The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1873-11-28
THE VIRGTNIUS.


at the Last Moment -Bungling of
the Butchers,
The following particulars Of the
capture ofthe Virginius and her crew
are taken from the Havana cores
pondence Of the n. Y. Times:
OFFICIAL REPORT OF TIE CAPTURE OF
THE vIRGINIUs-THE CHASE.
The commanders report of the cap
ture, and that of the offices sent on
board to take possession of the Vir-
ginius, have been published. The for
mer explains how, having received in
structions to cruise on the coast be-
tween Santiago and Cape Cruz, he
kept in shore during the night and
stood off during the day, as he natu-
rally expected these would be the
movements of the Virginius. On the
night of the 20th, after cruising along
the coast without having seen any
thing unusual, the Tornado stood out
to sea, partly because that was carry
ing out the plan its commander had
laid out, and partly to make out pi-
lot schooner which was running
down toward the Jamaica coast
This done, sail was made with the
object of economizing fuel, and after
running 1S miles to the westward the
smoke of a steamer was discovered
on the horizon. From the direction
in which it was approaching,lthe cap
tain had no doubt it was the Virgin
ius, and especially as the stranger
suddenly changed her course toward
the southwest.
The chase commenced at 2:30 in
afternoon. Orders were given to the
engineer to drive the engines to the
last extremity, and running at the
highest speed those on board the
Tornado were near enough at sunset
to make out the two tunnels and the
masts of the Virginius. BY this time
there was only distance of 5 miles
between the two vessels, and in the
darkness it was feared that the flying
steamer would disappear. "But such
was the enthusiasm Of the crew, says
the report Of the captain, "that allow
and aloft all followed with eager eyes
the movements of the chase, and
thanks to the light of the moon, we
were able to keep her in sight, and l
was more confident than ever that we
should some up with her before reach
ing Morant Point, as our speed was
greater, and every moment she be-
came more clearly visible. At $50 l
fired five shots from the bow gun,
and at the fifth shot she hove to-
Having recognized her as the Vir-
ginias, and being certain that there
was Cuban expedition on board,
lowered two boats and sent them
alongside, with orders to take posses
sion, which was done 10 the name of
Spanish nation. The prisoners we're
transferred to my vessel, and at II
o'clock at night We steered our course
Tor Santiago. The cargo Of arms and
ammunition was thrown overheard,
during the chase, aud the empty ca
ses fOated past my vessel so nothing
has been found on board except car
triges and other effects. The enthu-
siasm of my crew was and is inde
scribable, and t1eir joy unspeakableI
when at last success crowned our ef-
| forts"
REPORT OF THE OFFICERS TAKING POS
SESSION.
''On arriving alongside Of the Vir-
ginius and observing that the deck
was crowded with people, 1 warned
them that any aggression on their
part would be severely punished by
our orcss,and having ordered all my
men on board at the same moment,
1t was done, they coming on deck i'm
mediately after got there. 1 at once
enquired for the captain, and he hay
ing informed me that the vessel was
the Virginius, l requested him to de
liver up his papers which he did.
notified him that his vessel and all
on board were my prisoners, and or
dered my people to take possession
cf the vessel and helm, commission
ing the first engineer to take charge
of the engine, and warning the pris-
oners that our presence on board
would not prevent the Tornado sink
ing the steamer the moment any kind
of aggression or any attempt to rem
der the engines unservieeable was OBJ
served. The engineer reported to
me that the engines were in order,
with the exception of slight defects.
l then proceeded to transfer the pris-
oners to the Tornado, and all arrived
safely on board except the captain
and sixteen of the crew, who remain
ed in the Virginius. A number Of
people having been found in the fore
castle. were ordered afr, and / have
to add, that even after l was on board
these were engaged in throwing ov,
erboard cargo from the hold.
"The transportation of prisoners
concluded, and those who remained
on board made safe, l examined the
state of the vessel and found it very
bad, as not only were the furnaces
clogged by the quantities of ham and
grease which had been burned, but
the engine packing was in very bad
order, as it had suffered severely in
the fight. The vessel was making
water through badly stopped leak
in the bow, under the water line, and
also through the seams, which the la
boring during the flight had caused
to open. The cabin was in disorder,
trunks open and their contents scat
tered about, and all bearing evident
signs that everything Of value had
been thrown overheard. All the ca
ses of arms had been opened and re-
volvers. cartridges matchetS and in
sbrgent uniforms buttons were lying
about. Saddles, documents and
loose effects have been collected by
my orders. l sent the officer in com
mand Of the second boat on board
the Tornado, confiding to bis care
the papers which the captain had de-
livered to me, instructing him to
communicate TO the captain Of the
Tornado verbally all that had been
done, the state of the vessel, and my
having hauled down the American
flag, which, as pirate, it had no
right to use, and having hoisted the
Spanish flag in its place. The cap
+o;, ord y,risOpora bsro hoo,, 4roo+a5