Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-12-24
SURRENDER TO THE UNITED
STATES.

pondent of the Tribnne, who was pre-
sent at the surrender of the Virginius,
telegraps from Key West that the sur
render took place at Bahia Honda yes
terday morning. The fast steam-yacht
Dispatch was selected to receive the
Virginius, and Capt. Whiting, of the
Worcester, was designated TO command
her. He was accompanied by Lieut.,
Adolph Mariax, Mast. George Cal
houn, and Assistant Engineer N. II.
Landin The crew CONSISTED Of thirty
nine men from the Pawnee. The Dis
patch saile.4 from Key West Sunday,
and reached Bahia Honda about noon
on Mouday
: AS soon as the Dispatch was sighted
from the shore, the Spanish flag, bear
ing the crown, notwithstanding the
Republican edict abolishing that mon
archical emblem, was flung to the
breeze. We discovered a black side
wheel steamship with two smokeatacks
lying about a nile beyond the fort, and
IN perfectly smooth water. No other
craft except two or three ooasting
Schooners were then visible, and it was
not until we were about to come to an
chor that we discovered a Spanish
sIoop-of war lying close under the shore,
about two miles and half away The
Dispatch proceeded slowly and steadily
along, and anchored about 400 yards
from Virginius. Almost immediately
afterward q boat from the Spanish fri
gate came alongside the Virginius, and
at quarter of 2 o'clock the stars aud
stripes were raised by the Spanish
hands, and again foated over the ves-
sci which carried Ryan, Verora, Fry,
and their unfortunate comrades to their
death The boat was then pulled away,
and at the same moment we saw, by
the aid of glasses, another boat let
down from the Spanish vessel. which
proved to be the Captains gig. 1t
brought to the dispatch handsome
young Spanish naval officer in full uni
form. He was courteously met at the
augway by Capt. Rodgers. He in
troduced himself as Senior De la Ca
mara, commanding the sloop-of-war
Favorita He was invited into the
cabin, but, on being informed by Capt.
Rodgers that Capt. Whiting was to
receive the surrender, be stepped brisk
ly toward the latter. and the Spaniard
aud American lifted caps in courteous
salute Commander De la Camara re-
marked that he had received a copy
Of the protocol requiring the surrender
of the Virsinlus, and was prepared to
execute it either on that or the follow
ing day. Capt. Whiting replied that
he was Instructed to receive the YES
sci on Tuesday, but the hour would be
left to the convenience Of the Spanish
commander It was then agreed that
the ceremony should take place at 9
O'Clock Tuesday morning Salutes
were again exchanged, and Senior De
la Camara lett the ship, the interview
not having consumed more than five
minutes. La the afternoon Capt Whit
ney and Lieut.. Mariax returned the
call, and were received with the pro-
per courtesies.
On Tuesday morning, punctually, as
the bells on the Dispatch struck for 9
o'clock, and before the echo had diei
away, the American flag flew to the
flagstaff Of the Virginius, and at the
same moment boat containing Capt.
Whiting and Lieut.. NIariax put away
from the Dispatch. AS they ascended
the accommodation ladder of the Vir-
glnius, the singl gle man on deck, who
proved to be Senior De la Camara, ad-
vanced and made a salute. The Off
GERS then read their respective in
structions, and Capt. De la Camara re-
m r.1ed that in obedleuce to the re-
quirement of his Government he had
the honor to turn over the steamer Vir-
ginius to the American authorities.
Capt. Whiting accepted, and ascertain
ing that receipt would be accepted :,
gave one. A word or two more were
civilly spoken, and the spaniard step
ped over the side, signaled to his oars
men, and in ten midutes was again up.
on the deck Of his own vessel, having
dis charged with becoming dignity the
unpleasant duty imposed upon him by
his Government.
The Virginius was in the most FL
thy condition She was leaking con-
siderably, and the Spanish Captain
stated that he had kept the pumps 60
ing continually since her arrival in or
der to keep the water down. Barrin 6
the filth, the condition Of the vessel
was much better than expected.
The Virglnius steamed about 200
yards, all going well, when the engines
suddenly refused to do duty, and it
became necessasy for the Dispatch to
take her in tow. The two vessels went
out of the harbor briskly, the Spanish
flag being displayed by the fort as
they passed. In an hour we were at
sea. The Virginius was soon again
under steam. The Dispatch ceased to