Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-11-14

The facts thus far made public IN the
matter Of the Virginius have come by tele-
graph in such scattered shape, that brief
resume Of them may be worth while. The
Virginius is an iron, CLYDE built steamer,
and was rebel blockade runner during
the war. under the name Of the Virgin.
She sailed from New York under an Amer
lean register, but it has been stated that
she was sold to Gen. Quesada, the Cuban
reyolutionist, some two years ago, and
since that time has been sailing under Cuban
AMI Venezuelan flags There Is no doubt that
she has been in the service of the Cuban
reyolutionists Some twenty months since
she ran the blockade Of Cuba, and delivered
load Of arms and men (put on board in
Venezuelan port in the eastern depart
ment of Cuba, and it is said she has made
one similar voyage since. The Cubans,
having it is said, abandoned the hope OF
securing the aid Of the United States IN
their rebellion, determined a while since
to concentrate all their energies on the
work Of maintaining the rebellion in the
field. The expedition carried by and cap
tured in the Virginius was designed to IL
itiate this policy and to gather all the
reserves they had in men and munitions "
ing idle in this country and at Spanish
American ports, and make an attempt to
get into Cuba with them. She cleared
from Kingston, Jamaica, on the 23rd ult.'
after taking on board a large party OF
/ Cubans and a quantity Of arms and NUM-
tons. Gen Ryan. an American atyen-
turcr. in command OF the expedition. gave
a grand ball on board the evening before
She sailed \ few hours later, She was
captured BY the Spanish mau-ot-war Tor
nado. and taken into the port IF Santiago
/ De Cuba. where four of the Cuban officers
on board. Ryan. Ce-pedcs, a brother of the
revolutionary President of Cuba, Verona
and Jesus del Sol were court Iaartialcd, con
denined and shot on the Adj inst. IL is
/ claimed that the NirginiuS was an Amerl-
can vessel. and sailing when taken under
an American flag. While this does not ap-
pear to be altogether clear, there has been
sufficient reason TO suppose She was emit
/ tied to the protection of our governmental
make the capture the subject Of correSpon-
/ dcnce between tho two governments by
/ telegraph through Minister Sickles al
/ Madrid. Dispatches have been received
/ from Gen. Sickles. showing that the prison
ers had been executed before the Spanish
government at Madrid had received inior-
nation of their capture. 1t Is added that
the Madrid government Is very much en-
barrasscd by the act, and promises every
reparation in its power demanded by inter-
national law. The Spanish republican
government at Madrid Is. however, doubiy
/ embarrassed from the fact that there are
practically two instructions in Cuba, that
Of the insurgents and that Of the Cuban au-
! thorities, neither of which acknowledges al
/ lesiance to the Republic in Spain. There is
/ friendly feeling between the CASTELAR, gov
/ eminent and our own, and no reason to an
/ ticipato trouble between them. The hope
of some serious complication, which may
/ lead to war, and the Indignation aroused by
the exceedingly summary execution OF the
/ Cuban generals, has greatly excited the
/ Cuban Junta in New York and their sym
pathizers. and Gen Quesada IS already or
ganizing a new expedition to revenge the
I death Of Ryan and his associates, for which
il is said many Americans as well as Cuban
exiles have enlisted.