The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-11-24
NEW YORK.
The virginius-PartIcu of the
Capture and Executions.

New YORK, November 23.-The ex-
citement over the Virgirius massacre
continues, and every scrap OF news Civ
ing further details OF the horrible
butchery is read with avidity. Some
correspondence, giving further psrticu-
lars Of the capture of the vessel ard the
executions that followed, was made
public by DR.. Manuel Calvin yesterday,
He states that in a tter-ifou 6 General
Varavsn to Mrs. General Quesaba, the
General used following language: Il
am about to die. l could live longer,
but cannot do so without losing my
honor Propositions to betray my
comrades have been made to me, but |
cannot accept them. / prefer to die
rather then live without honor Other
communications give the details OF the
capture as follows: THE American
steamer VIrginius left Jamaica on the
22d, having been duly cleared By custom
house authorities, and her papers be-
ing quite in order. She proceeded to
Port-au Prince, where she remained
"a hours, after which she WAS
compelled to leave and did
so on the 22i at noon. She
Was soon chased by the three Spanish
men-of-war, but managed to get away.
There were several other Spanish war
steamers along the Cuban coast, await
ing her appearance. while other war
vessels were cruising in the passage
between Hsyti and Cuba. On the night
OF the 29th she was again chased, but
the brave little vessel once more suc-
ceeded in escaping the enemy. On the
following morning, the 3Oth, che was
sgain chased aud succeeded in giving
them the slip, but soon after she tell in
with more Spanish vessels. Supplies
OF pork and hams were burned, and the
Virginius still held her own, pursued
by lour Spaniards. All the munitions
OF war were then thrown overheard.
After twenty hours chase she was esp.
'tured near Port au>tord duy Elfarau-
dez. Shell were thrown, two OF Toe
bale striking her hull and smokestaGk,
The FIrginius hove to, still flying the
American colors. Verona advocated
the blowing up Of the powder maga-
zine go tLev should not fall into the
hands Of TIE $panisrds. Captain Fry
said they we're in neutral waters
and under the American flag.
Verona and his followers
seemed satisfied. An officer from the
Tornado boarded the Virginius and de.
manded her papers. The officer after
the inspection, said they were correct,
but they must consider themselves bic
prisoners. Verona replied that he con-
sidered himseli prisoner because there
Was 40 Euglish or American vessels
present to witness this scandal, and the
American flag he considered their pro-
lection, but he knew he would be VIC
tim, sisce the Spanish government had
all along hsted him. They were
taken aboard the Tornado and put ia
irons. The Virginius was taken in
tow and the TWO vessels arrived at San
tiago, October 3lst, al six o'clock IN
the evening, Vorono and Ryan's beha-
vior was the admiration Of the Spanish
officers. News OF the arrival spread
rapidly through the city, and the effect
of the news was most brutal. Spar
iards parsdei The streets shouting
death 10 the pirates. They demanded
that troops from a neighborInS
garrison should lie brought to the
city and four thousand were
brought in at midnight. The Capt;ves
were paraded through the streets two
and tive, handcufIed, and marched to
isil amid the yelling aud shouting Of
the crowd. On the morning o. the 9th
Cespedes, Dcl-soI, Ryan AID VorcOa
were taken to the place OF execution,
about mile distant. The four victims
were surrounded 10y strong escort OF
Spanish soldiers, Verona, calm aud
collected marched amid the jeers and
vocilerations OF the mob 10 the place OF
execution. Cespedes and Del-sol were
forced to kncel, in which position they
were sho, in the back. Ryan and
Verona were next directed 10 kneel, but
refused, and were seized and thrown to
the ground, being hsndcutled all the
time. The two victims begged their
tormentors to let them die standing,
aud having offered further resistance,
they were murdered standing. Ryan
was not Immediately killed and a
Spanish officer thrust his sword through
his heart Verona died easily. Then,
down upon the corpses yet warm, came
the blood thirsty mob, and, severing
the heads OF the victims from the'r
bodies, placed them on pixies and CARED
them through the city.
The Tweed TriaI-Sertenrc OF the
Prisoner.
At the opening Of the Oyer and
Terminer Court this morning, Mr.
Graham continued his able argument
On an srres; OF judgemen: in the Tweed
case, aud was eagerly listened 10 by q
vast audience. Tn E prisoner sat sur
rounded Lv hi frj,D4' and several rel
stives. He Looked greatly broken
down. arJ biz formerly serene lace oo.e
a look OF aaxiety. IIis brother sod
eldest son were beside him. Granam
made long argument on the 4nss-
ton OF the Jurisdiction Of the Court Of
Oger and Terminer TO Try mlsiemea'
nora, urging that the law provided that
the Court of Special Sessions alone
could try such cases. tie c2nc.udrd
hi. argument at 1925 aod Judg Dav!s
overruleA al bis moiions Tor tue ar7esi
OF Judgment a..
Mr. Trema;p, tor the prosecution,
then arose aud demanded that judg-
mcrt now he pronounced on Tweed, the
Jury having found him guilty on -four
counts OF Indictment TEemsln alluded
-F .4.rt No