, gaining. As soon az they
got within gun shot, ea a g
THE TORNADO FIRED A GUM -
followed by three other shots and
shell. This brought the Virginius TO,
and two armed boats from the lorna
do came alongside, took possession of
the vessel and made prisoners of all
on board. esas sl
AN 1NsULTTo' THE AMERICAN FLAG.
at the time of the capture, the Yir-
ginius was flying the American flag,
but this was pulled down by the Span
ish officer and the Spanish ensign
hoisted in its place, although the pa
pers of the vessel, duly dispatched fer
Colon, were. handed to him. After
the capture the next Two hours were
employed in transferring some of the
prisoners to the Tornado and putting
prize crew on the Virginius.
AT midnight the two vessels started
for Santiago de Cuba, and arrived on
the following day at five in the after
noon, having been Joined by the
Spanish steamer Cantebro. @
Upon their arrival in port the intel
ligence spread like lightning, and at
traeted an unusual crowd of people.
The government palace and other pub
lie buildings were Illuminated, and all
the authorities, civil and military,
wentto feIicitate Gov Burriel upon
the news, who, in the evening gave q
brilliant reception. The vessels were
surrounded in the bay by q number
of boats, filed with hands of music
and cheering volunteers. The festiyi.
ties were kept up late Into the night
1ryr 1nrTpn ~ . v.-vAr
The following day the second court
martial was held on board the lorna.
do, which commenced at nine and ter
minated at four. All were tried as
pirates, and the findings of the court
and sentences were sent to the Cap.
tain General and Admiral in sealed
packets. After the court had con.
eluded its tack all the prisoners, with
the exceptions of Bambeta, Jesus De-
Sol, Gen. Ryan and Pedro Cespedes
were transferred to the Jail of the
city, escorted by force of one hun
dred volunteers and a number of ma
rines,
pEWARRANTED CONDUCT OF GENERAL
-. BURRIEL.
General Burrielsit is said, coolly
asked that all the prisoners should be
turned over to him, with the excep-
ton of the captain and crew, who
should be sent to HAVANA at the dis
posal of the commanding General, De
Martinetz, and declared within TWEEN
ty-foar hours afterward that all should
be tried and executed, in order to
avoid any complication with the ex-
terior-that is, foreign Intervention.
He also detained the telegram which
the United States Consul decided to
forward to the United States Consul
at Kingston, reporting the capture
and inquiriDg as to the nationality OF
the Nirglnius. Fse
THE PASSENGERS or THE VIBGINIUs.
The Yirginins had her papers in
order, and was dispatched for Colon,
all passengers appearing on the papers
as laborers for railroad building
there. All accounts differ as to the
position of the Yirginius at the time
of ,her. capture. One gives the cap
ture as having. been effected at twenty
miles from Jamaica, and the official
account says twelve miles. The DidTiQ
states it at twenty-three miles, the
Journals of Santiago de Cuba at eight
miles and twenty miles, and the YER
sion of the Pose de CMba puts it at
twelve miles, The commander of the
Tornado publicly stated in Santiago
de Cuba, that an hour later the Vir-
ginins could have saved herself by en-
tering some port of Jamaica, M s
---aas---.-e.z-.asi-- b s.a
IT is hard at this time to collect
debts, no matter how tritiing is their
character. This is well knoWn.to all
who have had occasion to attempt it,