The Portland daily press., 1873-11-14
Naval Vessels Ordered to Santiago
dc Cuba.
sen-to, Conk'inx Ihtervis wed.

",
get to those who have dared to insult our flag.
Those measures will be OF a character that will
involve not alone the fate of the insurrection
in Cuba, but the whole future of the island L
speak advsedly, for from frequent conferences
in re gard to Cuban affairs, l believe am thor
oughy aware of what are certain to be the sen
timents of the President and Secretary of State
in regard to this affair. The honor of the coun-
try will, repeat. be vndicated if. upon inves-
tigation it shall be found that an outrage has
been committed on our flag
The Presidrnt's Views.
The Tribune's Washington special says the
President is thoroughly in earnest and if be
can discover any way by which this Govern
ment can compel the cessation of barbarities
on that island he will take the responsibility
His feeling on this subject has beeu long and
deep-seated. extending back to the first year of
his Presidency, and it bias always been his
nest wish that the Spanish Cover nment would
resort to peaceful measures.
A PittShurg special says company of volun-
teers are being organized there to aid Cuba.
The New York Press ON the Affair.
The Herald SAYS: We cah no longer trust to
diplomatic protest and Madrid orders. Our
safety must be in the weight of our metal land
the bravery of our sailors. For the outrage of
the murders at Santiago de Cuba and probably
for the illegal capture of the Virginius we must
demand prompt and ample reparation and pun
ishment of the commander of the Tornado,
and of the bloodthlrsty Governor of Santiago
de Cuba.
The Sun says that the nation might put up
with having their flag trampled upo"; they
might even submit to the murder in cold blood
of Cuban leaders, taken under the protection
of that flag, but this wholesale butchery shocks
every feeling of humanity, and cannot fail to
ronse the sentiment of national honor and dig
nifty. The most ample reparation must he ex
acted for this terrible outrage, and if the ad-
mnistration is backward and full of Spanish
sympathies in this matter, SO much the worse
for them.
The World says that the pretence of piracy is
too absurd for serious discussion But in any
other hypo thesis the Cuban authorities had no
right to meddle with the VIrSinius, except
within marine league of their own coast.
The Times says that although we are peace
able nation, we have not arrived at the point at
which we can stand by and SEE Spain assassin
ate American citizens with impuuity.
Details of the Capture Of the virxinius.
Havana advces of the 9th inst. give the fol-
lowing details of the capture of the Virginius:
! The Virginius left Jamaica on the Oath ult. 1t
| was the intention of the eXpeditiomsts on
hoard to sail direct for tire shores of Cuba, but
| a slight damage to the machinery obliged them
to enter port of Hayti. This thew left, touch
| ing at Port-au-Priuce (Hayt) and another
port of the same island, un il the Both, upon
which day they concluded to sail for Cuba and
attempt the la ding. On this day the Spanish
! Consul at Kingston advised the Governor at
Santiago de Cuba that the Virginius as in the
vicinity of Morrant Bay, Jamaica. The Span
| ish man-of-war Tornado had that morning ar
| rived 1t Santiago de Cpbs, and Governor Busel
Immediately communicated to her commander,
| Costilla, his Information, which caused her to
leave four hours afterwards
The following day. the 3lst ult, the Tornado,
under full sail and but little steam on, as some
slight repairs were being made to her machin-
cry, came in sight of the Virginus. All steam
possible was Immediately got up and the vessel
hea1ed for the Virginius, soon reaching a speed
| of fourteen knots an hour and slowly gaining
her The hal in tha apt,
| kept on her course, but dvning the hostile in
| trntions of the Tornado, changed it toward ia
maica, and being out of coal commenced to
burn petroleum, grease. fat, and other cDmbus-
tibles. from the provisions on board such as
hams, etc. Nieht closed in and the vessels
were in the same relative positions, the lorna
do, however, gaining upon her prey The bright
light of the full moon kept the Vreinius in
plain sight, and her two masts and the dense
clouds of smoke on account of the nature of her
fuel, were clearly visible To the slowly gaining
Tornado. Further to facilitate their fig bit they
threw overheard horses, cannon add many
ses of arms and ammunition, afterward stat
ed to be 1000 Remington's, mitrallleuse, seven
horses and u quantity of powder and small
arms.
