Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-11-26
THE VIRGENIUS.

THE VIRGINEUS.
Detailed Statement of Her Capture
Question as to Her Locality when
Capturets-OnIy One Hours Time be-
tween Her and Liberty.
A letter from Havana gives an ac-
count of the capture of the steamer
Virginius, from which it appears that
on Oct. Both the Spanish Consul at
Kingston advised the Governor at San
tiago 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 informa-
ton of the Virginius, went
in search of her. The following day
the Tornado, while under full sail and
with but little steam, as some slight
repairs were being made in her ma.
chinery, came in sight of the Virgin
Jus, which probably supposed the Tor
nado to be sailing vessel, as her
course was not changed. On the Tor
nado every effort was made to Lasten
the repairs they were engaged in, and
at two o'clock the chief engineer pro-
nounced them completed. All the
steam possible was immediately
got up, and the vessel headed
for the Virginius. soon reaching a
speed of fourteen knots, and gaining
slowly upon her. The Virginius had
in the meantime kept on her course,
but divining the hostile intentions of
the Tornado, changed it toward
To nd ~
menced burning petroleum, coal,
grease, fat, and other combustibles
from provisions 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 lorna
do fired gun, followed by three other
shots and shell. This brought the
Virginius to, and 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. @3 IS
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 there the following
day at P. NJ, having been Joined by
the Spanish steamer Contrabro.
Upon their arrival in port the intel
igence spread like lightning, and at
tracted an immense crowd of people
The government palace and other pub
lie buildings were Illuminated, and ali
the authorities, civil and military, went
to felicitate the Governor, Burriet,
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
a 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 consul 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 as
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 at
twenty miles from Jamaica, and an Of
fetal account states it st twelve the
Diario states it at twenty-three miles
the journals of Santiago de Cuba at
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. iG seems that
tho VI