The New York herald., 1873-12-11
,Burriel's Bloody Deeds More
Fully Exposed.
$paniards' Shame tor the
Great Outrage.
Commander BraincS Interview with General
Morales After the Murderer'S Flight.
Visit Of the Americans to the American
Prisoners in the Jail
ON BOARD U. S. SLooP-oF-wAR JUNIATA,

r SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Nov. ~, 1873. !
The staggering cutthroats who have made the
name OF this ragged town so notorious prohibit
the transmission of any dispatches by telegraph
except those which they may supervise and en-
d0rse. / was unable, therefore, TO forward the
announcement OF our arrival here yesterday even
ing or to send the shocking details of the nhuman
butchery perpetrated on the officers, crew and
passengers OF the American steamer virgnus,
obtained from an authentic source, and the suDse-
quent proceedings taken on their behalf The
tragic story has not yet been half told more re-
voting narrative 1t has never been my lot to hear
Happily the number at first reported murdered
was somewhat exaggerated, SO men ''onlyn having
been riddled to death; but that fact you will see
anon was due neither to the iorbearance nor the
humanity OF the fends who did the deed.
TIE yIRGINIUs CAPTURE
II is not my province, at this stage to comment
upon the capture OF the Virginius. 1t Is conceded
on all hands that she carried the proper papers
from Kingston, Jamaica. Commander Cushing, OF
the Wyoming, having personally examined the
records at that port ana the testimony OF Joshua
A. Rowe, master of the American schooner Village
Belle, sets forth that on the night OF October 81,
when about 40 miles from Santiago de Cuba, he
was boarded by the Spanish war steamer Tornado,
and having inquired the name of the vessel. sailed
further declares that, between three and four
O'Clock on the afternoon of the same day, the Tor
pado being still in sight, he two other steam
ers, and observed that all three were steering
coward the coast Of Jamaica One of the steamers
he knew to be the Virglnius, and on the following
morning the watch on deck reported two OF the
steamers returning toward the coast OF Cuba.
SEVENTY MILES FROM CUBA WHEN CAPTURED
From his knowledge Of navigation Rowe aflirms
that If the Yirgnlus was captured at ten p. NJ. as
alleged by the commander OF the Tornado, she
could not have been less than 20 miles from Cuba.
1t has been a matter OF some surprise to many
that, considering the insignincance Of the Tornado
rs war vessel, the outraged people on the vir-
ginius did not show some resentment at the insult
thus wantonly perpetrated on the high sea in viola
ton OF all right and justice. Little however, did
the victims dream OF the terrible fate in store for
them Apart from the fact that the machinery of
the virginius was disabled Captain Fry confidently
assured those on board that no danger would be-
fall them, and that at most the vessel only would
be confiscated. so they quietly resigned, without
even shadow OF resistance-all hands submitting
TO the indignty OF being placed in irons. i may
add that with characteristic heroism the COM
mander OF the Tornado fired several shells at the
helpless vessel. Photographs of the spectacle are
Belling here by the score. / have read the CON-
mander OF the Tornado's official report of the cap
ture, antin his bind egotism the facts OF the out
rage are altogether forgotten by that intrepid
mariner
THE PEOPLE ARE CUBAN sYMPATHIzERs.
You have doubtless heard a great deal about
the rejoicing here on the night the Tornado en-
tered this harbor with the defenceess vessel. Let
me hasten to contradict the illfounded ramors on
that score you that OF the thirty odd
witnessed her advent with sorrowing hearts.
thorough inquiry into the state OF affairs here con-
firms the impression that three-fourths OF the
people are Cuban sympathizers, and we're it not
for the prompt and terrible punishment that would
overtake them would rise in arms tomorrow. As
II Is many OF the reluctant volunteers in the Span
nish cause suffer more from fear Of detection, well
knowing their fate II even suspected than they do
from tho physical privations they compelled TO
undergo. And 1t may as well be here stated
that to
BURRIEL. THE NERO OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY,
and his complacent advisers in Santiago de Cuba.
for 1t was here, and here alone that the murder
was planned and executed to Burriel a name
which forever more will be synonymous with ty-
ranny and inhumanity, that the world must look
for retrbution. suppose that you are aware that
lie had aed from this place, doubtless anticipating
the penalty OF his crime He left secretly in
steamer bound to Havana, where, / understand,
his reception was lar from encouraging. | have
dgressed thus far to show that whatever punish
ment is to be meted out in connection with this
appalling tragedy it should fall in the proper
quarter. There can be but one opinion as TO the
parties involved. for the executions took place
long be Iore even the authorities at Havana were
made cognizant of the deed. To santiago de Cuba,
hon mi 40 n
look for vengeance.
THE PEOPLE SILENT AND ASHAMED.
OF the trial and treatment of the prisoners can.
not yet speak definitely The people talk as II in
whispers-converse with foreigner Is almost an
tmposslblity. But since the first fatal day on
which the helpless victims were hurried into
eternity, pail has hung over the place. and IL is
no figure OF speech TO say that those In whose
ibosoms there yet linger some sparks OF humanity
bow their heads in shame. However temporarily
exhilarated on the night the Tornado conveyed her
prize to this port the horrible events that followed
quickly dispelled all the joyous demonstrations
that preceded them. In word, despite the feeble
pretences Of the murderers, the perpetratloh of
the crime has received the dsapprobation even Of
The Spanish residents.
THE MOCK TRIAL.
II may not perhaps, be too late to recall some OF
wantenly butchered, since the correctness OF the
reports hitherto published may be questioned, in
view Of the reticence OF those who could furnish
the details. There were In all, at the time OF the
capture OF the virgnus, l55 souls on board. WheI
conveyed to this port they were distributed among
the several spanish gunboats then in harbor-
taken OF In irons, without being allowed even tt
change their clothes or provide themselves with
means by which 10 counteract in the smallest de-
gree the discomforts OF their painful situation
The following morning the wretched farce OF trying
the prisoners was gone through, proceeding
which, for injustice, ignorance and rascality, is
perhaps unparalleled in any age or country. The
'sribuna,n as 1t is significantly termed, consisted
OF Fiscal or instructor accuser,n and a few
other mniens ready ana willing to do tie bidding
OF their master, Burriel, who was chief of the SO.
called martial court. Before this hopem body
BEMBErrA, cEsrEpEs, JESUS DBL SOL AND RYAN
were brought for condemnation They were the