Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-12-22
TEE vIRGuNIus AFrAsR.
- DreAwe O0Srfal Doro us~aGn
rhn NhsslL NOT ksfirLkD TO cAksf tn
ANFHIgAH

sSioencs xIth regard 20 the vHssnsas snd her
claim TO tie right 10 bear the nNg OF the United
ststes, the President submitted the evidence 10
the Attorney General tor his cpinion thereon.
The Attorney General has given the opinion
lprinted elsewhere IN tO-dsy's SrARl thai
the Gag OF the United States. and thst NJ the
tue OF her capture she Ma carrying " without
right ard improperly. In view OF this opinion
cur government viii, IN accordance with the
terms Of the protocol, institute inquiry and
sdcrt proceedings against the Nirstuins aud
sgslhst any OF the persons Who may appear TO
have been guilty OF Illegal acts in CONNECTION
I herewith. As Spain has proyen 10 he sstis-
| faction Of the Emitted Statss according 10 the
Attorney Generals opinion, that the virginias
nas At the time Of her capture carrying the
I United States nag without ,Ss,t and i'm proper
ly, the salute 20 the nag on the 18th dAy OF be
ecmber will he dispensed with, IS nov not ne
oessarily requirahle. but the United States will
expect disclaimer OF intent OF ind gnity 20 the
nag in the act which was committed.
DoCthkNTs CoNcERNiSG TIE TRAGEDY.
kear Admiral Scott has sent "a the Secretary
OF the Navy a large mas OF documents con
nected with the capture OF tho Nirgtnius and
me executions vi ich followed ~. These include
the MT OF one hundred and three who we're an
the prison at Santiago dc Cuba, thirteen OF
whom we're shot. az the surviving elvhfy-seven
spiear the names Of Manuel M0rases, ct Phils-
samuel Gray, Of Harrisburg. PennSyiyauta
and Alfred Parker, location not given These
are all the Americans among the number given.
those Who were executed, IN addition 60 the
thirteen mentioned above. were in iail ONLY
few hours, with the exception OF Captain FSy.
who was not taken 20 that place. AccOrdingt 10
me ontcial report concerning the NODE OF the
trial by court martial, Captain Fry declined 10
answer all the questions put 20 him. protesting
that by the laws OF nations he and has crew had
committed no Oftice that JUSTIFIED his or their
imprisonment or trial ~ pirates and claiming
TO he in command Of an Ame. lean merchant
vessel, furnished With all properly csruned
papers, which be had delivered 10 the boarding
ohicer Of the capturing vessel.
}. n. Rowe, OF Rocklsnd, Maine, deposed at
Kingston, ,Jamsiea that from bis knowledge
could not have been less than seventy mile,
from the coast of Cuba.
CoMNANDER BRAiNE's rLUcKY BEHAVIOR.
Commander Brsine, In his letter 20 the Sec
Rotary OF the Navy. dated Santiago De cuba
November Soth, communi' ting Information
which he obtained about the v.rginius, says.
You Will zee by my letter 20 his ENcelienoy
Senior Bngadier Commandsnte General Mo-
rsles, and protest, that protested against any
further punishment 10 any Of the officers, crew
or Passengers OF the Nireinias. irrespective of
their nationality; and if asy more were ordered
TO be executed 4 must be Informed before N
took place, a. claimed that the American Gag
protected all.
have taken mesrs to circulate q here IN the
city thst ~ any OF the prisoners taken from the
Nirginins are executed, will sink every Span
lsh gunboat and other Spanish men-of war that
| can get at. feel assured that this rumor has
had good effect, and believe that should our
COVER nment demand the persons taken from the
Nlrglnius vet alive, the authorities here will
You will observe by my interview that said
TO the General that an easy partial solution 20
this siTeady complicated affair would be 20 de-
,ver up all the people now alive belonging 10
the Nirglnius. He replied: 'In what manner
can that be done leading me 70 bslieye Il 20
be re ally with OF his 90 deliver them all up TO
the United States 1 replied: By putting
them in boats and putting them aboard the
ship have the honor 20 command, restoring
them under that flag from which they were
The Governor replied he could not do -
without orders from his superiors.
Commander Braine asked II the people taken
nom ne American steamer Nirg Mus were eN-
ecuted by the authority OF the highest ruling
power on the island or by order 4 the Govern
The Governor answered: BY the Govern
ment here.
Commander Braine said. Could not the
same power that ordered their execution order
their release and delivery 20 him?
The Governor replied in the negative. The
people taken from the Virginius were executed
by an order previously isyued by the Admiral
commanding the naval fore = or the island. aud
were executed under the authority of an order
issued by General de Rodas
Commander Braine-But were there not pas
seDeers on board the American steamer Viz
giniue?
The Governor.-You must recollect that thee
were many spsniards among the passengers,
and one among them lie a deserter from our
army on this island.
Commander Braine.-Yes; but they were
Ckeh iIom an American steamer on the high
The Governor.-On the night of the arrival
OF the Virginia az this port. in locking over the
papers an order WA found issued by the late
Captain General, and IL was under he order.
hat the trial and executions took place.
Commander Braine.-But l have TO remind
yoI that both the United States and British
governments protested against that order, aud
told the Spanish government that they would
not allow any such interference. aud That the
most that the United Stat government could
admit would be the conf cation OF the vessel
aid cargo.
Commander Braine, having received aeur
aDces that his dispatch TO the United Stat
government would be forwarded without inte.
ruption, thanked the governor for hts coursesy
ana " jhdrew 6fter delivering In pc. pon a writ.
ten protest relative 10 the officers, crew ant
Passengers OF the American steamer Nrginlus.
GREAT BRITAIN GOING TO STRIFE
special dispatch dated Key West, 10Th, saws:
lntOr reached New York IRON Havana
Saturday, which, II authentic, is hi hly impor-
tant. 1t YVES rumOred there that sT-ious COM
piicatioDs in regard TO Cuba have arisen ~ fs
understood, between the Spanish and Britisa
cove -nments. Precisely what these difficulties
are does not yet appear, but IL is certain the
British West India squadron = 60 be speedily
and largely increased. Havana authorities n
ls stated, cor sider the English government in
lends some interference in Cuban affairs, and
in such manner pc - r0mplcats the relations
OF that government with Spain. It has become
known that the British Consul General ut Ha-
vana has received DISPATCHES from Lord Gran
vile to instruct all laval comm anders in the
West Indies 70 Immediately rendezvous in Gu
ben ports. IL Is stated that in Official circles n
is certainly known that the British government
will sssurodlv demand the punishment Of Bur
rtel The British admiral has left for st. Thom-
as. where he expects TO be relieved
fafA H..