National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-11-28
The capture ofMe IirDinins
NEW YORK, Nov. 10

tulN w tH' - mus ! Hc u SlIll'
us left Jamaica on the 9th nit. 1t
was the intention of the expedition
lists on board. to sail direct for the
shores of Cuba, but a Sigh: damage
to the machinery obliged them to
enter port off lIayti. This they
left touching at Port All Prince,
Hayti, and another port of the
same island, until the 30th, upon
which day they concluded to sail
for Cuba ard attempt the landing.
On this day the Spanish Consul
at Kingston advised the governor at
Santiago Dc Cuba, that the Virgin
ius was in the vicinity Of Warrant
bay, Jamaica, and that the Spanish
man ofwar Tornado, had that morn
ing arrived at Santiago De Cuba,
and Governor Buricl Immediately
communicated to her commander,
Castclla, his information which
caused her to leave four hours after
wards. The following day the 3lst
ult., the Tornado, under full sail,
anu bHt IA'it o'tdll VA dH HbilI'
slight repairs were being made to
i, machinery, came in sight of the
Nirginius. All steam possible was
Immediately got up and the vessel
headed for the Virginius soon reach
ing tie speed of II knots an hour
and slowly gaining upon her. The
Vrginlus had in the meantime kept
on her course, but seeing the hos
tile intentions ofthe Tornado, now
changed it toward Jamaca, beng
out Of coal com menced burning
petroleum, grease, fat and other
combustib!es from the provision on
board. such az hams, etc.
Night closed in and the vessels
were in the same position. The
Tornado however gaining upon her
prey. The bright light of the full
moon kept the Virginius in plain
sight and her two masts and the
dense clouds of smoke on account Of
the nature of her fuel were clearly
marked to the slowly gaining Tor
nadO. Further to facilitate their
flight, they threw overheard horses,
cannon and many cases Of arms and
ammunition, afterwards stated to be
2OG0 temmingtonS, u mitralleuse,
seven horses and a quantity ofpow.
der and small arms.
AZ soon as they got within gun
shot, the Tornado fired u Gun fol
lowed by three other shots and a
shell. This brought the Nirginius
to, ard two small boats from the
Tornado came along side took pos
session Of the vessel and made pris
oners of all on board. At the time
Of the capture, the Virsinius was
flying the American flag but this
was pulled down by the Spanish of
ficer and the Spanish ensign hoistcd
in its place, although the papers of
the vessel fully despatched for Co.
Ion were handed to him. The YES.
sci at the time was in British wa.
tiers and within . league of the
coast of Jamaca.
The two vessels at midnight start
ed for Santiago De Cuba, arriving
there next day and attracting an
immense crowd of people. The gov
eminent palace and other public
buildings were illuminated and all
the authorities civil and military,
went to felcitate Gov. Buriel upon
the news. In the evening, he gave
a brilliant reception. The vessels
were surrounded in the bay by q
number OF boats filed with bands of
music.
The captain and crew of the Vir.
ginius, thirty.seven in all, were OK.
ecuted at Santiago De Cuba on the
7th inst. and on the following day
twelve more Zone account says lG
more) were shot. The news eXcites
intense indignation, and the execu.
tons universally denounced as an
inhuman butcLery. The govern
ment has taken no action as vet,
further than to order several war
vessels into commission at once, to
REINFORCE our fleet in Cuban waters.
1t is said that il the personal feel
ings of the members of the Cabinet
were alone consulted monitors would
be despatched to burn Santiago
De Cuba.
The New York Tribune Of Thurs,
day says: "The flag of the United
States has been dishonorcd in Cuba
and the Government is powerless to
prevent or to punish repetition of
such outrageS. We are therefore
forced to act, but the situation must
not be made worse by rash or incon,
sideratc action. The almost unani
nous cry yesterday was for an i'm
mediate granting of bclliserent
rights to the Cnbans. Nothing can
DO more futile or illogical. The
seizure was unlawful, precisely be
cause We do not recognize state of
war between Spain and Cuba. The
massacre at Santiago affords no ad.
dltional reason for "A recognition of
instruction, and such a recognition
would do nothing toward ending
the civil war. Our Government, we
hope, has already demanded full
and immediate reparation and the
punishment Of the leaders under
whose orders the outrage has been
accomplished. If, as we fear, the
Spanish Government cannot enforce
this, we must in future, protect our
own flag and our own citizens in
Cuban waters. If there had been
one or two iron-cads in the harbor
of Santiago TO sustain the demand