The New York herald., 1873-11-13


1t is believed a native OF Vermont. He rose
TO the rank OF major during the late war IN the
federal service Edward Scott Is a lad OF perhaps
eighteen or nineteen years OF age, and was porn
at Salem, Mass. Scott occupied the post OF lamp
trimmer on the steamship Atlas, and being young
and inexperienced was fascinated by the promise
OF adventure and excitement which the expe-
dictionary party expected TO encounter On the
arrival OF the Atlas at Kingston he left the ship
with the party, and joined his fortunes, and prob
ably his iate with theirs In
THE ILLrsTARRED vIRGINIus
enterprise. Simon Gratz is also an American by
nativity, but the reporter could learn no further
particulars concerning him.
IL IS also positively known that six OF the crew
OF the virginius were English seamen. II 1t be
true that the whole crew were executed, this gives
England chance to say word or two.
Captain Joseph Fry, the Captain OF the Virginius,
who Is reported by name among the killed, was
louisiana lie was a seafaring man by profession,
and during the late war commanded the blockade
runner Agnes. For some years past he has re-
Judge Pierrcpont on the Cuban Mas
sacre.
A HERALD reporter had the good fortune to meet
the learned Judge yesterday in Wall street, and
asked what His Honor thought about the reported
execution of ffty-two Of the yirginius' crew and
passengers.
Judge PIERREPoST-I would rather suspend my
opinion for the present. ] can hardly believe that
this horrible news is true IL is scarcely possible
that nation like Spain, claiming high rank
among the civilized Powers OF the earth, would be
guilty OF such wholesale slaughter. Let US wait
until the particulars OF the shall have reached
the government The administration will act with
justice and frmness. The Secretary OF State must
be careful to take no grounds from which he might
subsequently be obliged to retreat. The peo.
pie are doubtless impatient for action on
the part OF the government. That they
will have In good time. The flag OF
our Union must always be preserved inviolate,
whatever the cost may be. The ensign OF nation
of AZ, ,ooo, 600 Of freemen shall be respected. The
young Republic OF Spain is Power struggling for
existence In the midst OF monarchical Europe, and,
as a sister nation having republican institutions
like our own, she is entitled to American sympathy
But that will not prevent our government from
acting with frmness and energy II 1t be found,
after proper investigation, that American rights
have been invaded or our nag insulted by the mis-
guided men who represent-say, rather, mlsrepre-
sent-the Spanish government IN Cuba.
GENERAL MANUEL QUEsADA,
the accredited agent OF the Cuban Republic was
the next gentleman visited, for the purpose OF
learning his views about the dreadful tidings pub
lished In the evening press
General Quesada said that he believed the Span
iards capable OF anything. He remarked that the
West. This circumstance, he thought, was singular,
and left room to hope that the news might prove
to believe it unless confirmed by subsequent tele.
grams, the arrival OF which he was waiting with
intense anxiety. But even II the dreadful rumors
should prove true-a thing not to be wondered at
when we consider into whose hands the unfortunate
men of the Virginius fell-tne struggle for Cuban
independence would go on all the same Wnen one
man falls In the breach another will be found TO
step into his place. II is a lamentabe misfortune
to lose one's fellow patriots ana friends in shock
ing manner ike this, but by the blood OF martyrs
are the liberties Of the peoples secured:
The reporter asked Generai Quesada II ne mad
Cubans in the United States had no confidence in
him as confidential agent Of the Cuban Republic.
ha ha q nn iaaIa a nnra
graph or an interview containing statements some
thing like those above indicated. He paid but llt-
legitimate government OF Cuba. The Gu
bans themselves framed that government by
in favor Of the government, which ali patriotic
Cubans acknowledged and obeyed. or who did not
eouId not be- lrends Of Cuba He himself owed no
enmity to any Cuban who would assist the cause
o. the ' country; and any Snn one who - at time Ike
withhold hearty cooperation with the agency
under such trying circumstances as the present,
than Spaniard at heart and traitor to his
country.
said, IN reply to the inquiries OF HERALD re-
porter, that he was perfectly horriied TO learn the
news IN the afternoon sn press. He would rather,
iards bad committed many bloody deeds, but sell
dom had anything like this dsgraced the pages OF
Grafton. IL was to be noted that the telegram
by way OF New Orleans. This was singular. 1t
vana direct. He would, on that account
rather not believe the news until something very
definite was heard. Il true, 1t was soul-harrow-
ing deed OF blood that cried aloud for vengeance.
The United states would now surely take a decided
attitude. 1t was plain that the American and Eng
lish flags had both been insulted, and the govern
ments OF these nations, IN defence of their own
tonal honor, would be compelled to demand satis-
faction from Spain for the outrages committed
against the persons OF their citizens and the Dig
nifty of their 1ags As TO the Cubans while they
mourned the untlinely loss of their friends, they
dat nrIafn nA1 RI anntfn nj fhn Gsrhf 70
bitter end. Any expedition that might be captured
would speedily be succeeded by another more
formidable than the one before 1t. The crew OF the
virgnus, but l20 men, would at once be replaced
by many more who would vount eer for their coun-
trys service at a moments notice. In twenty-lour
men volunteered to go out on an expedition.
COLONEL MACIAS
said that all the Cubans want Is means OF trans
portation. II they had that, 1000 men OF the
Cubans alone could be embarked at once. The
Cu3ans lar IRON despairing, were never in better
spirits or sounder condition Reports from the
field showed how the government troops were
losing ground. They were being driven from the
field IN ali directions and the centre OF the entire
Eastern Department was in the hands OF the
Cubans Tie Spaniards were now demoralized
were tfue 1t was last bloody effort OF the Span
iards to overawe the Cubans. This could not be
accomplished; and the spanards, by this this. awful
expulsion from the great Antile.
prominent Cuban gentleman, who formerly
served with distinction In the Spanish navy,
thought that the news OF the massacre in Cuba
might be true. He was well acquainted with
SPANISH MARINE ORDINANCES,
and believed that, according TO them, the Spanlards
might commit the crime against humanity OF trying
all on board the ViIginius, crew and passengers,
as pirates, and might therefore execute them all.
He gave the following extract rom q decree OF
the Captain General, issued in 1869, which order
was directed to the port captains In different
parts OF the island This law was circulated by the
Admiral in Havana, viz.:-
From this all the ports OF the island Of Cuba
declared bockaded TO coasting and foreign commerce.
excepting those hereinafter expressed 70 witIlayana
Maanzas, Cardenas, Cuba Cenfuegos all those where
custom houses and iortlfcatons to be found. Ii Is
brought TO the notice the the district and
TO that of the chiefs of naval stations that all vessels
tempting OF those ports must be taken and
towed 70 The nearest port 10 be tried vioators
laws of blockade and punished accordingly.
The same gentleman states that at least six OF
the men on board the Virginius were British SUBJ
jects, shipped In Kingston and that doubtless they
are among those recently executed.