New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-12-24
Customs receipts to-day $780, 900.
Trial Of Ex.NIayor fall.
THE VIRGINIU6.
The Surrendered Prisoners-The Trea
ment They Received.

| The Surrendered Prisoners-The Trea,
ment They Received.
WASHINGTON, December GA Ke
West special says the survivors of the Vii
ginius were kept in ignorance Of their fate
and were visited by bogus priests, who OK
tracted dying confessions.
They thought they were going to thei
death, and upon the confessions of thes
poor wretches, it is said, Attorney Genera
Williams founded his opinion that tn,
Virginius had no right to bear the America,
cOlOrs.
The poor fellows thought they were goin,
to the slaughterhOuse, but the presence O
the Juhiata, and their surrender to her off
GERS, led to the most extraordinary emo
tiOnal demonstrations.
On the arrival of the Pinta at Santiago
orders came to the ship from Commander
BraiDe for the paymaster to issue all thu
to the prisoners, who were hardly fit to be
seen in their rags.
This was speedily done, but as there wal
still great destitutiOn, orders came for the
men on board to give their own blankets
and wearing apparel in this good cause
promise being made that all would be re-
placed on the arrival Of the ship at Key
West.
The officers and men cheerfully complied
with this order, only preferring that it
should be issued as a request. in which case
they would have obeyed with just "a much
alacrity. Every heart was touched by the
pitiabie condition of the prisoners.
The poor fellows report that they were
barbarously treated. They say that when
the officers from the Tornado boarded the
VIrginius, one of them on hauling down the
flag of the United States tore it into ribbons
and trampled on it, asserting with an oath,
"This is what have wanted"
The Situation at santa go-Assassinat ON
and Intimida tion.
The situation at Santiago de Cuba is re-
ported still very serious. large majority
of the population is IN sympathy with the
Cuban cause, but the volunteers control
everything with high hand.
Only week ago twenty-five citizens Of
Santiago were arrested, and after q mock
trial had been gone through with without
any evidence being adduced against them,
they were told to go home. On the way
they were cruelty waylaid and killed, only
one escaping. He was riddled with bullets
and dangerously wounded.
Americans are continually in fear for their
lives, and bitterly complain that nothing has
been done to redress their wrongs.
1t is not safe for American officers to 20
ashore alone at Santiago. ALI along the
river line the Spaniards are erecting new
batteries.
The virginius to bo Investigated in New
York.
1t has been ascertained from appointment
government official that the Investigation
as to the character of the Virginius will be
conducted in New York, although the gov
ernment is powerless to proceed against
Patterson, to whom the register for that
una al yoor e
of limitations; therefore, no punishment can
be inflicted. Two years having elapsed
since he obtained the papers, he can not be
nolested; but had all the facts become
known within two years, he would have
been prosecuted tor perjuary.
What tho London Times Thinks.
LONDON, December 23-The Times of
this morning, alluding to the report that
spain had made demand upon the United
States for the restoring of the steamship
Virginius and the surrender of the survivors
at Santiago de Cuba, says that such action
On the part of Spain would be premature
despite the opinion of the Attorney General
Of the United States that the Virginius had
no right to carry the American flag. Spain
must wait until the United States court has
settled the case of the vessel before pro-
ceeding further in the matter.
Report Denied.
There is no truth in the report that the
British war ships in the West Indies have
been ordered to assemble in Cuban waters.
Views Of the Havana Press.
HAVANA, December 23.-The Dia,io de la
Marina to-day claims that as the United
States Attorney General has decided that
the Virginius illegally carried the Ameri.
,sn flag at the time Of her capture, Spain
must demand her restoration, and that of
her surviving prisoners.
It infers from the decision that the Vir-
zinius was . pirate, and says tho United