Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-11-22
The War Cloud

For five years Cuba has suffered |
from civil strife. waged between the
native Cubans and Creoles, on one
side, and on the other by the repre-
sentatives of Spanish authority. At
first Spain provided her Capt. Gen
eral in Cuba with troops, in all, it is
said, $4,000 but for two years or
more owing to trouble at home she
has done little but supply few arms.
by means of which the insurgents
have been prevented from gaining a
single seaport.
The insurgents have had an asso-
citation in this country with headquar-
tiers in New York, called the Cuba
Junta, which has surreptitio"sly aid
cd their struggling compatriots with
money, munitions of war, and to some
extent men, which have in spite of
the Spanish blockade, been landed at
isolated points.
The Steamer Virginius, commission.
cd as an American Vessel, has long
been suspected by the Spanish author
tiles of being in the service Of the in
surgents, and once before this was
only saved from capture bp the sloop
Of war Kansas, acting as her convoy
from Aspinwall On or about the LIST
inst, this vessel while on its way to
New York, and within 16 miles of
the coast of Cuba, was pursued by the
Spanish man-of-war Tornado, and af-
ter u chase of 100 miles, was captured
within miles Of the coast of Jamaica
and in British waters, and all on
board as prisoners, 1863 souls, taken
to Santiago de Cuba. On the 4th
inst Of the passengers, among them
Captain Ryan, formerly we'll known
in the municipal affairs of New York
and u son of Gen. Queseda, were shot.
On the 7th CAPT. Fry, Of Georgia,
and his crew, 36 in number, were shot.
On the 10th, 81 of the passengers
ere executed, and AZ more were
under sentence Of death. Exactly
how many are American citizens is
hard to determine now. l6 are said
to be British Subjects. 1t is probable
that all who are not Am orleans
citizens OF British Subjects, are Gu
bans. Instantly, on receiving the
news Of the capture, our Government
teegraphed to General Sickles to
protest against any viole nee being
permitted. But although it is well
understood that the home government
sent orders to stay proceedings which
should have reached the Captain
General on the 9th, still the MUIR
ders went on. 1t seems that the Re-
public Of Spain is poweriess to en-
force obedience from those whom they
call subjects in Cuba.
Our Government has taken vigorous
steps, but neitherthe President nor the
Cabinet are Opposed to make known
their line Of policy Enough is
known to warrant the assertion that
these atrocities will be punished, by
SPAN if she SO elects, by our Govern
ment if Spain is unable or unwilling
The entire North Atlantic Squadron
under command of Rear Admira
Scott. is ordered to Cuban waters
The Kansas sailed the 14th ;others are
to follow the 10th, and others as
soon as ready. Great activity i
apparent in all the Navy yards. Th'
following Washington dispatches te
the Boston Journdl exhibit the ates
} phase Of the NATTER:
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10, 1878.
The evidence already at hand il
the matter of the Virginius has con
firmed the opinion Of some Of tn
officers of the Government that thu
Virginius must be conceded to hav
been o filibuster, and that our fla
+ could not protect her within th
| marine league Of Cuba. 1t is state'
that the Vrginius carried both Ven
ezuelan and Cuban colors after leav
!. ing this county, although having he
4 original American papers. Th
+ locality of the board and the barbs
+ rous executions are the points upo
which the case hangs. 1t is the opir
ion of some of the constitutions
/, lawyers that the precedent Of til
g Alabama and Geneva arbitration wi
give our Government trouble in th
: diplomatic discussion Of the subject.
WAsHMGToN, Nov. 10, 1877;
, No further intelligence has bee
: received in the matter of the Virgins
There are indications here Of groN
9 ing feeling in favor of maintainin
d friendly relations with SPUN. Thos
v very intimately connected with Gov
, eminent officials begin to express a
v opinion that IN amicable adiustmer
| of the difficulty is entirely practices
|. bic. Very consi lerable weight is a
g tached to the cable dispatch this morl
!, = ing, Announcing it to be the intentio