Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-11-14
A Chapter of Exciting Incidents.
She is Taken under the U. S. Flag.
Her Papers All i'm Legitimate
Shape.
Fiendish RejOicings over Her
Capture.

Fiendish RejOicings over He
| Capture.
The Executions Approved by the Cap
tains General.
NEW YORK, Nov. 13.--A letter from
| Havana gives an account of the steame
Virginius, from which it appears that OF
| Oct. ID the Spanish consul at Kingston adj
vised the Governor at Santiago De Cub;
that the Virginius was in the vicinity Of
| Morrant bay. The Spanish war steamel
| Tornado had that morning arrived at San
tiago De Cuba, and four hours after the
| Governor received information of the Vir
ginius, she went in search of her. Thefol
| lowing day the Tornado, under full sal
| and but little steam, as some slight repairs
were being made to her machinery, came
| in sight of the Virginius, which probably
supposed the Tornado to be a sailing yes
sci, as her course was not changed.
On the Tornado every effort was made tC
hasten the repairs they were engaged in and
at two o'clock the chief engineer pronounce
ed them completed. All the steam possible
was Immediately got up and the vessel
headed for the Virginius, soon reaching a
speed Of fourteen knots and slowly gaining
upon her. The Virginius had in the mean
time kept on her course, but divining the
hostile intentions of the Tornado, changed
it towards Jamaica and being out of coal
commenced to burn petroleum, grease, fat
and other combustibles from the provisions
on board, such as hams, etc. Night closed
in and the vessels were in the same relative
rNncifinnS tho fTnppaHn hnNUpVpr riTSr
As soon as they got within gunshot the
Tornado fired gun followed by three other
shots and shell. This brought the Virgin
iuS TO and two armed boats from the Tor
nado came alongside, took possession OF
the vessel and made prisoners of all on
board.
AT the time of capture the Vifginius was
flying the American flag, but this was pull
ed down by the Spanish officers, and the
Spanish ensign hoistedin its place, although
the papers of the vessels, duly despatched
for Gallon, were handed to him. After cap
tUe. the next two hours were employed in
transferring some of the prisoners to the
Tornado, and putting prize crew ON the
Virginius. At midnight the two vessels
started for Santiago de Cuba, and arrived
the following day at five in the afternoon,
having been joined by the Spanish steamer
Cantabro.
Upon arrival in the port the intelligence
spread like lightning, and attracted an i'm
mense crowd of people. The government
palace and other public buildings were il
Illuminated, and all the authorities, civil and
military, went to felicitate the Governor,
Burriel, upon the news, who in the even
ing gave a brilliant reception. The vessels
were surrounded in the bay by a number OF
boats filled with bands of music and cheer
ing volunteers. The festivities were kept
up late into the night.
The following day the second court-mar-
tial was held on board Of the Tornado,
which commenced at nine and terminated
at four. All We're tried as pirates, and the
findings of the court and sentences were
sent to the Captain-General and Admiral in
sealed packets. After the court had con-
cluded its task. all the prisoners, with the
exception of Benbeta, Jesus DeSala, Gen.
Ryan, and Pedro Cespedes were transferred
TO the Jail of the city, escorted by force OF
one hundred volunteers and a number OF
marines.
Gov. Burriel, it is said, cody asked that
all the prisoners should be turned over to
him, with the exception of the captain and
crew, who should be sent to Havana at the
disposal of COmmandants Gen. DeAIarin-
ais, and declared that within twinty-fom
hours afterwards all should be tried and ex-
ecuted in order to avoid any complication
with the exterior, that is foreign interven-
ton. He also detained a telegram which
the United States Consul decided to for
ward to the United States Consulate at
Kingston, reporting the capture, and in
quiring as to the nationality of the Virgin
Jus. ....
The Virginius had her papers in order
and was dispatched for Gallon, all the pas
sengers appearing on the papers as laborers
for the railroad building there. All ac-
counts differ as to the position of the Vir-
ginius at the time of capture. One gives
The capture as having been effected at
| twenty miles from Jamaica, and the official
| account states twelve miles. The DidriC
states at twenty-three miles. The journals
of Santiago de Cuba say eight miles and
twenty miles, and the version of the VOSt
| de Cuba twelve miles. The commander
of the Tornado publicly stated in Santiago
| de Cuba, that in an hour later the Virgin,
Jus could have saved herself by entering
| some port Of Jamaica.
1t seems that the Virginius, shortly after
| the departure of the French steamer fol-
| Santiago de Cuba, left Jamaica on the 24tl
| ult. 1t was the intention of the expedi
| tioniss to sail direct for Cuba, but a Sigh
damage to the machinery obliged them t.
enter the port of Hayti. This they left
| touching at PoIt-au-Prince, Hayti, and an
other port of the same island, until the
30th, upon which day they concluded t.
sail for Cuba and attempt a landing, an(
upon which day the information tina
| proved so disastrous to those on board wa
| given to the authorities at Santiago de
| Cuba.
War Vessels Fitting Out i'm Haste.
Some officers at the BroOklyn'Navy YarC
! profess ignorance in regard to the receipt o
orders from Washington, but at the SAM
time every man that could be obtained wa
set to work on the war vessels Powhattan
Kansas and Juniata. The Kansas received
a supply of stores this afternoon, and it il
thought she will sail tonight. The Juniat
will be ready to sail tomorrow night.
A Prospect Of War with Spain.
The Brooklyn Eagle says: Executive
Officer Ransom, of the Navy Yard, in al
| interview. said orders had been received
from Washington about fitting out vessels
but he was not at liberty to make then
public. He thought there was prospect o
war with Spain, and that the Government
would undoubtedly proceed by taking Cuba
The Spanish frigate Arapiles, which ha
been undergoing repairs at the Navy YarC
for the past two months, has had her plate
removed, and could not possibly be got il
trim for service in less than two weeks.
John Bull, Esq, Wants n Finger in tn
Virginius Pie.
| LONDON, Nov. IA, s a. M.-The Britisl
Government has instructed its consols a
Havana and Santiago de Cuba, to watcl
proceedings against captives or the Virgin
Jus, as it has been informed that one Q
them is a subject of Great Britain.
Cuban Enthusiasm in Philadelphia.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 13.-A larg
meeting of Cubans, residents in this city
was held this evening. the President c
the Philadelphia Junta, NJ. A. MonteiC
presiding. lie, with others made addresSe
in which great stress was laid on the Vii
ginius outrage. Gen. VIM. S. Small an
Capt. Powers, two well-known militar
men Of this city, were present and afte
making addresses offered their services il
the Cuban cause, saying they would rails