The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-11-14
FULL PARTICULARS OF THE CAP,
TURE.
Warlike Movements of the Federal
Government.
Especial telegram to the Dispatch !

w say tuat tHc pItStuI CollpllCallOuS VIII
not result in war.
The State Department is in active COM
munication with Sickles at Madrid and Hall
at Havana, and it is certain that formal de-
mand will be made on Spain TO redress the
wrongs and outrages already committed,
and to furnish sufficient guarantee that the
honor of this Government and the lives of
its citizens shall be respected in Cuba by the
Spanish volunteers as we'll as by officials sent
from the home Government.
The Cabinet will again fully discuss the
situation at its regular meeting tomorrow.
Admiral Polo, the Spanish Minister, and
Sir Edward Thornton both had long CONVEX
sations with Secretary Fish to-day.
TMoN.
ASSOCIATED Press telcgrams.I
NEw YORK, November 13.-An Havana
letter dated the 9Th instant gives the follow
ing particulars Of the capture of the Vir-
ginius:
The Virginius, shortly after the depart
ure of the French steamer for Santiago de
Cuba, left jamaica. 1t was the intention OF
the eXpedition!stS on board to sail direct for
the port OF Cuba, but slight damage to the
machinery obliged them to enter the port OF
Hayt. This they left, touching at Port au
Prince, Hayt, and another port of the same
island. On the 3Oth they concluded to sail
Tor Cuba, and attempt landing. On this
day the Spanish consul at Kingston advised
the Government at Santiago de Cuba
that the VirginiuS was in the vicinity OF
Narrant bay, Jamaica. As it happened, the
Spanish nlan-oi.war Tornado had that morn.
ing arrived at Santiago de Cuba, and Gov.
ernor Burrle Immediately communicated
| to her commander, CASTILLO, his information,
| which caused her 10 leave four hours after.
wards.
The following day (he 31st) the Tornado,
under full sail and but little steam on, as
some slight repairs were being made to her
machinery, came in sight of the Firginius.
which probably supposed the Tornado to be
4 sailing vessel, as her course was not
changed. On the Tornado every effort was
made TO hasten the repairs they were ell
sa.ed in, and at . o'clock the chief engineer
pronounced them completed. All steam
possible Was Immediately got up, and the
vessel headed for the Yirgiuius, soon reach
ing the speed Of fourteen knots, and slowly
gaining Oh her.
The Virgimus had in the mean time kept
her course, but divining the hostile inten-
tons OF tue Tornado changed it towards
jamaica, and being out Of coal, commenced
10 burn petroleum, grease, fat, and other
combustbleS from the provisions.
Night closed in, and the vessels were In
the same relative positions, the Tornado,
however, gaining on her prey. The bright
light Of Il uil moon kept the Nirginius in
plain sight, and her two ,mastS aud dense
clouds Of smoke, on account Of the nature
Of her fuel, were clearly visible to the slowly
gaining Tornado. Further TO facilitate their
iliyht they threw overheard horses, cannon,
aud many cases Of arms and ammunition
afterwards stated to be 1000 RcmingtonS, q
nitrailleuse, seven horses, and Il quantity OF
powuer aud small arms. a. soon as they
.ot within gunshot the Tornado fired gun,
followed by three otuer suutS and sheli.
rbis brought the Firginiu- to, and two
armed bouts from the Tornado came along
side, took possession Of the vessel, and made
prisoners Of al on board. At the time Of
the capture the Firginius was Gyiug the
American dag, but this was pulled down by
the Spanish officer and the Spanish ensign
hoi,ted in lis place, although tue papers OF
the ye>sei, duIy dispatched for color, were
uanded to him.
The vessel ut the time was in British wa
tcrS, and wiihiu Il league, as am positively
assured, of the coast oi Jamaica. On this
point all accounts diiler. One gives the cap
turc as having been effected twenty mile,
from jamaica; IN official account staeS
twelve niles: the Dtdrio states tWenty-thrce
miles; the Journals Of Santiago dc Cuba
eight miles aud twenty miles, and the version
OF The Toz Ge CUBA twelve miles. The
commander of the Tornado publicly stated
il in Santiago de Cuba that an hour later aud
the Virginius could have saved herself by
entcrln. somc part of Jamalca.
After the capture the next two hours were
empoyed in transferring some OF the pris-
oners to the Tornado and putting prize
crew on the Virginius.
The total number Of persons on board
amounted to 1885, Of whom 9O are said to be
natives Of the Island, aud the remainder
foreigners. Of these 1G5 persons, 63 are
thought to form the crew.
At midnight that night the two vessels
started for Santiago de Cuba, aud arrived
the following day at o'clock in the after
noon, having been joined by the Spanish
steamer Cantabro. This fact alone, OF seven
teen hours standing, would tend to prove
that they were considerable distance from
Cuba and very near Jamaica, as the distance
is not much above one hundred miles.
The following day Uhe I'd instant) a court
martial was held on board the Tornado,
which commenced at A. NJ. and terminated
at p. NJ. All were tried as pirates, and the
findings of the court and sentences were
sent TO the Captain.General and Admiral in
sealed package. After the court had con-
cluded its task, all the prisoners were trans
ferred to Jail.
General Burriel coolly asked that all the
prisoners should be turned over to him with
the exception of the captain and crew, who
should be sent TO Havana at the disposal Of
the Commandante, General de Marina, and
declared that within twenty -four hours after
wards all should be tried and executed in
order to avoid any complications with the
exterior-that is, foreign Intervention.
He also detained q telegram which the
United States consul desired to forward to
the United States consul at Kingston, re-
| porting the capture and inquiring as to the
| nationality OF the Virginius.
All this news was received in Havana
| with great rejocings by the Spanish.
Last evening the Captan-Gencral received
| telegram from Burrcl telling him OF the
fate OF the four principal prisoners.
ACTION OF OUR GorERNMENT-coN
| or THE ACTION OF THE CUBAN AuTHoRI-
| TIES, ETC.
WAsnIsGroy, November 13.-The news
received yesterday was so startling in it:
character, not only from its atrocity, but
from the fact that the Cuban authorities
were ordered by the Madrid Government to
stay further executions, that it created al
first in osicial circles doubts rs to It's truth
but these huye now been removed, and WINE
the credit of good faith is given to the MAG
l,.,Ii. Illtn