The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1873-11-21
Heiails e be vlrglnlna 800


Eeiails CT the virginius Tragedv.
A letter from Havana gives an &C
count al the steamer Virginius. from
which it appears that On October
18th, the Spanish Consul at Kings
ton advised the Governor at Santa
go de Cuba that the Virginius was
/ in the vicinity Of Morrant Bay. The
Spanish war steamer Tornado had
that morning arrived at Santiago de
Cuba, and after the Governor had
received Information ofthe Virginius
went in search Of her. The follow
ing day the Tornado, under full sail
and but little steam, owing to some
slight repairs being made on her ma
ehinery, came in sight Of the Vir-
glnius, which probably supposed the
tornado tobe a sailing vessel, as her
course was not changed.
On board the Tornado every effort
was made to hasten the repairs they
were engaged in, and at two o'clock
the chief engineer announced them
completed. All the steam possible
was Immediately got up and the yes
sci headed for the Virginius, soon
reaching a speed Of fourteen knots
an hour, and slowly gaining upon
her.
The Virginius had, in the mean
time, kept on her course, bnt divin-
ing the hostile intentions Of the Tor
nado, changed it toward Jamaica,
and being out of coal commenced to
burn petroleum, grease, fat and 9TH
eombustibles, and from the provis-
ions on board such as hams, etc.
Night closed in and the vessels were
in the same relative position, the
Tornado, however, gaining. As
soon as they got within gunshot,
the Tornado fired gun, followed by
three Others and a shell.
This brought the Virginius to, and
two armed boats from the Tornado
came alongside, took possession Of
the vessel, and made prisoners Of al
on board. At the time of the cap
ture the Virginius was flying the
American flag, but this was pulled =
down by Spanish officer, and the
Spanish ensign hoisted in its place,
although the papers Of the vessel du-
ly dispatched for Colon we're handed
to him.
After the capture, the next two
hours we're employed in transferring
some Of the prisoners to the Tornado
and putting a prize crew on the Vir-
ginius. At midnight the two yes
seis started for Santiago de Cubs,
and arriving the next day at five in
the afternoon, having been joined
by the Spanish steamer Cantabro.
Upon their arrival in port the
news spread like lightning, and at
tracted an immense crowd Of people.
The government palace and other
public buildings we're illuminated,
and all the authorities, civil and mil
itary, went to felicitate the Governor
(Burriel) upon the news, who in the
evening gave a brilliant reception.
The vessels were surrounded in the
bay by q number of boats filed with
bands of music and cheering volun-
teers, and the festivities were kept
up late at night.
On the following day the second
court martial was held on board the
Tornado, which commenced at nine
o'clock, and terminated at four. All
we're tried as pirates, and the fnd-
lngs of the court and sentences were
sent to the Captain General and ad-
niral in sealed packets.
After che court had concluded its
ask, all of the prisoners, with the
exception of Benbet, Jesus Del Sol,
General Ryan and Pedro Cespedes,
we're transferred to the jail Of the
city, escorted by a force Of 100 vol
and q number of marines.
General Burriel, it is said, coOily
asked that all the prisoners should
be turned over to him with the ex-
eeption Of the captain and crew, who
should be sent to HaEans, at the dis
Doposal of Commandate General De
and declared that in tWen-
iy-four hours afterwards ali should
)e tried and executed, in order to
void any complications with the ex-
erior-foreign Intervention. He al
% detained a telegram which the
United States Consul desired TO for
yard to the United States Consul at
reporting the capture and
as to the nationality Of the
The Virginius had pa
,ers in order, and was dispatched
or Colon, all passengers appearing
n the papers as laborers for a rail
oad building there. All accounts
iffer as to the position Of the Vir-
inius at the time Of the capture
me gives the capture as having
cen effected twenty miles from ia
laica, and an official account states
Telve miles; Diarro states at TWEEN
y-three miles; the journals Of San
ago de Cuba eight and twenty miles
nd the version Of the Vose de Cuba
t twelve miles. The commander
f the Tornado publicly stated in
sntiago de Cuba that an hour later
nd the Virginius could have saved
erself by entering some port Of ia
laica.
Itseems that the Yirginius, short
: after the departure Of the French
.eamer for Santiago de Cuba, left
amaica on the oath ult. 1t was the
Itention Of the expeditionists to
Ill direct for Cuba, but slight
amage to the machinery obliged
lem to put into Hayti. This they
# touching at Port su Prince. On
le 30th they concluded to sail for
uba and attempt a landing, and
pom which day the information that
,oVed so disastrous to those on
BARD, was given to the authorizes at
lntiago de Cuba.
New Exemption.