The New York herald., 1873-11-07
THE CAPTURED VIRGINIUS.
One Hundred and seventy-dve Men ON Doaro
of Her-what the Spanish Consul Says

of Her--What the Spanish Consul Says.
The canture OF the yirglnius has excited pro-
Yound feeling among the Cuban resideh's oi 'he
city II has BEEN since the news arrived, tue cause
:, cre.t grief 70 these whose constant thought is
the liberation OF their native island, ana especially
has the loss 20 the insurgents IN the field been the
cause of apnoyaRce TO their friends here In cuban
s,rc,es Yesterday the sapJect OF the unfortunate
capture was discussed with feelings OF genuine re-
rret and ALMOST despair. Most OF the men on
board che yrrginius we're known 10 their country
men In this city, they having shipped
from here Tor Kingston, where the Virginius
awaseed itlem, and this fact adds to the interest
taken in the capture. In Spanish circles hostile
% CUBA lt0re the capture OF the Virgnius has
caused ,pleasurable excitement as 1t must neces
sarily prove most hurtul to the insurgents. The
Eirgnus had large winter stores on board, which
shoal nave proved useful to the men in the wilds.
A HERALD reporter called yesterday on the
Spanish Consu, in this city, and, in conversation
with him about the capture, the Consul stated that
he had no information IN his possession Deyond yad
hat already published. except the tact, teegraphed
20 nm by the Captain General OF Cuba, that tne
number OF men captured on board the sirSiniuss mas
was IT'S, exclusive OF the crew. The Consul mao
received intelligence from Cuba beyond TINS one
pointed acx. , 49,, tna
arrest ol such a number OF men, with the stores
for the insurgents, should create wholesoe
oI Spanish authority in the minds OF the insurgents nus
and shonla convince the Cubans In this city ROW
naserlv nse,ess was tne task OF sending expeditions
to Cu6a So far as the Consul knew, this was the
hrst attempt az a Cuban expedition since the mem
.Orable one winch sgnaily failed. IN July, lSoz.
Spain had now again asserlea , nu, npoads
npon her government. AS TO the trial OF tne un-
fortunate captured men, or as to the prooaoie late
that awaited them, the consul Was siient
what General Qucsada Says About the
Steamship VirSinius.
'.Sad news this, General" said HERALD re-
porter yesterday to Manuel Quesada, the agent in
khe United States for the Cuban Republic
at is bad news, il true,n replied the CUBAN
representative; ''but as yet know little or
nothing only what has appeared in the public
press"
General Quesada then proceeded to state that
che Virglnlus must have left Kingston, Jamaica, in
ballast, to go to place OF rendezvous, where the
expeditionists and cargo were awaiting her, IL Is
true that a son OF Quesada, about seventeen years
OF age, was aboard; s0 also, were General Bar
nabe lie varona lBembetta), brother OF
President Cespedes, Lieutenant Colonel Jesus del
pol and o number OF Cuban officers OF lesser
note. The commander OF the expedition was
.Varona, and Pedro Altaro had charge OF the
operations Of embarkatlon and decentralization.
The commander OF the yirglnius is Captain Fry,
graduate OF the Annapolis Naval Academy, but
who served in the Confederate navy during our
late unpleasantness with the South. 1t has trans
pred that the first and second officers OF the
steamers crew, not liking the manner in which
things were conducted on board of her while IN
Kingston refused to sail in the expedition, and re-
turned to New York, where they now are.
The virgnius is Clyde built iron ship. She is
very last saier having been constructed for
blockade running She came into the hands OF the
United States government about the end OF our
civil war, and in October 1870, was sold by the
federal authorities to American firm In the
same month she cleared, in ballast, from this port,
during Collector Murphy's incumbency in office
Tor Venezuela, and has not been back TO the United
States since. On her trip to Venezuela sne took
out General Quesada and twenty-one other Cubans.
on the 7tn OF last July sue successfully landed an
expedition under Rafael Quesada on the south
coast OF Cuba.
General Quesada cannot understand how the
Tornado could have everhauled the Virginius, un
less the bottom OF the latter was FOUL Iron steam
ships should be docked and have their bottoms
cleaned every SIX months. Tue yirginius has not
Her bottom must have been covered with shells,
weeds and barnacles. rms would greatly retard
had plenty OF coal ABOARD. General Quesada is at
a loss TO account Tor the throwing overheard OF
horses and OF the cargo. II the cargo were
contraband OF war 1t might be thrown over
to prevent Its falling into the hands OF the
Spaniards. Another theory OF the capture Is
that the Tornado may have got between
the island OF Jamaica and the virgnus.
General Quesada thinks that at least all the
prominent men among them, II not the whole o.
the prisoners, will be shot, unless the friendly in
U
should happily step IN 10 save the uniortunates
from spanish vengeance. The Virginius Is an
American SHIP some o those on board OF her are
American citizens. Neither ship nor crew appear
to been guilty OF any overt act against SPAIN
The Spanlards say that there IS no war IN Cuba,
they have never blockaded its coasts. Even II
they had, no vessel could be captured outside ol
marine league from the beigerent coast. The
high seas are the high ways or the nations,
and must be SO respected. Itwas an outrageous
wrong and grievous insult they say 70 tue British
nag the capture OF the virginius in English waters.
admitted TO the hospitality OF the port OF Kingston,
under the protection oi the nag oil the United
General Quesada here said that he was preparing
o set of protests against the action OF the com
mander OF the Tornado; one TO be addressed to the
government of the United States and the other TO
that OF Great Britain.
''What influence do you think, General, this cap
ture will have upon the course OF the war;"
IL will precpltate matters very much in the
Cuban belngerent rights. This important matter
cannot long be deferred. The late capture, II true
must be discussed between America England and
Spain. The first two great Powers viii not allow
third class nation TO ride rough snod over well
mon consent OF the peoples. The American Con-
gress, it s hoped win, at its approaching session.
take speedy and effective action IN the direction OF
c0nceong oellgerent rights TO the Cubans. When
this is accomplished, as It WIZ be in the coming
ting plenty Of privateers on the seas and
driving spanish commerce 90 this Continent.
Once recognized by the United States, England
and the other Powers will soon follow the example.
There are numbers oil American merchants and
others who would wish for no better employment
than helping to drive the Spaniards out OF
cuba and away from the waters OF the western
Continent. Thousands oil men are ready here TO
lump to arms as soon as Congress shall declare us
beligererts. The South American republics have
been true 10 their anteceuents as haters OF Spain,
In promptly responding to the Cuban request for
belligerency The misfortune is that most OF those
republics not in condition to render al d CON-
mensurate TO their good intentions. The capture
OF the virginus is pregnant with big results,
whether tor good or evil, to the cause OF CuDa.n
The interview here terminated.
The History of the Cuban Cruiser Vfr-
ginius.
The sidewheel steamer Virgin, now called the
Virgnius the seizure Of which by the Spanish cor
'vette Tornado VIII bring about most serious
tiona questions, was built the Clyde In the year
1904 intended for blockade runner, and was re.
DOrtcd to be. when lam uchpd one or the ,noat