AS soon as they got within gunshot the Tor
nado fired a gun, followed by three other shots
and she'll THIS brought the Vrglrius to,
aud two small boats from the Tornado came
alongside, took possession of the vessel aud
made prisoners of all on board. At the time
OF the capture Ine NlrgiDluS was uylDS the
American flag, but this was palled down by the
Spanish officer, and the Spanish ensign boisted
in its place, although the papers of the vessel,
duly despatched for Colon were handed to him.
The vessel at the time was in British waters
and within league of the coast of Jamaica.
The two vessels at midnight started for San
tlago de Cuba, arriving there next day, and at
tracing an immense crowd of people The
Government palace and other public buildings
were illuminated, and all the authorities, civil
and mi itarv went N fa1pitata Gov Ruriai upon
the news, who, in the evening gave public re-
ceptiou. The vessels were rounded 10 the
bay by number of boats fllel with bands of
music aud cheering the volunteers. The festiv-
itips were kept up late into the night The
following day (the 2d), court martial was
held on board the Tornado, which commenced
at o'clock and terminated at four. All were
tried as pirates, and the findings of the court
General and Admiral in sealed packets. After
the court had concluded its task all the prison.
ers, with the exception of Bembeta, Jesus de
Sol, Gen. Ryan and Pedro Cesepedes were teams
ferred to the Jail of the city, escorted by force
OF 100 volunteers and number of marines.
Gen. Burnel, it is said, 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
Commentaries, Gen. lie Marina and decla;ed
that within tweuty-four hours afterward all
should be tried and executed, in order to avoid
any complication with the exterior, that is for
gram which the United States Consul desired
to forward TO the United States Consul at Kilgz
stem reporting the capture and inquriug as to
the nationality of the Virsinius.
WASHINGTON, Nov. Is The Secretary of
Sta e yesterday, on receipt of the despatch an
nOunciug the wholesale. execution at Santiago
de Cuba. telegra pheJ to Consul General Hall
at Havana, to instruct the Vice Consul at that
port to inquire into the matter, and to enter I'D
earnest protest against the haste of the trial in
Al L. a,Et H. - L ~
ment for delay, until full examination could
be had into all the facts attending the capture
of the Virgnius.
Mr.. Hall replied that the Vice Consul had al
ready protested in the strongest terms against
the proceedings, but that his action was serious
ly obstructed by the Span sh officials all the
avenues of communication being closed against
hun: Fhe telegraph line between Santiago and
Havana being interrupted, he was prevented
from tele2raphing to Kingston In order to make
inquiry relative to the Virginus. When she
was brought into port there was nothing left to
him but the slow process of the mails, and this
mode of communication was of no advantage
under the circumstances
The President is being strained by the Con-
stitution and laws from making war gu Spain
by ATTACHING her colonies All that can now be
done is in the way of correspondence The E.
fetal papers are to be laid before Congress for
such action as may become the dignity of the
nation iu the vindicatiou of ito h.c,Tor and tho
full protection of its citizens
Inc government, however, is in the mean
while making preparations to meet all the is
sues which may arise even if they should re-
qure force. aud the fact is apparent in the
present naval movements. The Kansas has
been ordered to Santiago de Cuba and will be
commanded by Commander A. V. Reed In
addition to this vessel and the Mohopoc and
Manhattan, the iron clsds Powhattan and Qs
ippe will also be ordered 10 active service in the
North Atlantic squadron, The War depart
ment will strengthen the ports in he gulf hav-
ing already taken measures for Strengthening
and additionally garrisoning Fort jefferson in
Florida. L. is the general opinion here that
Con.r ,ss, acting on the Recommendation of the
President, will promptly take action on gues-
tons 10 b. presented concerning our affairs
with Cuba.
Immediately on the receipt Of Consul Gener-
al Halls despatch, the Secretary of State in
sIructed Minister 'Sickes to enter with the
Spanish government q strong protest against
the proceedings at Santiago, oharaotertzing
them as an outrage civilization and an in
su 4 TO the American government.
Mr. Sickles has replied that he had inter-
view with the Minister for Foreign Affairs ann
in accordance with his instructions. and further