Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-11-20
Details of the Capture of the Vir-
giniuS.
New YORK, November IA


ginius.
New YORK, November 10.
A letter from Havana gives an account
of the capture of the steamer Firginus,
from which it appears that on the 3Oth OF
October the Spanish Consul at Kingston,
jamaica advised the Governor at Santa
go de Cuba that the Virginius was in the
vicinity of Morrant Bay. The Spanish
war steamer Tornado had that morning
arrived at Santiago de Cuba, and four
hours after the Governor had received in
formation of the Virginlus, went in search
of her. On the following day the lorna
do, under full sail and but little steam, as
some slight repairs were being made to
her machinery, came in sight of the Vir-
ginius, which probably supposed the Tor
nado to be a sailing vessel, as her course
was not changed. On the Tornado every
effort was made to hasten the repairs
which they were engaged IN, and at two
, o'clock the chief engineer pronounced
them completed. All possible steam was
| Immediately got up and the vessel headed
for the Virginius, soon reaching speed
of fourteen knots and slowly gaining upon
her. The Virginius had, in the mean
time, kept on her course, but divining the
hostile intentions of the Tornado, changed
1t toward Jamaica, and, being out OF coal,
| commenced to burn petroleum, grease,
fat, and other combustibles from
the provisions on board, such as
hams, etc. Night closed in,
and the vessels were in the same
relative positions, the Tornado, however,
gaining. AS soon as they got within gun
shot the Tornado fired gun, followed by
three other shots and a she'll This
brought To the Nirginius, and two armed
boats from the Tornado came alongside,
took possession of the vessel, and made
prisoners Of all on board.
AT the time 9th capture the Virginius
was lying the American flag, but this was
pulled down by Il Spanish officer, and
Spanish ensign was hoisted in its place,
although the papers Of the vessel, duly
dispatched for Colon, were handed to
him. After the capture, the next two
Of the prisoners to the Tornado and put
ting a prize crew on the Nirginius.
AT midnight the two vessels started for
Santiago de Cuba, and arrived there on
the following afternoon at five O'Clock,
having been Joined by the Spanish steam
er Cantabro, Upon their arrival in port
the intelligence spread like lightning,
and attracted an immense crowd of PEG
pie. The Government Palace and other
public buildings were illuminated, and
all the authorities, civil and military, went
to telicitate Governor Burricl upon the
news, who, in the evening, gave brilliant
reception. The vessels were surrounded
In the bay by a number Of boats filled
with bands OF music, and cheering vOlun-
tcCrS The festivities were kent up late in
the night
On the following day 0he 2d) court
martial was held on board the Tornado,
which commenced at nine o'clock and
terminated al four All the prisoners
were tried as pirates, and the findings Of
the court and the sentences were sent to
the Captain General and the Admiral in
sealed packets. After the Court had con-
cludcd its task, all the prisoners, with the
exception of Bembetta, Jesus Del Sol,
General Ryan and Pedro Cespedes were
transferred 10 tie jail OF the city, escorted
by force of one hundred volunteers anG
a number of marines. General Burriel it
is said cOolly asked that all the prisoners
should be turned over to him, with the eX-
ception of the Captain and crew, who
should be sent to Havana at the disposal
Of the COmmandant, General de Mari
mats, and declared within tWenty-tour
hours afterWard that all should be tried
and executed, in order to avoid any com
plication with the eXteriOr--that is for
eign intervention. He also detained a
telegram which the United States Consul
had decided 10 forward TO the United
States Consul at Kingston, reporting the
capture and iHquirIngas to the nationality
Of the Nirginius
The Firginius had her papers in order,
and was dispatched for Colon, all OF her
passengers appearing on the papers as Ia
borers for railroad that is building
there.
All accounts differ as to the position of
the Virginius at the time Of her capture.
One gives the capture as having been eff
fectcd at twenty miles from Jamaica, and
the official account says it was twelve
miles The Dluri0 states it at twenty
three miles. the journals of Santiago de
Cuba at eight miles and twenty miles, the
version OF the F0ce dc Cub0 at twelve
miles.
The commander of the Tornado public
" stated in Santiago de Cuba that one
hour later, and the Nirginius could have
saved herself by entering some port of
Jamaica.
1t seems tuat the Nirginius, shortly
after the departure of the French steamer
for Santiago de Cuba, left Jamaica on the
gath ultimo. 1t was the intention of the
eXpeditiOnists to sail direct for Cuba, but
a slight damage to her machinery obliged
them to enter port Of Hayti This they
left, touching at Port au Prince, Hayti,
and another port OF the same island, until
the Both, upon which day they concluded
to sail for Cuba and attempt landing,
and on which day the information that
proved so disastrous to those on board
was given to the authorities at Santiago
de f1hn