Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-12-25
SURRENDER OF the vIReINlUs,

SURRENDER OF THE VIRGINlUs,
Full Particulars Of tie Ceremony; of
Transferable Vessel in a filthy and
Leaky Condition-She is lowed out of
Bahia Honda Harbor by the Dispatch.
New YORK, December ia cor
respondent of the Tribune who was
present at the surrender of the Vir-
ginius, telegraphs from Key West
that the surrender took place at Ba
hia Honda yesterday morning. The
fast steam yatch Dispatch was Sc
lected TO receive the Yirginius, and
Captain Whiting, of Worcester, was
designated to command her. He
was accompanied by Lieut.. Adolph
Moriox, Master, Geo. IA. Calhoun
and Assistant Engineer N. H. Ladin.
The crew consisted of thirty nine
men from the Pawnee. The Dis
patch sailed Key West Sund ~, and
reached Bahia Honda about noon of
Monday. The correspondent says:
''as soon as the Dispatch was sight
ed from shore, the Spanish flag.
bearing the crown, Notwithstanding
the Republic edict abolishing that
monarchial emblem,w flung to the
breeze. We discovered a.black. side
wheel steamship, with two smoke
stacks, lying about q mile beyond
the fort, and in perfectly smooth
water. No other craft, except two or
three coasting schooners were then
visible, and it was not until we were
about to come to anchor that we
discovered Spanish sloop-of-war
lying close under shore, about to
miles and half away. The Dis
patch proceeded-slowly and steadily
along, and anchored about 400 yards
from the Virginius. Almost imme-
diately afterward, a boat from the
Spanish frigate came alongside the
Virginius, and at a quarter Of two
O'Clock, the stars and stripes were
raised by Spanish hands and again
floated over the vessel which carried
Ryan, Verona, Fry and .theirJunfor-
tunate comrades to their death. The
boat was then pulled away, and at
the same moment we saw, by the aid
of glasses, another boat let down
from the Spanish vessel, whichpro.-
ed to be the captains gig 1t brought
to the Dispatch a handsome young
naval officer! in full uniform. He
was courteously met at the gangway
by Captain Rodgers. He introduc-
ed himself as Senior De La Camara,
commanding the sloop of-war Favor
ita. He was invited into the cabin,
but being informed by Captain
Rodgers that Captain Whiting was
to receive the surrender, he stepped
briskly towards the latter, and Span
lard and American lifted caps in sa-
lutte. Commander De la Camara re-
marked that he had received q copy
of the protocol requiring the surren-
der of.the Virginius, and was pre-
pared to execute it, either on that
or the. following day. Captain Whit
ing replied that he was instructed
to receive the vessel on Tuesday
but the hour would be left to the
convenience of the. Spanish. COM
mander. 1t was agreed that the
ceremony should take place at nine
o'clock Tuesday morning. Salutes
we're again exchanged, and Senor
De la Camara left the ship, the in
terview not having consumed more
than five minutes. In the afternoon
Captain Whiting and Lieutenant
Moriox returned the call, and met
with proper courtesies. On rues-
day morning, punctually as the
bells on the Dispatch truck for nine
O'Clock, and before the echo had
died away, the American flag flew
TO the flagstaff of the Virginius, and
at the same moment boat contain
ing Captain Whiting and Lieutenant
Moriox,put away from the Dispatch.
AS they assembled the accommoda-
tion ladder of the Virginius, a single
man on deck which proved to be Sen
or De la Camara, advanced and
made salute. The officers then
read their respective instructions
and Captain De la Camara
remarked that in obedience to- the
requirement of hisj government, he
had the honor to turn over the Vir-
ginius to the American authorities.
Capt. Whiting accepted, and, ascer-
tanning that a receipt would be ac-
ceptable, gave one. A word or two
more, civilly spoken, and the span
lard stepped over the side. sIgnalled
to his oarsmen and in ten minutes
was again upon the deck Of his own
vessel, having discharged with be-
coming dignity the unpleasant du-
ty imposed upon him by his govern
ment. The Virginiuswas in a most
filth condition. She was leaking
considerably and the Spanish Cap
tain stated that he had kept the
pumps going continually since her
arrival, in order to keep the water
down. Barring the filthy condition
of the vessel, she was much better
than was expected. The Virginius
steamed about 200 yards, all going
well, when her engines suddenly re-
fused to do duty, and it became nee
essary for the Dispatch to take her
in tow. The two vessels went out
of the harbor briskly, the Spanish
flag being displayed by the fort as
they went by. ,
When the steamers reached Tor
tugas they found the United States
sloop-of-war Ossipee and coal
schooner awaiting their arrival.
When supplied with provisions and
coal, the Virginius will probably be
sent to northern port. She will
not enter the harbor at Key West at
all, express orders to that effect
having been received from Washing
ton.
The Niapara railroad sus.ension