New-York tribune., 1873-12-18


with the surrender of the Virgnius.
PARTICULARS OF THE SURRENDER AT
BAHIA HONDA.
DEPARTURE OF THE DESPATCH FROM KEY WEST
CEREMONY OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF THE
vlRGrNIus-sE,Rcu FOR TRoPHRs-THE HOME
WARD VOYAGE.
lRY TELEGRAPH TO TBR TRIBUNEl
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-THE following has
been received from special correspondent:
KEY WEST, Dec III have just arrived
from Bahia Honda, where the surrender of the
Virginus took place yesterday morning. lhe
names of the officer and vessel appointed to
receive the surrender of the Virginius were
carefully concealed from the fleet at Key West
until the afternoon of Sunday last. On that
afternoon the fast dispatch boat Despatch,
which had returned from an important
mission to Pensacola on the preceding day,
having received supply OF coal, dropped
down to her anchorage between the flagship
Worcester and the receiying-ship PaYnee.
The officers were under sailing orders but
sill ignorant of the destination and mission.
There first came aboard, a well-known and
careful pilot. then came thirty -nine men from
the Pswpee. then The TRIBUNE correspond
ent, and finally Capt. w. d. Whiting, Chief
of staff of Admiral Scott, accompanied by
Lieut. Adolph Mark, Master Geo. A. Calhoun
and Assistant Engineer n. II. Lamdin. Then
there could no longer be any doubt that the
Despatch was to receive the Vnginius,
although the prevailing impression had been
that a regular man-Of-war would be assigned
10 n duty OF such dignity and Importance 1t
appears that Capt. Whiting was designated Tor
the duty by the Secretary of theNavy, and the
other officers of the prize crew were appointed
by Admiral Scott. Capt Whiting is the com
lnanding officer Of the Worcester, and one OF
the most efficient, judicious and courteous Off
GERS III the Navy.
ARRIVAL AT BAHIA HONDA.
Al about 10 O'Clock on Sunday evening the
Desnatch quietly weighed anchor, and, wend-
ing her tortuous way between the vessels in
the barbor. was soon rounding Sand Key
light and heading for the Cuban coast Not
desiring to reach her destination before noon
on Monday the engines were slackened for
several hours, during which time the average
speed was not more than five knots An hour
The next morning about ten the blue hills
above the horizon, and the bow was directed
toward Bahia Honda. At 11:5O the coast
mountain. upon which stands an old yellow
fort called Murrilo, commanding the entrance
to the barbor. was clearly in view. Speed was
then again slackened, and the vessel cautiously
rrept along toward the narrow but clearly
marked channel, which leads to the smooth
water where the Nirginius was supposed to be
laying.
As soon as the Despatch was sighted from
the shore the Spanish flag bearing the Crown,
notwithstanding the republican edict abolish
ing that monarchical emblem, was flung to
the breeze. We discovered black sidewheel
steamsbip with two smOkestacks) lying about
a mile beyond the fort and IN perfectly
.mooth water. No ether craft except two or
three coasting schooners were then visible, and
A. was not until we were about to come to
anchor that we discerned Spanish slOOp-Of-
war living close under the shore, about two
miles and half away. The Despatch pro-
reeded slowly and steadily along declining
the proffered assistance of two pilots, and at
lao anchored in seven and "a half fathoms
of water and about 400 yards from the
y,rcinjus. Almost Immediately afterward boat
from the Spanish frigate came alongside the
Virgnius. and at 2I5 o'clock the
Stars and Stripes were raised by Spanish
hands and again foated over the vessel which
carried Ryan, Verona, Fry, aud their unfor-
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 which
proved to be the Captains glg. 1t
ohf IN he oh haudS0mp
Spanish naval officer in full uniform. lie was
courteously met at the gangway by Capt.
Rodgers He introduced himself as Senior
de IA Camara, commanding the sloop-of-war
FayOrita. He WAS invited into the cabin but,
being informed by Capt. Rodgers that Capt.
Whiting WAS to receive the surrender, he
stepped briskly toward the latter and Spaniard
and American lifted caps in courteous salute.
PRYLININARIEs TO THE SURRENDER.
Commander de Ia Camara remarked that he
had received copy Of the protocol requiring
the surrender Of the Virginius and was pre-
pared to execute it either on that OF the fol
lowing day. Capt. Whiting replied that he
WAS instructed to receive the vessel ON Tues.
Jay. but the hour wOuld be left TO the con-
veniepce of the Spanish commander. 1t was
then agreed that the ceremony shonld take
p,se4 al 9 o'clock on Tuesday
.arDipg. In reply 10 question Of
Cart Wbitlns. CODmandeT dc II Csnss