Wilmington daily gazette., 1873-11-21
THE CUBAN MASSACRE.
now .nS . JGsardIy spanlatds ACTED.
FROM ELNosroN, JAMAICA.


KuasToN, November 1O-Per steamer via
st. Nianas.-Great excitement exists here
over the capture of the the steamer Ntrginlus,
which left this island with the consular and
custom house clearanceS for simon baY Costa
Gaba AieAushur, of tlie British schooner
Rtlllh At Wileai arrived here on the 9Th, hav-
ing left Santiago de Cuba on the evening OF
the 9th, reports that just before the Virginius
was captured, Verona advised the firing OF
the powder magazine. and in consequence,
blow up of the vessel, rather than to let her
fall int0the hands of the Spanlards, but the
captain pursuaded VNFOna, that, being under
Che American flag and in 1 Itral waters, they
would MOI. dare TO touch any one on board
VarOnR and his followers thereupon became
safisfied. and shortly after an Ofieer from the
TOrnaaO boarded the ViFglnius and demanded
bar DaDerS. After inspection, he said they
were correct, but be made all on board prison
ers. Var0na said he was a prisoner because
there was not an English or American man
Of-waR near to witness this scandal on the law
oe matioua. He added that he could have
blnWn the vessel mp, with all on board, but he
had not done 80 since her papers were correct,
and she had not been seized In Cuban waters.
The American flag was, Che cOnsidered) their
protection, ahh he suTrendeTed, he said. under
protection Of that flag, but believed he would
be VletlmIzed since the Spanish government,
all along hated him. Captain McAuther
witnessed the execution Of Ryan, Varona, Je-
sue de Sol and Pedro CesPedes, and gives the
Ion % morning Of the 9Th last, they were
TAeanvsd to the place Of execution, about
mile from the jail. The four veterans were
surrounded BY strong escort OF Spanish sol
diefs VofOna and Ryan, calm and collected,
marched amidst the yells and YociferatiOns Of
the InfuFaled Spanish Rabble. Arrived at the
plaea Of execution, CeSpedes and Del Sol were
forced 70 kneel, In which position, they were
ahOt n The backs. The soldiers next directed
a.. H. he NNFaNy
battkeg Hafusods and were seized. thrown
down and handcuffed. All the time they beg
snoA thair tMment0rs to, allow them TO die
SfandlnR, and, having offered their resistance,
they were murdered standing. Ryan was
unf fnstantly killed. A Spanish officer stepped
40 NaFd and thrust his sword through Ryan
heagt. Varona died easily. Then camedown
- the corpse, still warm, the blO0d-thlRsty
mob, who cut the heads from the bodies placed
them on pixies. and marched with them through
the city. Fifteen officers OF the Spanish army
& Eho had haen made prisoners In the battle
held, by VarOna, we're present when he land
Cd, and they went 20 the Governor of the city
and begged that his life should be spared
since he had given them theirs, but this was
refused. The foreign vessels at Santiago
TIE circulation Of the. n0Ws. Tha Spant ard:
took possession OF the talegTaphs, and would
noe allow any one ~ communicate Through
thams even the fOie gn etnmlsl The Amert
cae we conlnl On peArlnR that hyan W. y y
~ sAots Walte4e g tie gOVeFnOs, and demanded
bic restoration, as an American citizen, bnl
thaanFOrnOg EofaBad 10 listen, On the ground
thai the consul was net weIl Informed IN re
gaEd 10 the matter. She Spanlards Informed
ftne eonBulo thsE they sWete sslha upOns thelI
own responsibility, and did not even intend
commuRIcotlna With lIadrl1. Among tbs
Cuban eaptlVes Wege sen Of General Quesa
Dc, aaed Is, ana two other boys ~ and II
Yoarao Thare were alao twelve jamaican
N boaEa The YlFginlus. two Of whom were
boys 70 yeaFs Of age.