The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-12-12
The Santiago Slaughter.
"A BRITISH OFFICER BROUGHT
.si BURRIEL TO REASON.
New York Telegram December A. i'll Chicag

The Morning Star, from Santiago de
Cuba, arrived here this morning. The
Morning Star was in port at Santiago
when the Virginius was brought there,
and during the week of executions.
The second mate, Coffin, givesa graphic
description of the scenes of the memo
rable period, and incidents, many Of
which are new. Mr.. Coffin is an in
telligent and respectfully connected
young American. His narrative is cor
robborated in every detail by the 9TH
er officers Of the Morning Star, He says
thatthe Virginius was cOnyOyedin by the
Tornado and another Spanish man-of-
wal on the evening of the first ultimO.
It is not true that the inhabitants of
Santiago were wild with joy. On the
contrary, they were excessively quiet,
and no demonstration whatever was
made.
The American flag, which had been
borne at the masthead of the captured
vessel, lay cOnspicuOusly upon her
quarter deck to be trampled upon by
her captor's crew, and was not removed
until the next evening. On Sunday
afternoon the prisoners were landed by
the TOrnado's boats. All, with the ex-
ceptiOn of Ryan, VarOna, Del Sol and
| Cespedes, had their elbows pinioned be-
hind and their hands handcutfed in
front. This treatment to the latter
seemed to be a sort of respect to their
supposed leadership. After they had
been all drawn up upon the wArf they
were marched i'll the centre of a strong
guard to the prison. At a quarter to
seven on Tuesday morning, Ryan, Va
roma, Del Sol and Cespides were con-
Quoted to the slaughterhouse, a walk of
! 1l,@,, 4An ,ID,A, Do, -~I n I1,,1
shirt over a white shirt, with a silver
star on his breast, and trudged gaily
along as if going to his wedding. He
smoked a cigar the entire route, and
did not throw taway until the moment
came for the firing. A priest advanced
to his side and offered the consolation of
religion, but Ryan waved him of.
Even the Spanish officers were loud in
the admiration of the GOODNESS and in
difference with which he met his death.
The American consul having attempted
a protest, General Burriel placed q
double row of sentinels around the con-
sulatc, thus keeping our representative
a Virtual prisoner until after the butch
cries. At four o'clock Oh Friday after
noon, Captain Fry and t~hirty~six Of his
crew we're shot. Mr.. Coffin witnessed
their execution from the wall Of the
slaughterhOuse.
The victims were ranged facing the
wall, and at a sufficient distance from
it to give them room to fall forward.
water, n was handed him by Charles
Bell, the steward of the Morning Star.
Fry then walked from the end of the
line to the centre, and calmly awaited his
fate. He was the only man that dropped
his heard at the first vOlley, nOtwith-
standing that the firing party we're but
q distance of ten feet away. Then en-
sued a horrible scene. The Spanish
butchers advanced to where the wound
ed men lay WOithing and moaning in
agony, and placing the muzZles Of their
guns in some instances in the mouths
of their victims, pulled the triggers,
SCATTERING their heads into fragments.
Others of the dying men grasped the
weapons thrust at them with a despair
ing clutch, and shot after shot was
poured into their bodies before death
Quieted them. P. O. SandersOn, the
first mate Of the morning Star, who was
standing on the bridge of his vessel
when the first vOlley was fired, says thai
for about ten minutes the firing remind.
ed him of a fourth of July celebration
All the bodies were tumbled into carts
and taken ut once to the cemetery. Mr.
Coffin says that this batch of victims.
at least, seemed to have no notion Of
the fate that awaited them. They
walked aleng quite merrily, singing
chatting, laughing and smoking, as il
on a pleasure party. On the following
morning twelve Cubans were led to the
slaughter, and similar disgusting scenes
were re-enacted. The moment the
preliminary order was given the twelve
turned their heads as If in obedience tt
a p~recOneerted agreement, and throwing
their hands aloft, shouted, "Vive Cubf
libra.n This finished the executions
That day the British wal vessel Ni0bt
arrived. Her commander, hampton Lor,
raine, left Jamaica in such haste tina
several of his crew, who we're ashore OF
leave, were left behind. He hardly
stopped to cast anchor at Santiago be.
fore he fastened ashore and protested
against the killing of any more of thu
Virginius' crew. General Burriel an
swered him saucily in a letter, which
has already been published here, sayin:
that any executions that had been or
dered would be proceeded with, Com
mander Lorraine instantly returned
reply to the effect that in the absence o
an American man-of-war, he would
protect not only the interests of his owl
country, but those of the United States
and that if General Burriel harmed tn,
hair Of another prisoners head he wonl(
lombard the city. It was generally be
lieved at Santiago that this action o
the British commandment saved the res
; of the Virginius crew, Commando
Lorraine afterward obtained FIVE cop
| les of the process of cOurtmartial con
demning them to death, two of Whicl
l he intended to transmit to Our govern
:. ment, and two others to his own. MI
( Coffin closed his narrative by the asser
7 ton that he would have been shot bu
-. they believed him to be a British sub
! ject, his vessel sailing under British col
ors. He says he is ashamed to be a
1 american,
from the New York World, December 81
t We are under obligations to SenOr d
: COnto, editor of the CrOnista of thi
, city, for advanced sheets containing
l Spanish translation of the letter sent t
General Burriel by Captain III. B. Cusl
ing, commanding United States wa
9 steamer2Wy Wyoming, and General Bui
!, riel's reply to the communication
s Captain Cushing's motel is dated NOyen
1 Der is. Z"#T 4.S-.a -@.. 1.s..1...
? Captain Cushing informs .Gener;
EBurriel that he Communicates with hi
! il. consequence of the capture on til
! high seas ofthe American merchantma
! Yirginius, and of the events followin
i the capture. He informs Burriel thu
: the Virginius left Kingston, Jamaic
. for Port Lilnon, Costa RIGA, supple
! with regular sailing papers and 9
! necessary. documents certified to by Il
: American consulate at Kingston. Aft
= detailing the circumstances OF the ILL
cal capture of the Virginius, he proceed
!, to explain to Burriel The rules Of int
E Enatio1a1 law in such cases. He protes