Los Angeles daily herald., 1873-12-19
Te|egraphic News.
DOMESTIC NEWS.
The Delivery of the vfrgimius TO the
American Naval Officers.

American Naval VmcerS.
New York, Dec. lS.
A correspondent of the Tribune who
was present at the surrender, Of the
Virginius, telegraphs from Key West
that the surrender took place at Bahia
Honda, yesterday morning. The fast
steam Yacht Dispatch was selected to
receive the Virginius. Captain Viii
ting, of the Worcester, was designated
to command her. He was accompanied
by Lieutenants Adolphus Maris, Geo.
A. Calhoun, and Assistant Engineer
n. H. Lamden. The crew consisted
of thirty-nine men. The Dispatch
sailed from Key West on Sunday and
reached Bahia Honda about noon on
Monday. AS soon as the Dispatch was
signaled from the shore, a Spanish
flag bearing the Crown; notwithstand-
ing the eRepublican Eagle accompanied
that monarhial emblem, was flung to
the breeze, and we discovered black
side-wheel steamer, with two smoke
stacks, beyond the forts, and in per-
fectly smooth water. No other craft,
except two or three eoasting schooners
were then visible, and it was not un-
til we were about to come ashore that
we discovered a Spanish sloop-of-war
lyiug close under the shore, about two
miles and half away. The Dispatch
proceeded slowly ana steadily and an
chOred about four hundred yards from
the ,Virginius. Almost Immediately
afterward, boat from the Spanish
vessel came alongside the Virginius,
and ut a quarter to two O'clock the
stars and stripes were raised by Span
ish hands and again tloated over the
vessel which carried Ryan, Verona,
Fry, and their unfortunate comrades
to death.
The boat was then pulled away. At
the same moment we saw, by AID OF
our glasses, another small boat let
down from the Spanish vessel, which
proved to be the Captains gig. 1t
brought to the Dispatch young SPAN
ish naval officer in full uniform. He
was courteously met at the gangway
by Captain Rodgers. and he introduced
himself as Seilor De La Camera, COM
manding the .sloop-of-war Favorita.
He was invited into the cabin. but
being informed by Captain Rodgers
that Captain Whiting was to receive
the surrender, he stepped briskly to-.
wards the latter, and the Spaniard and
the American lifted their caps in cour-
teous salute. Commander DE La Ca
mera remarked that he had received
copy of the protocol requiring the
surrender of the Virginius, and was
prepared to execute it on that or the
following day. Captain Whiting re-
piled that he was Instructed to receive
the vessel on 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 8 o'clock on Tuesday morning
In the afternoon, Captain Whiting
and Lieutenant Maris returned the
call and were received with proper
cOurtesies. Erft5ItIy
Tuesday morning, punctually, as the
bells on the Dispatch struck O'clock.
the American flag flew to the flag staff
of the Virginius, and at the same mo-
ment boat containing Captain Viii
ting and Lieutenant Maris put away
from the Dispatch. AS they assembled
the accommodation ladder of the Nir-
ginius, a single man on the deck, who
proved to be Senior De La Camera, adj
vanced, made salute to the officers
| and remark ed that in obedience to the
requirement of his government he had
the honor to turn over the steamer
| Virginius to the American authorities.
Captain Whiting accepted, and ascer-
tanning that receipt would be ac-
ceptable, he gave one. The Spanlard
stepped over the side, signalled to his
oarsmen and in ten minutes was upon
the deck of his own vessel.
The Virginius was in most filthy
condition. In an hour we were at sea,
and the Virginius was soon again un-
der steam. She found the United
States sloop-of-war Ossipee awaiting
her arrival.