The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1873-11-20
THE BurcHERIrs m CUBA.

THE BUTcHERIEs m CUBA
H. summary and inhuman butchery Of the
Captain, crew and volunteers who were cap
tured on board the Vrginius. by the Spanish
authorities. is likely to cause the Administra.
ton to wake up ON the. Cuban question. aud
pursue line Of policy more IN consonance
with enlightened public opinion. After the
capture Of tho virginius, the prisoners were
taken to Santiago d. Cuba, aud were oil tried
at one time before court-lnartial that met
at 9 o'clock in the morning Of November "a
and wound up the trial by O'Clock on the evening
Of the same day. On the 7th, Captain Joseph
Fry, the Commander Of the vessel, and thirty
six vf his crew were shot by squad Of ma
rnes in the public square Of the city, aud ON
tho following day twelve Of the volunteers
were also executed. making forty eight men in
all that were butchcred in cold blood. Among
the latter were General Ryan, Pedro Cespedes
and other prominent persons connected with
the insurg-nt cause. including Franchi Al
faro. who had been selected rs the future
Pre.dent Of the Cuban Republic. The Vir.
yinius was flying the American flag ut the
time Of her capture. and her papers are sud
to have been regular. and in order; and she
was not captured in Cuban waters. When
the report of the massacre was confirmed ny
official dispatches from the United States Com
sui. General ut Havana. Il Cabinet meeting was
ut once held ut the Executive mansion. and
prompt action decided upon. Orders were
sent to the Brooklyn Navy Yard to fit the sloops
of war K-ursarge and Juniatta ready for sea
ut once. and similar orders were sent to Ph'la.
drlpha to put into commission the Mnh"pac and
Manhattan. The torpedo boat Admiral Por-
ter was Mt once launched ut the Brooklyn Ma.
w Yard. and extra forces Ut men were put ut
work in the different Navy Yards preparing
war vessels for active operations in the shortest
possible time. Great excitement exists among
all classes in the principal cities thruugh the
country. the slaughter being regarded as not
only unjustl6able. but brutal. and calling TOR
immediate action on the part ot our Govern
ment. The leading papers in the East sustain
public opinion; aud. from present Indications.
some decisive action on the part "t the Admin
istration may br accepted us inevitable In
PREVENTION in Cuban affairs is not only demand
I'd in the name Of outraged humanity. but jus.
tice itself, and our own national honor, requires
that the strong arm Of the Republic should br
extended 10 aid Of the suffering patriots at Gu
ba. We hope to hear Of sufficient naval
force being sent to Cuban waters IL take pms
session nf the island, and drive out the coward.
ly Spanish cut threats and murderrrs wh" are
making a hell on earth uf that beautiful gem
If the sea- When such atrocities ms have been
perp.rratrd for several years past in Cuba re-
ceve the Endorsement OF tho Madrid Govern.
ment, it is time that some civilized nati"n
should step in and put an end {" such whole
sale butch.ries; and no nation has greater rx-
cuse or Justification for So doing than the
United States II We had had n Democratic
Administration in power in this country Cuba
would have been ours several years ago; and
We would rightiulIy have acquired it: but it
takes more provocation and national insults
Ia move Grant and his advisers to prompt nc
ton than any Administration our country has
ever endured. Public sentiment is now. how.
ever. go thoroughly aroused. and demonstra-
tive that We may confidently expect radical
change Of policy, even il attended with. or
followed BY. war with Spain.
p S-Since the above was put in type later
dispatches received state that one hundred
and eleven prisoners were shot, Comprising the
crew and all the passrneerl Of tn. virg'uius