Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-11-20

as they got within gunsh0t, the lorna
do fired gnn, followed by three other
shots and shell. This brought the
Virginius to, aud two armed boats from
the Tornado came alongside and took
possession Of the vessel and made pris-
oners of all on board.
At the time of the capture of the
Virginius she was flying the American
flag. but this was pulled down by the
Spanish officer and Spanish ensign
hoisted in its place, although the
papers of the vessel duly dispatched
for Colon were handed to him after
capture.
The next two hours were employed
in transferring some of the prisoners
to the Tornado, and putting a prize
crew on the Virginius. At midnieht
the two vessels started for Santiago de
Cuba, and arrived there the following
day at s P. NJ, having been Joined by
the Spanish steamer Contrabro.
Upon their arrival in port the intel.
ligence spread like lightning, and at
tracted an immense crowd Of people
The government palace and other pub
lie buildings were illuminated, and al
the authorities, civil and military, went
to felicitate the Governor, Bnrriet.
upon the news. The Governor in the
evening gave brilliant reception.
The vessels were surrounded in the
bay by number of boats filled with
bands of music and cheering volunteers.
The festivities were kept up late in
the night. The following day the sec-
ond court martial: was held on board
the Tornado, which commenced at nine
and terminated at four. All were tried
as pirates, and the finding of the
court and sentences were sent
to the Captain General and Admiral
in sealed packets. After the court had
concluded its task, all the prisoners,
with the exception of Bembetta, Jesus
Del Sol, Gen Ryan and Pedro Ces-
pedes, were transferred to the Jail
of the city, escorted by a force
of one hundred volunteers and
number of marines. Gen. Burriel,
it is said, coolly asked that all the
prisoners should be turned over to him
with the exception of the captain and
crew, who should be sent to Havana at
the disposal of the Commandant Gen.
eral De Marinats, and declared, within
"a hours afterwards, that all should be
tried and executed. In order to avoid
any complication with the exterior,
that is, foreign intervention, he also
detained telegram which the United
States consu! decided to forward to the
United States consul at Kingston, re-
porting the capture, and inquiring as
to the nationality of the Virginius.
The Virginius had papers in order,
and was dispatched for Colon, all pas
sengers appearing on the papers a.
laborers for railroad building there,
all accounts differ as to the position
of the Virginius at the time of the
capture. One gives the capture
as having been effected al
twenty miles from Jamaica, and an of.
fetal account states it at twelve the
Diario states it at twenty three miles
the journals of Santiago de Cuba al
eight miles and twenty miles, and the
version Of the Vose de Cuba at twelve
miles.
The commander of the Tornado pub.
licly stated in Santiago de Cuba
that an hour later and the Virginius
could have saved herself by entering
some port of Jamaica. 1t seems thai
the Virginius, shortly after the depart
ure of the French steamer for Santiago
de Cuba, left Jamaica on the Oath u1t
It was the intention of expeditionist.
to sail direct for Cuba, but slight dam
age to machinery obliged them to en-
ter the port of Hayti. This they left
touching at Port au Principe, Hayti
and other ports of the same island, un
til the 30th, upon which day they con
cluded to sail for Cuba, and attemp
landing, and upon which day informa
tion, that proved so disastrous to thos,
on board, was given to the authoritie
at Santiago de Cuba.