The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-11-14

this news was received in Havana with
great rejoiciugs by tho Spanish. Inst
evening the Captain. General received
telegram from Burriel, telling the fate
of the four principal prisoners.
New YoRK, November 13-An Ha.
vana letter. under date Of the 9th, gives
the following particulars of the capture
cf tue Virginius. The Virginius shortly
after tho departure Of French steamer
for Santiago de Cuba. left jamaica ON
the oath nlt. It was the intention of
the e1peditionists on board to sail di-
rect for the shores of Cuba, but slight
damage to the machinery obliged them
to enter the Port Of Hayti. This they
left. touching at Port-au-Prince, Hayti,
and ono other port of the same island,
until tue 30tl, upon which day they
concluded to sail for Cuba, and attempt
landing. On this day, the Spanish
Consul at Kingston advised tho Govern
or at Santiago de Cuba. that the Vir-
ginius was in the vicinity of Morrant,
by Jamaica. As it happened, tho
Spanish man-oE-war Tornado had that
morning arrived at Santiago de Cuba;
and Governor Burriel immediately COM
municn:ed to her commander, Co.tllla,
hiH Information, which caused her tu
ing day, the 3lst, the Tornado, under
slight repairs were being made to her
mnchinery, came in .ight Of tho Vir-
giuius. which probably supposed tue
Tornado to be sailing vessel. as her
course was not changed. On the Tor
nndo, every effort was mads to hasten
the repairs, on which they we're engaged,
and ut 2 O'Clock. the chief engineer
pronounced them complete. All steam
possible WAS Immediately got up, and
the vessel headed for the Virgnius,
soon reaching u speed OF fourteen
knots. and slowly gaining upon her.
The Firginius hud, in The meantime,
kept on her course, but divining tho
hostile Intentions of the Toruudu,
changed it towards Jamaica, and being
out OF coal, commenced to burn petro.
leum, grease, fat. and other combusti-
blcs from the provisions on buard, such
AS hams, etc. Night closed 10, and tie
vessels were in the same relative posi-
tions; tho Tornado, however, gaining
rapidly upon her prey. The bright
light of the full moon kept the
Vlrginins in plain sight, aud her two
masts and the dense clouds of smoke,
on account of the nature of her fuel,
were clearly visible to the slowly gain
ing Tornado. Further to facilitate their
flight. they threw overheard horses,
cannon and many cases Of arms and am-
munition; afterwards stated to be 2, OOO
Remingtons, a mitrailleuse, seven horses
and Quantity of powder aud small
arms. AS soon as they got within gun-
shot, the Tornado fired gun, followed
by three other shots and shell. This
brought the Virginius to, and two armed
bouts from the Tornado came along side,
took possession Of tile vessel, and made
prisoners of MI on board At the time
Of the capture, the V.rginius WAS flying
the American flag, but this was pulled
down by the Spanish officers, aud the
Spanish ensign hoisted in it's place;
although the papers OF the vessel, duly
despatched fos Colon, we're handed TO
him. The vessel at the time was in
British waters, and within league, as
am positively assured. of the coast of
Jamaica. On this point, all accounts
differ. One gives the capture as having
been effected twenty miles from Ja-
maca, and the official account states
twelve miles. The Diurio states at
twcntJ-three miles, the journals Of San.
tiago de Cnba ut eight miles and twenty
miles, and the version of the Vos de
Cuba twelve miles. The commander of
the Tornado publicly stated in Santiago
do Cuba that an hour later, the VIr.
ginius could have saved herself by en-
tering some port of Jamaica.
After the capture, the next two hours
were employed iu transferring some of
the provisions to the Tornado, and put
ting prize crew on the Virginius. The
total number of persons on board
amounted to 165, Of whom 80 are said
to be natives Of tho island, and the re.
mainder foreigners. Sixty-throe OF
them are thought to form The crew. At
midnight that night. the two vessels
started for Santiago de Cuba, aud ar
rived the following day at 5 O'Clock
IN the afternoon, having been joined by
tho Spanish steamer Cantalero. This
trip of seventeen hours steaming, would
tend to prove that they were at consido
rabIe distance from Cuba, and very near
Jamaica, ns the distance between the
two islands is not much above 100 miles.
The following day, the Cd, court
martial was held on board the Tornado,
which commenced at and terminated
at o'clock. All were tried as pirates,
and tho 6uding of the court and the
sentences were sent to the Captain
General by the Admiral in sealed pack.
ages. After the court had conoluded its