The New York herald., 1873-12-29

| uoWH duuitiOuul ufTt, mdkiuR tuc pcst hoic,
which was already reeking with nauseating
yapor, almost uncomfortable. But this was
not the worst by any means. We were
lett alone and deprived OF every assistance, being
powerless to relieve our deplorable condition in
any shape or form. To add to our horrors, the
Captain 6f, the steaHer, 70 say nothing OF the
cowardly sentinels, Used repeatedly 70 taunt us,
saying, "Now. you rebel dogs, see what the Ameri-
can government will do for you." Several OF the
prisoners tainted. Few II any, ate the profrered
food, and az the water was served us in the dirty
buckets from which the mules had drunk, few were
able to quench their parching thirst Another day
and believe half the prisoners would have been
dead. We arrived at Santiago on the night OF the
nth and remained on board until the dawn OF the
following morning. when we were marched to the
jail. Our treatment while being confined there
was brutal in the extreme.
| ANOTHER TRAMP TO THE CASTLE.
At dawn on the morning OF the 10Th we were
again marched to the Moro Castle on quick
| tramp. About dozen Of our comrades had just
been removed from the hospital, and were posi-
lively unable to crawl along. One Of them ap-
pealed to the Spanish Captain, begging him to pro-
| cure conveyance, but he refused, saying, "You
must come, for cannot leave you here" Upon
arriving at the Moro Castle we were all put into
the same room as before towards noon. not having
yet eaten morsel OF food, and the Governor Of
! the Castle, confronting us, said, 'If any Of you
| speak above q whisper you will be shot dead" At
two O'Clock rice was served out to us, but many OF
! the prisoners were so exhausted that they could
| not eat it,
THE LAST TAUNT
On the night OF the I7th that prior to the sur
render, OF the officers in the Castle came 70 us
and said, "Well. may tell you that you are all to
be shot in the morning. so make the best Of your
| time" We believed it, but we had now become so
| callous that we rather welcomed the announce
| ment. On the following morning all doubts were
removed Canales offered to furnish me with the
names Of those whom he believed had given infor-
nation to the authorities relative to the supposed
| object OF the prisoners in embarking on the vir'
gnius which, however. declined to take.
STORY OF THE SURVIVING ENGINEER.
Charles A. Knight, the first assistant, makes the
following interesting statement:-I live In New
| York. On the 10th OF October last proceeded, in
charge OF my brother, to Jamaica, intending to go
to Costa Rica, where have some relations
should mention, however. that before setting out
| for Jamaica the position Of engineer on Q sugar
plantation near that place had been offered to me-
Upon arriving there found that the situation had
| already been filed. ! lOitered in Jamaica for
| eight days doing nothing, when Mr.. Chamber
lain, the chief engineer Of the virgntus, now de-
ceased, introduced me to Captain Fry. Three
| days after that Captain Fry complained to me
| that the engines OF the steamer were in
bad condition and asked me to assist In
| the repairs If had nothing to do. ! cheer
fully consented, and when the repairs were
completed trial trip was made, but she was not
found to work sufficiently well. shink she made
about 13 knots ~ on the trial trip. Finding that
she still leaked. further repairs were made. ! was
asked on three occasions to Join the ship, and l at
last consented. signed articles on the 22d Of Octo
ber before the American Consul's clerk and Captain
/! Fry. Twas informed that the Virgnius was bound
for several ports Ii the Antilles, among them Port
Lmon.
| We left Jamaica at four O'Clock. Shortly before
the virginius lett the wharf 100 men (passengers)
came on board. / was told they were workmen
for the Costa Rica Railroad, and it was said we
were bound for Port Ltmon. We steamed until
the 26th, when arrived at Jerremie, little port
| in Hayti. We lay there until the next day, when
| we started for POrt-au-Prince, arriving there on
the 2sth. On the following day we proceeded to
Camito, another Haytian port. The vessel was in
a bad condition. She had six feet Of water in her
hold and three cracks in the port bow right
| through the plates. ! WIS consulted about
repairing the ship, and, with the help Of J.
q. Harris third mate, stopped the leak some
what. informed the chief engineer that the en-
a certain length OF time to repair 1t. we were in
| good order otherwise. The final repairs were
| made at Caimito, the leak being stopped with
| putty and hemp
THE TORNADO.
| We left Caimito on the afternoon OF the 30th
OF October, and on the following day at two O'Clock
\ we saw q vessel lying about 10 miles or She
looked to be sailing snip. At half past three we
saw she was proceeding under steam and heading
Wa kna q m hat
she was chasing us. Igot orders to steam as fast
as possible, but the vessel In pursuit gained
| rapidly. About six O'Clock In the evening we COM
| menced to hold our own pretty well, but as we in
creased the speed OF the engine the cracks in the
| bow were forced open, and she began to make
water very quickly although the pumps were Kept
! going constantly. We were then making between
! eight and nine knots The pursuing vessel con-
tinued to gain on u.s. and shortly after ten O'Clock
the engine bell rung out 'Stop." While was in
| the engine room heard three shots fred, one Of
| which, q SHE'LL grazed the smokestack.
| THE CAPTURE.
| we then lay quietly for half an hour, when
I the chief engineer OF the Spanish war vessel
| Tornado, followed by lot Of nremen, came
| into the engine room and asked for the chief en-
gineer OF the vlrginius and, upon seeing him. said
in English, ~ want you to tell me, on your word OF
| honor, whether your engine works all right"
| Mr.. Chamberlain, our chief engineer, then or.
| dered me to work the engine to show
| him that It was and having done so, he was sat
| isied He said there would be nothing done to
| us. thought he meant all the crew. ! asked him
! why he thought so, and he replied that we could
remain on the steamer, and that by taking her into
! port we would be helped In the matter In the
| meantime saw boat come alongside. Span
| ish officer jumped on deck, but ! could not hear
what he said. l saw the American nag hauled
| down and the Spanish nag hoisted in It's stead.
| All hands, except the engineers, were called aft.
| They were tied and taken on board the Tornado.
| The chief engineer OF the Tornado ian American,
the chief engineer, first, second and third engi-
| neers, two oilers, Captain Fry and few others
| OF the virgnus remained on board the virginius.