The New York herald., 1873-11-26
Arrival and Reception Of the
Virginius al Havana.
THE CHASE OF THE CAPTURED SHIP.
Details OF the Execution Of
the Victims.
Further Arrests and Rumors Of
Conspiracies.
HAVANA. Nov. 90. 1879.

The general feeling OF the pubic OF Havana Is
1t present one OF distrust and, in some Degree
fear, the principal and prevailing topic being the
consequences which the hasty execution OF the
captain and crew OF the steamer virginius may
bring upon this island and Spain. Tne CONNER
sal public are alarmed at the many, various and
exclting rumors current regarding anticipated
war with the United States, and the reception Of
startling kilograms here by the authorities, the
purpOrt OF which is whispered about, as nothing
whatever In the shape OF telegram from the ont
side world has been allowed publicity and the
censorship on outgoing kilograms Is stricter ana
Beverer than ever, the Captain General himself
acting the censor; and no political news, except
Buch as we find in the Havana journals, which is
yeverely censored before publication, can be trans
0itted, and only passes alter severe inspection
Ind delay.
Spaniards and the natives, each among them
Selves, discuss the question in different tones,
while the foreigner looks calmly on. The first
named are, as usual, arrogant and defiant,
Although they have changed somewhat in count te-
nance and tone since trouble does loom in the dis
lance, and they already dream OF bombshells, the
size OF sugar hogsheads, falling into Havana.
They have had such unlimited faith In the indner.
ence OF the government OF the United States to the
Affairs OF Cuba in general and the fate OF the un-
IS well as the impunty with which former slaugh-
sers have been treated, thar 1t has encouraged
The belief that all questions arising from the cap.
ture OF the Virginius and the slaughtering OF her
trew would be arranged automatically. They
even at present express the opinion that the
United States or England will hold them respon-
hble for these late outrages, and spitefully de-.
nand what legitimate interest the American
oeople can have in investigating this affair, and
With what right they medde IN the interior al.
airs OF the island.
Although the censorship OF the government over
the telegraph Is rigid and severe the reception OF
various kilograms by mercantile houses from their
correspondents abroad, advising cessation OF busi-
ness caution, and latterly recommending them
not to charter any American or Spanish bottoms,
Ill tend to keep up certain underlined feeling of
anxiety and dtstrust.
Powder is being transported from the magazine
TO the forts, cannons are being mounted and all
she forts are actively engaged in preparing for an
emergency. Such proceedings naturally induce
visions OF trouble with Uncle sam and John Bull.
The arrival OF squadron OF monitors and men, Of
war, bombardment, fire and shells OF immense
size whistling through the air, with all the other
attendant horrors OF war and desolation and con
versation tend TO these questions alone.
The subject which has given rise to all this pres
Santiago de Cuba the afternoon OF the l3th con-
Voyed by the Spanish man-o -of-war Isabel la Ca
tolica and the Tornado, surrounded by numbers of
boats and cheering crowds to see her OF for Ha-
vana. Upon leaving the harbor the forts fired sa.
tutes OF honor, and several steamtugs with bands
OF music and prominent persons on board, fol-
lowed her quite distance. No thoughts were
given TO the victims Of the ilfated steamer.
The Isabel la Cat0lica and the Tornado followed
In her wake. All these vessels were expected to
arrive here Monday, and the Toz de cuba, in ad-
vance, called for general dressing up OF the streets
with flags and streamers for three days. and stated
that the brave captors OF the "pirate" should be
well received and complimented. The Casino Es-
pah0l gives an entertainment this evening, and
Dther festivities are talked or bull fight (dtting
Spectacle) Is announced for this afternoon in honor
Of the ''brave captorsn
The vessels came into port on the afternoon OF
the 1sth-frst the Isabel la Catoca, then the vir-
ginius, and lastly the Tornado. Upon passing up
the harbor the wharves were lined with curious
crowd, from occasional groups of which came
cheers ana cries OF "viva Espaia - After
Anchoring the two latter vessels were in
vaded by multitude OF enthusiastic Spaniards
As usual in such cases. a committee from the
Casino Espahol we're OF the first on hand to tender
congratulations.
The officers Of the Tornado are quite reticent re-
garding the affair, but state that
DURING THE CHASE
at one time the virginius succeeded in putting Is
miles between herself and pursuer but that on
board OF the Tornado, by the most prodigous
Efforts they overlook her. The smoke stacks OF
the Tornado were heated to red heat, and flames
seemed 10 come from them rather than smoke; ;
they were so hot as TO cut or communication be-
tween the crew lore and att and several alarms Of
IRE In the engine rooms were given.
According TO the declaration of some OF the ex.
pedtlonsts 1t Is stated that two tOrpedoes were
thrown overheard from the virginius in the hope
tne Tornado would run on them and be blown up
The waterproof lines OF connection are still to be
seen on board. When the Spanish boarding officer,
Eugene Ortiz, with only 10 men, boarded the vir.
ginius, he called on the captain to surrender who
immediately did so. The steersman who was or
dered to the wheel was threatened by one OF the
expedtionists, who cooked a pistol at him. but
was prevented from using 1t. Bembeta at the
time was in his shirt sleeves, having taken on and
thrown his coat and vest into the furnaces OF
me vrginius, "a an example to the others. Dur
ing his stay In the Tornado he said that ne had
when about to be boarded, but at the last moment
renected that there were many young men under
sEe aboard, whose lives would be spared, and he
0id not want to take upon himself the RESPONSE
Oilty OF sending them thus abruptly into eternity.
A. The deck OF the virginius when boarded was in
sne greatest confusion, covered with papers, in
surgent cockades nve-pointed buttons, pieces OF
smncr, naSn, harness and bayonet sheaths The lower
but twenty persons could ma accommodation
below, and consequently the remainder OF the per.
sons on board lived on deck
Notnng Is said by the Officers concerning the dc.
a usis " .me execution save that Captain Fry died
nke .ha, . nrave man and It was due to his appeals
moment mo a. tne consolation Of religion and embraced
the CATHOLIC faith. An oflcer or the Tornado. in
speaking OF the manner In which o' =
.uon. ,hans THE LAST nn,r TWELVE cuBASs DIED.
M0la, and others OF the best families or Cmba re
marked, ~ cannot exactly qualify their manner OF
receiving their end as valiant but must cali II cvn
cal; they laughed and Oked on the way to tho niscc
of ofexecution, and upon arriving there and after be
ing compelled TO kneel some picked up handfnll.
N earth and threw II at their companions with
me words chico ge e sea Ia terra leue (my boy,
nay earth rest light upon you) At the lnst
moment they commenced to shout viva Cmb1
t0re &C., and bugles had to be sounded and
srums beaten TO drown their voices"
IL is stated that Captain Fry took charge OF this
Unfortunate enterprise on account OF poverty. lie
iad been for months without employment and
sOud IND none, and hts wife and large family were
u destitute circumstances
Ihe Bondcra EspaHoia, or Santiago dc Cuba,