The Portland daily press., 1873-11-18
The VIRGINIUS TRAGEDY.
GENERAL SHERMANS VIEWS.
Mr. Fish to the Spanish
Minister.
Admiral Porter on the Situation.
The Virginius to be Taken to
Havana,
The Trial OF Prisoners Still Pro.
Ceedimg.
THE vIRGINlUS TRAGEDY.
The Feeling ut WashiuRfon.

v. ls"
very intense here. Officers of the army and
Utilities.
Gen. Sherman's Views.
Gen. Sherman. however, says that it is abb
s4rd to talk of going to war on this question.
he maintains that the military force is made
quate for our present domestic purposes, and
In this the Attorney General comedies.
Inc latter declares it is impossible to obtain
soldiers enough to assist marshals and district
attornles In executing the laws in unsettled dis
Naval Enthusiasm,
NEW YORK, Nov. 17.-Capt. Ransom said -
we nave orders to fit out every vessel in the
yard, and the Tennessee, at present outside, as
well. This force will be found more than suffi-
Gent Tor the capture of Cuba if the govern
inent determines on such course. With two
or three more vessels like the Juniata to cover
landing, we could disembark force sufi-
cient to sublugate the Island in the very teeth
oI existing Notifications, and all the troops that
could be mustered by the Spaniards We have
everything necessary in fact. The information
OF some high officials lead me to belief that
the President is resolved on prompt and deter
mined action. If so our yard will not be found
wanting.
The Spanish IroncIad.
The work on the Spanish ironclad Arapiles
hrf been suspended by order of the Navy De-
partment The navy yard officials have also
received orders to prevent her crew from visit
ing New York or Brooklyn. They are to be
kept within the yard.
Admiral Porter ON the Situation.
He said that the question now at issue be-
tween the United States and Spain was not re-
specting the insult to our flag: The Virginius
was sailing under regular papers; she had got
into waters other than those of the United
States, and was captured. 1t was the duty of
the Spanish government to have held her for
trial If she had ViOlafnd lou
meut was the prOcer one to punish her for it.
He was not conversant with the views of the
Administration on this question, as no member
of the Cabinet had conversed with him since
his arrival. He remarked, in regard to the ex-
cited feeling among the people, that it was not
easy for our government to readily respond to
their views. The government had respon-
sibilities which the people had not If the
people did not keep their faith with nations the
government must. He thought that resolu-
lions declaring war with Spain, would be offer
ed early next session.
Protection of Americans i'm Cuba.
Washington dispatches contain the following:
In regard to the failure to execute DEGREES from
Spain for the release of American estates in
Cuba. Secretary Fish informed Admiral Palo,
the Spanish Minister here, that Spain must
give assurance that these DEGREES are obeyed by
Thursday, the 9th inst, Admiral Palo asked
if the United States would not wait for an
answer until the Saturday following? The Sec
rotary said no! That the President intended to
have his message ready. by Thanksgiving day,
and ready to submit to the Cabinet on Friday.
which is the last day for the last regular meet
ing before Congress assemblies. Admiral Palo
was further informed that the President was
anxious to be able to say to Congress that Spain
had really acted IN the matter instead of prom
Using, and that in case she did not act he should
recommend that the United States hereafter
assume the entire responsibility for the protec>
ton OF the lives and property of her own citi-
zens in Cuba.
The Spanish Fleet.
Admiral Porter, who arrived yesterday morn
ing, was busy drawing for use when called
upon, statement showing the condition of the
Spanish navy. He says at present the Spanish
navy has 25 vessels carrying 40 guns, "a carry
ing so guns, and % carrying 582 guns. There
are also ten transports capable of carrying guns
and fifty gunboats, with one heavy gun each.
Fifty three. Of these vessels are stationed on
the coast OF Cuba, carrying 800 guns, with 5000
men all told. The Admiral thinks that with
the present condition of our navy we would not
be able to compete successfully-with Spain.
The Captain ofthe virginius Warned by
United States Consul.
Ex-United States Consul Pearne, who has
just arrived at Washington from Kingston. saws
that when Capt. Fry arrived THERE Co Jake coiil-
mand of the Virginius he twice sought him and
endeavored to persuade him to abandon the
proposed expedition, remarkng that he would
surely be shot if captured; that every man on
the ship took his life in his hand. To these
protests Capt. Frye replied that the Spaniards
could not shoot him; that it would only be
case of blockade running, and as he had been a
Confederate blockade runner. he reasoned that
as the United States did not shoot prisoners
captured in this business the Spaniards would
not. Pearne says about half the crew deserted
when preparations began for loading and sail
ing. There were about dozen Americans or
Englishmen among the seamen shipped, and it
is doubtful whether they all knew the charac-
ter of The enterprise. Still, all the transactions
were perfectly open and notorious.
When he lPearne) sought Capt. Frye the Sec
Ond time to dissuade him, the litter said that
to him the whole matter was question of bread
to his family. If he could succeed in landing
his cargo where it was wanted it would give
him a large sum of money, and he -~as deter
mined to make the attempt at all hazards.
No More EXECUTIONS Taken Place,
HAVANA, Nov. 1.-THE report received from
CienfuegQs that ffty-seven more of the Virgin
JUS prisoners had been executed is not confirm
ed by later advices from Santiago.
The following despatch has been made public
here:
Santiago de Cuba Nov 13.-The have been
no further developments The man of-war Is
abela La Catalica has arrived here to convey
the Virgnius to Havana. The attitude of the
authorities is unyelding. They insist on their
perfect right to dispose OF the Virginius as a
pirate in accordance with national law. and
that no one mas right to interfere with them.
There have been no more executions but the
trials are proceeding. The British man of war
Ariobe is still here.
1t is reported correspondence is going on
between her captain and Gov. Burriel, about
the British and other foreign subjects captured
on the Virgnius.
There are rumors that an American corvette
from Aspnwall, and another from Key West
are on the way here.