Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-12-18
Delivery Of the Ill-Fated Steamer
TO the United States at Bahia
HORda-CeremOnies.
Particulars of the Transfer-In.
ternatiOnal COurtesies-Span-
ish and American Naval
Etiquette.
The Steamer in a Leaky COndi-
tiOn-The Stars and Stripes
HOiSted, and Away for
the TOrtugas,

NEw YoKK, December ia correspondent
of the Tribune, who was present at the sur
render of the Ntrginius, telegraphs from Key
West that the surrender took place at Bahia
Honda yesterday morning, The fast steam
watch Despatch was selected to receive the
Eg1nlus, and Captain Whiting, OF Worces-
Ter, was designated to commanu her. He
was accompanied by Lieutenant Adolph Ma
Engineer n. II. Lomden. The crew consisted
Of thirty-nine men from the Pawnee. The
Despatch sailed from Key West last Sunday,
and reached Bahia Honda about noon
on Monday. A correspondent says; "As-sOen
as the DE patch was sighted from the shore,
SpaSlsh flag, bearing crown, notwithstand-
ing the repu Olican edict abOlishing that mo-
narChical emblem, was flung to the breeze.
We discovered a black side-wheel steamship,
with Two smOkestacks, lying about mile be-
yOud the fort, and in perfectly smooth water.
No other craft, except two or three cOast1ng
schoOners, were then visible, and It was not
until we were about TO come 10 anchor, that
we discovered Spanish sloop-of-war lying
close under the shore, about two miles
and half away. The Despatch
proceeded slowly and steadily along, and
anchored about four hundred yards from the
VirginiuS Almost Immediately afterward
boat from the Spanish frigate came alongside
the NirginiuS, and at a quarter TO Two O'CLOCK
the stars and stripes were raised by Spanish
hands, and again fioated over the vessel
which carried Ryan, Nernona and their un-
fortunate comrades to their death. The boat
was then pulled away, aud at the same mo-
ment we saw, by the aid of our glasses,
another boat let down from the Spanish vessel,
which proved to be the captains gig. IL
brought aboard a hand.ome young Spanish
naval officer In full Uniform. de was courte-
Ously met at the gangway by Captain ROdg-
ers. He introduced himself as SenOr de la
Camsra, commanding the sloOp of war Favor
ita. He was invited into the cabin, but being
informed by Captain Rodgers that Captain
Whiting was 70 receive the surrender, he
stepped briskly toward the latter, and Span
lard and American lifted caps in courteous
salute. Commander de la Camara remarked
tOcol requiring the surrender OF the
Nirginius, and was prepared 10 execute
it either on that day or the following day.
Captain Whiting replied that he was IN
structed to receive the vessel Tuesday, but the
hour would be left to the convenience OF the
Spanish commander. 1t was then agreed
that the ceremony should take place at nine
O'Clock Tuesday morning. Salutes were again
exchanged, and SenOr de la Camara left the
ship, ne interview not having con-
the afternoon Captain Whiting and
Lieutenant MarioN returned the call, and
were received with proper courtesies. On
the Despatch struck for nine O'Clock, and be-
fore the echo had died, the American flag few
on the flagstaff OF the Nirginius, and at the
Whiting and Lieutenant Mariox put away
from the despatch. As they ascendedithe ac-
commodation ladder OF the Virginius, single
man on the deck, who proved 10 be
SenOr de la Camara, advanced and
made a salute. The Officers then read
their respective instructions, tsnd captain de
Ia Camara remarked that, in obedience to
the requirements OF his government, he had
the honor TO turn over the steamer Nirginlus
to the United States authorities. Captain
Whiting accepted. and, ascertaining that
a receipt would be acceptable, gave
one. A VOID or two more was civilly spoken,
and the Spaniard stepped over the side, and
signalled 20 his oarsmeR, and in ten minutes
was again upon the deck of his own vessel,
having discharged, with becoming dignity,
the unpleasant duty imposed upon him by his
government. The Nirginius was in most
nIthy condition. She was leaking cOnSidera-
bly,, and the Spanish captain stated that he
had kept pumps going continually since her
arrival, in order to keep the water down. Bar
ring the filthy condition of the vessel,
she was much better than was expected.
The Nirg' niIs steamed about two hundred
} ards, and all was going well, when the en-
gineers suddenly refused TO do duty,
and it then became necessary for
the Despatch TO take her in tow. The
two vessels steamed out OF the harbor
oriskly, the Spanish flag being displayed by
the fort as they passed. IN an hour we were
at sea. The NiIginius was soon again under
steam, the Despatch ceased 10 tow her, and
the two vessels steamed together toward
Tortugss.