The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-12-19
Captain Fry's Protest.

| Eloquent and generous were the words
| the late commander of the Virginius ad =
dressed to the authorities of Santiago
not IN his own behalf, for he met death
! without a murmer-but in behalf of
some OF those on board the vessel with
MN, whose circumstances should have
commended them to merciful consider
ton:
with the permission of the council, I
desire to say a few words in favor of the
crew OF the Virginius, to the end Of nit
tlgatlng the punishment which has been
inflicted upon them. The first pilot
| has Just escaped from shipwreck, and
needed the advance of salary which I
gave him to purchase clothes, and time
to do so. | said nothing to him of block
ade running; but, on the contrary, as
mao the AUTHORIZATION of the owners
ana had prepared the papers of the bark,
houfylng all that the vessel would be
occupied IN the passenger trafc from
n: Tne islands OF Puerto LimOnes, in Costa
Itlc9' or carrying merchandise to Cuba,
as DeleVc the steamer could do
From the time the arms were taken on
board, do not think he had an OpnOr-
tunlty to part from the people to see
the consul. The consul in Puerto Prin
cipe sent for me, but l did not receive
ms message until had started, having
been compelled to leave port bv order
OF the authorities. | had a guard on
bOard to prevent desertiOn of passen
gers. Some of them protested. and
Ear0na responded to manifestations of
TINS class with a pistol. It was con-
sldered matter of risk among mariners
10 force blockade, for which they are
PAID large. salaries. For years it has
Deen nOt0rlOus that great number of
vessels were engaged in it during the
American war, and, notwithstanding
I1!!icahy prizes We're taken not a single
ne was sacrificed. On the contrary,
Tne greater part of the prisoners were
liberated after a short imnrisonmant
Of the law in Cuba, and the prOclama-
ton referring to the introduction of
arms into Cuba. had not heard until
the night OF my conviction. If, with
superior opportunities, was ignorant of
a case decided by other than interna-
tonal law, how completely ignorant
should be these poor people. | was
continually in company of persons who
ought to have known it, yet the fact
was never once alluded to. In q word.
pelleVe that they were ignorant, and
that the world will be previously sur
prlsed to know that their lives are sac
rlhced. The council we'll know that I
am not pleading for my life; I have
neither home nor cOuntry-a victim of
war and persecution-I being shat ont
from the road to prosperity until I am
unable to provide bread for my wife and
seven chlldren, who know what it is to
S!l1er from the vicissitudes of nv life,
Ny life is one of suffering, and if is not
tor myself that implore. The machin-
lst (knlghtl came against his will
Spanlards, the world is not so full of
persons who prefer honor to life. The
poor bosa--a poor gentleman, with a
nearr as tender and compassionate as
that OF a woman, who Thought more of
others than of himself-pardon him
inc poor fellow is my servant, hired to
Walt on me IN port, and is not inscribed
on the roll: He desired to 90 ashore
IN Jeremie, but missed the Onn0rtnnitv
He is nearly an idiot; He ia called a..
banlllo, and is Venezuelan origin he
was favorlte in the shin, and shonId
not be made to suffer. Another mnfor-
tunate man was taken on board to sove
nm from death through fever and hnn-
ger. l had sent him to the hOsnital
from the, ship and he was afterwards
perm1tted to come on board for his
health; SpaniaTds, as | believe 7 am
the only one who will die in the en-
brace Of our holy religion, consider
the souls Of these poor people. ' Give
them time and opportunity to Seek the
m1ercy me-, cy;tR Of God God. Thus only can you com
to be sufficient. These poor % men 0"E Fad
no Edn9Wlie3dge of their crime. Pardon
nett me if ddslly tell yoH on, that do not believe
Em1,a [GG1a coatlls VII tend to the benefit of
viewing matters, I should have had the
I,nterVentions of my government, where
Siyyog SGy we te;tEo,!t Would have been saved many
dignity of Spain. Senores, I praV " Cod Si
that the members of the cOnnciI of
Ill., fGdg@99t snd tbpsf bperf9rm form thsr duty regret
IN their prayers to God, and will osE
us also. CAPTAIN .T0sppIT FL io'
Written on board the Tornado, No.
yen femher be T. 7, 1873, after having been veri-