The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1873-11-20
THE CAPTURE OF rHErIRGIxIUs.
Shooting OF the PrlsOuerS-DetaIIs OF
the Capture-General Incidents.

Shooting or the PrlsOuers-DetaIIs o
! the Capture-General Incidents.
HAVANA, Nov. 12---On the 7tt
inst, the Captain and thirty-six of the
crew of the steamer Virginius wefe
executed at Santiago de Cuba, and on
the next day, the Sth, twelve more d
the Cuban volunteers on the vessel
were shot. Among the latter vai
Franehi AlfArO.
HAVANA, Nov. 1.-THE TOee de
Cuba to-day says, editorially, that ii
is humane as anybody-mOre so than
those who make ostentatious pro-
fessions of philanthropy-but IL
can not do less than approve
OF the energy displayed toward
those whom the filibustering
steamer Virginius brought to make
more bloody war in Cuba. The court
martial trial of those captured on the
/ Virginius is still in session, working
with all possible dispatch. Among
the crew, and disguised as firemen,
were Ignaeio, Alfaro, Bosa, Arce, Va
roma, Cassillanos, Pineda, Mola, Boi-
tel; and other persons of importance.
Capt. Joseph Fry was manifestly
aware of the objects OF the expedition
and the nature Of the cargo which he
was tempted to take charge Of by 3
large sum of money offered, thinking
that there were ninety-nine chances
in hundred Of his landing in safety.
1t Is thought that this will be the n.
nal effort Of the insurreetionists.
The Captain and crew were shot by
a squad Of marines in the public
square. Twelve of the insurgents
were shot In front Of the slaughter
house wall. a.lI lI l.e
NEW YORK, Nov. 13.-A letter from
Havana gives an account of the
steamer Virginius, from which it APP
pears that on Oct. Both the Spanish
Consul at Kingston advised the gov
ernment at Santiago de Cuba that the
Virgiuius was in the vicinity of Nor
rant Bay. The Spanish war steamer,
Tornado had that morning arrived at
Santiago de Cuba, and, four hours ST
ter the Governor received information
of the Virginius, went in search OF
her. ~ '-. 'i'-.-i t
The following day the Tornado, un-
der full sail, and with out little steam,
as some slight repairs were being
made to her machinery, came In sight
of the Virginius, which probably sup
posed the Tornado TO be sailing Ves-
sci, as her course was not changed.
On the Tornado every effort was made
to hasten the repairs they were en-
gagged in, and at 2 o'clock the chief
engineer pronounced them completed.
ALI the steam possible was immedi-
ately got up, and the vessel headed
for the Virginius, soon reaching a
speed of fourteen knots, and slowly
gaining upon her. .le .I-aI.s a.I
The Virginius had, in the mean
time, kept on her course; but, divining
| the hostile intentions of the Tornado,
changed it toward Jamaica, and, be-
| ing out of coal, commenced to burn
petroleum, grease, fat, and other COM
bustibles from the provisions on board,
such as hams, &c. Night closed In,
and vessels were in the same relative
positions, the Tornado, however, gain
ing. ..-... .......
As soon as they got within gunshot,
the Tornado fired gun, followed by
three other shots and shell. This
brought the Virginius 70, and two
armed boats from the Tornado came
alongside, took possession OF the ves-
sci, and made prisoners Of all on
board. At the time of the capture the
Virginius was flying the American
flag. -.-
But this was pulled down by the
Spanish officer, and the Spanish en-
sign hoisted in its place, although the
papers of the vessel, duly dispatched
for Colon, were handed ID him after
the 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 midnight the two vessels started
for Santiago de Cuba, and arrived the
| following day at o'clock in the after
noon, having been joined by the
/ Spanish steamer Cantabro.
| Upon their arrival in port the intel
ligence spread like tightening, and at
tracted an immense crowd Of People.
The Government Palace and other
public buildings were Illuminated,
and all the authorities, civil and mill
| itary, went to felieitate the Governor,
Burriel, upon the news, who, in the
evening, gave q brilliant reception.
| The vessels were surrounded in the
bay by number of boats filed with
music and cheering volunteers. The
festivities were kept up late into the
night. f- L.. L. ,..Lr
The following day, November I'd, q
court martial was held on board the
Tornado. which commenced at 8 and
terminated at 4. All were tried SIS
pirates, and the findings of the court
and sentences were sent to the Cap
tain General and Admiral in sealed
packets. After the court had con-
cluded its task, ali the prisoners, with
the exception of Bemb beta, Jesus De
Sala, Gen. Ryan and Pedro Cespedes,
were transferred to the Jail of the
city, escorted by force of 100 volun-
teers and a number of marines. Gen.
Burriel, it is said, cOOIly asked that
all the prisoners should be turned over
to him, with the exception of the
captain and crew, who should be senl
to Havana, at the disposal Of the
Commandate-General de Marinats,
and declared that within twenty-fouI
hours afterward 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 tC
forward to the United States Consul.
ate at Kingston, reporting the cap
ture and inquiring as to the natiOnal-
ity Of the Virginius.
The Virginius bad her papers in or.
der, and wac dispatched for Colon, al
her passengers appearing on the pa
pers as laborers for railroad building
there.
All accounts differ as to the posi-
ton of tie Virginius at the time q
tho capture. One gives the capture
as having been effected at twenty
miles from Jamaica, and the oft1cia
account states twelve miles. ThC
Dirro states il at twenty-three miles
the Journals of Santiago de Cuba al
eight miles and twenty miles, and thG
version of the Voce de- Cuba is twelve
miles.
The commander of the Tornado
publicly stated in Santiago de Cuba
ian hour later and the Virginiui
could have saved herself by entering
some port of Jamaica.
1t seems that the Virginius, shortly
after the departure Of the French
steamer for Santiago de Cuba, left JS-
maica on the 24th ult.
1t was the intention Of the expe'
ditiOnists to sail direct for Cuba, bui
a sight damage to the machinery
Obliged them to enter port Of Hayti
This they left, touching at Port al
Prince, Hayti, and another port oftht
same island, until the SOth, upOT
which daV tuey concluded to sale fol
Cuba, and attempt landing, and OF
this day the information which prov
ed so disastrous to those on board
was given the authorities at Santiago
de Cube aU .-'
The Watertown Dispatch publishei
the following concerning the habit
and manner Of life OF Robt. SixburyI
who died at lie Ray recently at suct
an advanced age: His life was spent,