The New York herald., 1873-11-28
The VIRGINIUS' RECORD
Spanish Allegation Of Piracy
Against the Vessel.
Commander Reed, of the Kansas, and the
United States Consul at AspinwaIl
Did Not Credit the Charge
The Correspondence which Occurred Between
the Spaniard and the American.


much public attention that her history previous to
her capture Dy the Spanish steamer Tornado be-
comes OF the greatest interest. Her record, too,
assumes the grayest Importance In consequence Of
the fact that the Spanish government rests It's
main argument In proof or the illegltimacy OF the
vessel upon former representations made against
her by Spanish ofifcials to the government at
Washington. The charge against the Virglnius
may be summed up by saying that the vessel was
adjudged to be pirate by Lleutenant Jose M.
Autran, commander OF the Spanish vessel
ofwaH Bazan for an alleged act OF hostility
to Spain In having made, flying the Cuban nag,
landing on the coast Of Cuba OF Cubans in arms OF
subjects OF the United States in arms and OF am
munition OF war. In June, 1873, when the vir-
ginius was lying in the port OF Aspinwan, Lieu
tenant Autran, who was the fiscal procurator
against the vlrginius, presented this allegation
both to the American Consul (Thorrington) at As
pinwall and to A. " Reed, the commander OF the
United States steamship Kansas, then also lying in
the harbor OF Aspinwan, with view to prevent
ing Commander Reed from protecting the vessel
Commander Reed applied to the Consul for infor-
nation as to the regularity OF the Vrginius'
papers, and was answered that the virginius was
an American vessel Upon this authority Com
mander Reed acted, and promptly refused to deny
the protection OF his nag to the virginius The
following was the correspondence which took place
I UNITED STATES STEAMER KANSAS
tAsPIEwALI, June "a, 1873 I
Bon. O.. M. RoBEsoN, Secretary OF the Navy
under. my command. 50 hours from Grey.
Navy, and several OF the ofncers Of the Nicaragua
Surveying Expedition as passengers / found
aae a
vessel which In April, 1872 was conveyed to sea by
this vessel at the time the Spanish steamer Plzarro
threatened to seize her, The evening OF the ed the
Spanish gunboat Bazan arrived and anchored in
line with the Kansas and virginius, quite coinci-
dence, as that was the way they left the harbor
on the occasion referred to- the Kansas keeping
her position between the virginius and the Span.
Spanish the er m
Q copy OF which is herewith enclosed, as well as
the correspondence resulting therefrom, and q let
which have not had the opportunity OF answer
ing, and shall not before the Pacific mail steamer
tion requested, and for that purpose win be
obliged TO remain here till the virginius is ready
to sail or until the arrival OF another United States
vessel, which. am informed by the Consul, he has
received notice OF being ordered here; then shall
proceed to carry out the department order OF the
9th inst. The Bazan is an iron hull, schooner
rigged gunboat, carrying two pivot guns, and ap-
parently quite FAST She was built in England, and
resembles, at q short distance, the vessels built in
New York for the Spanish government, but she
appears rather larger. do not anticipate COLI
en eFy Tsa ss ready %
United States Navy, commanding Kansas.
THE SPANISH ARGUMENT.
The following Is the letter addressed to Com.
mander Reed by Lieutenant Autran, commanding
the Spanish gunboat Bazan:-
4e 3A1 AsPINwALI, June o. 1878.
a4sr > SPANISH VEssEL-OF-WARA BAZAN.
On my arrival at this port yesterday evening I
found anchored here ana alongside the ship under
very much surprised at seeing the United States
ensign hoisted nom the ensign g stan. This vessel
had naS previously made & landing IN & on the coast Of
against Spain, OF subjects OF the United States in
arms ana OF ammuDitiohs or war. This deed was
judicially proved by prisoners OF war captured in
Cuba, some Of whom had belonged to said
expedition and testified to that effect; and
an accusation, proved by the Spanish courts,
OF having committed q hostile deed against
son Il true sh. Se m ha
the landing took place under the Cuban nag, but
in that case the virginius cannot now hoist the
United States nag as everybody knows that vessels
under such an accusation as that pending against
said steamer cannot be bought by another nation
or private party without the risk OF losing her
either by force in certain circumstances or BY the
delivery OF the vessel to the offended Power as q
resT o. the res ca Sow beg
can vessel, and II as such she has all her papers
according TO law; because II she has there viii be
no doubt that IN the United States the law or ma
t0ns Is interpreted, at least In the present case,
In a very different way from what 1t is in Spain,
and therefore l viii ask the Spanish Consul In
Panama to transmit my remarks to the Spanish
Minister in Washington, in order that this high
officer may present to the American government
. the proper observations and claims, so that the
svirginius may cease to ny the nag Of o nation at
peace with Spain; and that, in case OF covering
extreme measures or to ask the arbitration OF
some European Power in the fibuster question
am debating, because the beautiful example OF
arbitration We have contemplated between the
Union and England urges US to follow 1t. No doubt
the spanish government win soon adopt that
method OF adjusting tue dlnerences which ire
Quenty arise between nations.
l beg youiagain to inform me officially and in a
definite manner II the Virginius is vessel OF your
nation, and not only carries caprice the North
American nag so that may adjust my future acts
to that definite answer With ,nsT assurances a & &$c
To the Commander OF the United States steamer
Kansas. t
A REED NOT SHAKEN BY THE WIND.
On the receipt Of this letter Commander Reed
Immediately addressed the following to United
States Consul Thorrngton, at Aspinwan:-
UNITED STATES STEAMER KANsAs1 r
AsPINwALI, June %, 1873 I
SIR enclose herewith letter In Spanish, re-
ceived this day rom the commanding onicer OF
last evening; also translation into English; and
respectfully request that you will inform me as to
chored here; whether her papers are all correct,
and II she Is United States vessel and authorized
nish the information desired BY Lieutenant Com
mandIng Aqtran and for my own guidance; RRSn Re-
Commanding United States steamer Kansas.
THE CONSUL REPLIES.
70 this letter Consul Thorrington made the fol-
lowing reply
UNITED STATES CoNsULATE,(
AsPINwALL, June "a 1874. I
Commander A. v. REED, United states Steamship
Kansas ..A r
SIR-Your letter to me OF yesterday covering
copies OF letter received from the Spanish man-oi
war Bazan now at anchor near your ship, In which
you request to be Informed whether the papers OF
the virginius are all correct and II she Is United
afoQy va aapl N he mi n
nag, Is received. lat XVI
IN reply, permit me to say to all your inquiries,
her papers are al correct. Sne is United states
nag. Very respectfully,
JAMES THoRRINGTON,
t ,+t United States Consul.
COMMANDER REED REPLIES.
Upon the receipt OF the Consurs letter Comman.
der Reed addressed the following to the Spanish
Commander M Ca .. IS I1Ertb
UNITED STATES STEAMER KANsAal