The Portland daily press., 1873-11-17
THE VIRGINIUS.
comments of the Havana Press.
BOMBASTIC ADDRESS OF GEN.
BURILE.
seizure of Mails From This COun.
try at Havana.
S1ckenning Details of the
Slaughter.

HAVANA, via Key West, Nov 15.-Great
aeAiety IS manifested here to see the comments
OF OF. the New York press upon the capture of the
'irTginius and the shooting of the prisoners.
inere IS general feeling that it is desirable
W nave all the prisoners executed as quickly as
pusslpie, before the government of Spain or any
otner power can get q chance to intervene,
a though some of the better feeling portion of
.he people deprecate undue haste and fear that
IL may lead to serious results
Inc Constanica says that no matter how
much our country has fallen in the
past years, the Spanish people have not become
uegraded to such an extreme as to be frighten-
ca oy those who might have to pay dear for
ther temerity and insolence in the event of in
corruption. We lament the bad situation OF
aIairs OF our country, but are far from being
daunted by foreign complications. 1t may be
we ought to desire them in order to liberate us
from the miserable party intrgues. Spain is
not degenerate. All bad passions will imme-
dlately become quiet when there is any pros
poet OF a foreign war The stronger powers
know this, and their intriguing politicians
ought not to forget it. Unfortunately the Span
iards give more importance to the latter than
they merit.
The Constancia also says that when the news
OF the capture was received it was thought
that something would be tried to prevent the
pirates from receiving their just chastise-
ment
The address of Gen. Burill to the soldiers is
very bombastic. Describing the chase and
capture of the Virginius, he says:
"The Tornado be ched forth f1amesIlnstead of
smoke. Going to her fullest speed She came
finally up with and captured the Virginius
which was taken possession with repeated
cries of Viva Espana' from the Tornado's
valiant crew, without the slightest resistance
from the others. One hundred and sixty-three
men delivered themselves quietly up, having
cowardly thrown overheard during the chase
the arms which they ought never to have grasp
ed, and the military equipage confided to them
tosdefend this ignobie cruise. This goes to show
and confirms the poverty of our enemies eff
FORTS and demonstrates their impotence against
the arms of Spain, which providence manifest
ly favors.
The Legaledad complains of the nexactness
of the press telegrams which stated that the
Virginius was captured near Jamaica. Accord
ing to the official statement the Vireinius was
eighteen miles from the coast of Cuba where
the charse begun She headed for Jamaica,
distant about one hundred miles. The chase
lasted eight hours, both steamers going at their
full speed, and both being fast vessels They
must therefore been very near Jamaica when
the Virginius was overhauled, but the captain,
all the navigators and the crew of that vessel
have been killed by the Spaniards. they can put
the distance at what they please.
The mails per steamer Frankfort from New
Orleans, were seized by the government and
their distribution has not yet been permitted.
Another Account of the Massacre.
The following account of the events at San
tiago de Cuba have been received here:
On Friday morning, the 7th, -thirty-s even of
the crew of the Virgnius were brought on shore
and taken TO prison to remain there till their
execution.
Capt. Fry, noble looking old man, is fully
head taller than the rest of the crew. When he
met his men on the wharf previous to the
march to prison he saluted them all The sa-
lutte was returned with affection. At 4.45 p. M,
despite the protest of all competent foreign au-
thorities. The marines were seven minutes
killing the wretched prisoners and it seemed as
if it would never finish. At last the sailors
marched off and the troops filed past the long
row of corpses. Then the dead carts were hur-
ried up and loaded Unfortunately with the
manged 4. mains. The American consul has
done all that could be done. Indeed, it was
threatened that his exequatur would be with
drawn for his exertions in behalf of the prison.
ers. In an interview with Gen. Burill that Of
ficer yelled at him and otherwise treated him
dsrespectfully. The British consul also made
an Intellectual protest against the executions. 1t
is reported that sixteen of the victims were
British subjects,
j. w. Youns's Story.
The Herald publishes what purports to be an
interview between the Captain General of Gu
ba and Col. John w. Young, wherein the for
mer proposes that the latter organize an expe-
dition in the United States, composed of all the
Cubans it is possible to enlist, embark on slow
sailing steamer, and then give such Informal
ton as will lead to the sure capture of the ex-
petition. For the service Young was to re-
ceive $4,000
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15.--No new feature in
| tn Cuban question to-day concerning the re-
ported interview between the Captain General
| of Cuba and John w. Young, now in Jail at
Chicago, awaiting trial for forging post Office
| money orders.
| 1t is known here in official quarters that in
| stead of the Captain Generals proposing to
! Young to act as a decoy in bringing the expedi-
| ton to Cnba for the purpose of being captured,
| such proposition was made by Young himself
| for that purpose after having the confidence of
| the Cuban Junta in New York. The Captain
| General having no confidence in him gave him
| certain time in which to leave the island, of
| which, apparently, he promptly availed him
| self.
| Young was one of the shrewdest operators
during the war with bounty jumping frauds.
| He also. committed great foreeries on paymas-
| tiers and other officers of the navy.
The Mission ofthp virsinjus.
A letter from j. G. Harris one of the Vir-
| ginius Victims has been received in this city,
dated at Kingston, Ja., Oct. 22d. After stating
! that the expedition was to leave ON the night
| of that day, lie said he was confident of sue
| cess. Prospects were good and probably before
the letter reached its destination, there would
| be fighting in Cuba Much" he added, de-
| ponds upon the success Of this expedition and
combinations abroad. We take only three hun
bred men from this port but we will be Joined
| by two other parties, and am confident Of SUE
| cess.
The writer of the above letter was NAL j. G.
| Harris of Louisa County, Va.
| War Vessels Being Put In Order.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov, 16.-Seven hundred
| men, the full force of the navy yard, were at
| work to-day on the monitors Manhattan, Ajax
| and Canaudigua. They worked from 7.30 this
morning till eight o'clock tonight The Man
| haitian will go into commission tomorrow and
the the Ajax will have her turret placed to-
| morrow. The PInta,a large tug is being made
ready as a despatch boat, it is said to run be-
| tween Key West and Havana There are be-
ing put on board four nine-inch pivot guns.
From New York the Powhattan and Monon-
| gaheIa are expected daily. The former will ACT
| as convoy to the Manhattan. On the latter
vessel workmen are engaged in placing topedo
bombs. Hundreds of people were around the
navy yard all day discussing the situation.
English Comments.
| LONDON, Nov. 15-The Daily News of this
morning, in an editorial article ON the pros
poets of the annexation of. Cuba tolthe United
States says the execution of the Virginus cap
tives has virtually decided the fate of the
island.
The other London journals contain editorials
of a similar tenor.
The spanish loan reached the lowest inquire
this morning yet touched on the London stock
market.
LoNp,N Nov. II. ia. m.)-The Times this
morning in leading EDITORIAL says if the Vir-
ginius affair had occurred during the ascenden-
dency of the Democratic party, Cuba would
doubtless have been Immediately annexed.
1t draws contrast between the conduct of
Spaniards in Cuba, and the lenient treatment
by the American government, of foreign block
AIDE runners during the rebellion.
If England is called upon to act in conse-
guence of the execution of any of her own sub
jects there is no reason why she should not &C
knowledge the independence of Cuba, espec-
tally if the act would check such outrages. 1t
recommends the adoption of that line of policy
by the United States.
The Daily Telegraph contains articles similar
in tone to that of the Times
Both journals concurin the opinion that Spain
is poWerless to enforce reparation, and that the
United States may be compelled to interfere
! even though reluctant to do so.