Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-11-13
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.
ESPECIAL DISPATCHES TO THE GAZETTE
The Capture of the Virginius.

llcuarS Oh tue capture OF the pTgtnluS i lie
Virgiuius shortly after the departure Of the
French steamer for Santiago de Cuba left
Jamaica on the 9th ut 1t was the intention
of the expeditionists on board to sail direct for
the shores Of Cuba, but a slight damage to the
machinery obliged them to enter the port Of
Hayti This they left touching at Port Au
Prince, Hayti, and another port on the same
Island until the S0th, upon which day they con-
Guided to sail for Cuba aud attempt landing.
On this day the Spanish counsel at Kingston
advised the Governor of Santiago de Cuba that
the Nirginius was 10 the vicinity Of Morraut
Bay, Jamaica AS it happened the Spanish
man ot-war Tornado had that morning arrived
at Santiago dc Cuba and Governor Burril i'm
mediately communicated to her commander,
Costiila, his information which caused her to
leave four hours afterwards.
On the following day, the 3lst, the Tornado
under full sail but little steam on, as some slight
repairs were being made to her machinery,
came in sight of the Virglnius which probably
supposed the Tornado to be sailing vessel,
as her course was not changed
On the Tornado every effort was made to-
/ hasten repairs, that were engaged in, and at
two o'clock the Chief Engineer pronounced
them completed. All steam possible was then
Immediately got up and the vessel headed TO.
ward the Firginius, soon attained speed OF IA
knots and gradually gained upon her.
her course but discovering the hostile Intention
of the Tornado changed it towards Jamaica and
being out Of coal commenced burning petro-
leum, greases fat and other cnmbustlbles fro
| her provisions, such as hams &c Night closed
| 10 and the vessels were ia the same relative
POSITIONS the Tornado however gaining upon
! her prey. The bright light of the full moon
| kept the Eirgiuius in full view and her masts
and dense clouds of smoke caused by the ua
ture of her fuel were clearly visible to her, the
slowly going Tornado. Further to facilitate
| their Eight, they threw overheard horses,
cannon aud many cases OF arms and ammuni-
ton, afterwards stated to be 1000 Remmington
rifles, mitrailieus seven horses, quantity Of
powder and small arms.
As soon as she got within guu shot, the Tor.
nado fired Il gun followed by three other shot
and shell This brought the Firginius to and
two armed boats from the Tornado came along
| side, took POSSESSION OF the vessel, and made
| prisoners Of all on board.
At the time OF the capture the Firglulus was
flying the American flag; but this was pulled
down by Il Spanish ulh:er and he Spanish En'
sim hoistcd in its stead, although the papers
of the vessel duly dispatched for Colon were
handed to him.
The vessel was at the time in British waters
and within league as am positively inform-
| cd, of the coast of Jamaica On this point all
accounts differ; one giving the capture twenty
miles from Jamaica
After the capture the next two hours were
employed in transferring somc OF the PRISONERS
to the Tornado and putting prize crew IN the
Firginius.
The total number Of persons on board
amounted to lG5 of whom 90 are said to be
natives of the island and the remainder for
elguers.
Of these l65 persons GO are thought to form
the crew. ,..r
At midnight that night the two vessels start
ed for Santiago de Cuba and arrived the fol-
lowing day at five clock in the afternoon, hay
ing been joined by the Spanish steamer Can
tabro This tact alone of seventeen hours
steauing would tend TO prove that they were
at considerable distance from Cuba and very
near Jamaica, as the distance between the two
Islands is not much above 100 miles.
The following day, 1.-THE second) court mar
tia was held on board the Tornado which COM
mepced at nine o'clock and terminated at four
| O clock. All were tried spirates and the bud
| ings of the court aud the sentences were sent
to the Captain General and Admiral IN sealed
packets. After the court had concluded It's
task all the prisoners were transferred to jail.
General Burrill coolly asked, it Is said, that
all the prisoners should be turoed over to him
with the exception of the captain and crew
who should be sent to Havana at the disposal
Of Commandeute General de Marina, aud de-
clared that within "a hours afterwards all
should be executed in order to avoid any COM
plcation with the exterior-tbat is foreign In
terveution He also detained the telegram
which the q. S. Consul desired to forward to
the United States Consul at Kingston. report
ing the capture and inqulring as to the nation
aliiy of the Virgiuius. All this news wac re-
ceyed in Havana with great rejoicing by the
Spanish.
Last evening the Captain General received
telegram from Burril, telling the fate of four
of the principal prisoners at Santiago de Cuba
The letter Of the third gives the following
account of the landing of the prisoners OF the
Virginius: Yesterday afternoon about I'VE
o'clock the whole of the members OF the Vir-
ginius expedition were brought on shore. Forces
from the meu-of- war guarded them to the shore,
and, aided by the volunteers, conducted them
to prison The prisoners walked four in row,
with their arms tied, mostly all in their shirt
sleeves, and had generally Il dirty appearance.
Nearly all walked firmly, with their heads up,
and with reckless look on their faces. Many
were smiling. None appeared to be much at
fcctcd by their situation: Bembeta was land
ed by himself, about half an hour after. lie
also had his arms tied, and was escorted by
four marines, a corporal and an officer. lie
marched firmly up the street to jail. The wharf
and neighborhood were crowded by curious
throng, noticeable feature being large com,
papy of negroes, with their flags flying and
drums beating.
In the evening there was as on the previous
one an illumination Of Il square and two bands
discoursed music till / o'clock.
The Circulo ESpanol in union with the club
ST. Charles gave receptions to the officers OF
the Tornado. The invitation stated that the
reception was given for the brilliant capture OF
the insurseut steamer Virginius and the hero
ism of the captain Of the Corvette. The at
tendance at the Clrculo Soiree was good, guests