The New York herald., 1873-12-29

| the enemies OF spain were drawn out, ana Wnen
prisoner came into the court room they were rea'
| 10 him. He was invariably requested to sign an'
promised liberty and money II he did SO. In cas-
| OF refusal the officers present generally threat
ened instant death, and, in order to make
the threat the more forcible, the soder
pointed their bayonets at the breast OF tn,
unfortunate prisoner. In some instances they
were intimidated to such an extent that they
actually signed the papers, though they subse
quently recanted when brought face to face with
the accused. Rivera also described the horrors o
the prison life and the terrible treatment the vic
TINS received at the hands OF their prosecutors.
WHAT DENTIST KNEW ABOUT 1T.
1t seems that the officials were bound to have
admissions OF q criminal character from the prs
oners at all hazards. Justice was never Knocked SC
completely for where the prisoners declined to ad
init the assertions OF their accuser they were
threatened with death. Manuel Manassas, who
says he Is surgeon denIlst from Philadelphia,
and who was among the number cap
tured on the virginius, states that on
being taken into the court room, the Fiscal said
to him, ANow, sir, you must state everything we
wish; II you do not, you win be shot," ~ said
Manassas, 'told him would tell the truth" ooh,
very well, SIR" replied the Fiscal, after which he
upbraided and insulted him. He then asked him II
he knew varona, and replying in the affirmative,
inquired whether he did not know that he was an
insurgent ana an enemy OF Spain. II told him, y
said Manassas, "that had read in the newspapers
that Varona had given up that business long be-
FORE" SHOW is IT," said the Fiscal .that. born in
Philadelphia, you speak Spanish so wells sup.
pose you all want to be American citizens now,
but that win avail you nothing.n The prisoner was
then sent back to his CELL with the consoling IN.
formation that he was to be shot in the morning.
He said that the treatment while in jail in the
MORO Castle and on the steamer Cienfuegos
was unfit for the vilest dog, and that, although
promises were made to improve matters after the
visit OF Commander Braine, nothing was done to
ameliorate their condition. On the contrary, they
were treated with greater harshness and cruelty
than before. During the march to the MORO Castle
from the jail they were compelled to carry the
sick on their shoulders, though scarcely able to
walk themselves.
DEATH BEFORE DIsHoNOR.
We are next informed how the Spanish of1cers-
volunteers probably-were Afforded an oppor-
tunity OF testing the quality Of their blades. In
talescio Truilo relates that the number OF Spanish
soldiers who boarded the Virginius was about 35,
and confirms the account previously given in refer
ence to the robberies perpetrated on board. He
furnishes additional information, moreover, as to
the manner in which the trials were held. With.
out waiting for any statement he had to make he
was peremptorIy ordered to sign q paper to the
effect that the virginus was privateer, carrying
arms and ammunition; and declining to do SO, two
officers drew their swords, saying, "Sgn it or we
Will run you through He replied that they might
kill him. but he woulc not tell lie; whereupon he
was informed that his name was recorded among
those doomed to die, and he was accordingly re.
moved to the dark cell preparatory to being sent
TO the chapel BENJAMIN Olazabal was treated to
q blow in the face, and, OF course, added to
the death roll for similar reasons Induce
ments were held out to Juan Marrero-
life, liberty and money, II he would
annex his name to the all-important document
but refusing to do 30, he was thrust back with q
blow. Domingo Diaz formerly storekeeper in
Nassau street. went through the same operation
and was pronounced q Liar by the judicial digni.
taries. Ricardo Trujillo had q similar statement
to make, and now we learn some additional facts
in reference to the capture, trial and punishment
Of the prisoners, IT, indeed, any are necessary to
compete the sad history OF Spanish brutality. A
law student. named Leopold Rizo, from New Or.
leans, was among the number Of those on board,
bound, as he says, for Port Limon. In relating
the story Of the capture he describes the OF
the chase as one Of great excitement. After the
fifth shot had been fred from the Tornado, Gen.
eral Ryan came forward and said:-
"DoN'T he AFRAID, BOYS
we are going to stop. We are passengers and
they cannot harm us. We have got nothing on
board and we are going to see what the Spanish
man-of-war wants.n Then they stopped, and, as
RHO has it, the Spanish officer jumped on board,
saying, '1f you attempt to re one shot we will sink
the ship, with all on board" a." continued Rizo,
relating this part OF the story, ~ never believe in
trusting Spaniard with my life, and, apprehend.
ing the fate in store for all Of rs. attempted to
throw myself into the water bat was Immediately
seized by three soldiers. and their olcer ordered
me to be tied, at the same time directing them to
shoot me on the spot should make any effort to
escape. was among the few detained on board
the virginius, and about midnight was asked to
the cabin to partake OF some supper with Captain
Fry. Shortly after two O'Clock the soldiers com.
menced to break open the trunks One box, con.
tanning Q number OF English sovereigns, they
quickly rined. On my demonstrating with them
was told It was none OF my damned business.
They complesely gutted the ship OF all valuables.
1 subsequently saw one OF the soldiers wearing my
pantaloons. The next day told an oficer that I
had lost my pantaloons, upon which ne said, you
don't need o watch and chain for we are going to
shoot you as pirate My trial took place on the
day the crew were going to be shot. In reply to
the questions put TO me, l said was born in
Havana, but that I declined to make any declara
ton unless in presence Of my Consul They asked
me TO what Consul referred, and produced my
papers as an American citizen, whereupon the
fiscal observed, 'You are nothing but renegade
dog
THE AMERICAN CONSUL.
At this moment i was dragged to the window
and, seeing the crew passing into jail, an officer
said 70 me, in a sneering tone, DO you see these
men There's the captain OF your ship. Now tel
your Consul to come here and see what he can dc
for them. He was here q little while ago and VIC
turned him OUT / said, All rightr and wher
asked whether there were any arms on the yir
ginius at the time OF the capture observed
well, II we had had arms on the virginius We
would have fought the Tornado In response tt
the question as to whether we did not take arms
and ammunition on board from schooner at Por
au Prince, said that all saw coming on boare