New-York tribune., 1873-12-18

SIX days. Salutee were again exchanged, ana
Sehor dc 10 Camara left the ship, the interview
not having consumed more than five minutes.
Ia the afternoon, Capt Whiting and Lieut..
Mark returned the CALL and were received
with proper cOurteses. Conversation on this
occasion was confined to commonplace topics,
and remarks about the harbOr and the sur
rounding country.
Tuesday was bright day. The mist which,
on the previous day, had hung about the
coast and Obscured the Spanish vessel, now
lifted, and brought to view beautiful land
scape. The only spectators of the scene about
to take place were the men on the Despatch
and La Favorita, and some ragged and dirty
Cubans in fishing -smacks, apparently intent
upon fishing alone. At half past eight the gig
came over from La FavOrita to the
Virginius, containing Oarsmen and single
officer. As the latter stepped on deck
petty officer and half dozen men, who had
stood watch on the Virginius during the night,
went over the side and remained in dingy
awaiting orders. Punctually as the bells on the
Despatch struck for 0 o'clock, and before the
echo had died away, the American flag flew
to the flagstaff of the Virginius, and at the
same moment boat containing Capt.
Whiting and Lieut.. Mark put away
from the Despatch AS they assembled
the accommodation ladder of the Virginius,
the single man on deck, who proved to be
Senor de la Camara, advanced and made
courteous salute. The officers then read their
respective instructions, and Capt. de la Ca
mara remarked that, in obedience to the re-
quirement of his Government, he had the
h. NIr.
ginius to the American authorities. Capt.
Whiting accepted, and ascertaining that
receipt would be acceptable, gave one.
A word or two more, civilly spoken, and the
Spaniard stepped over the side, sgnaled to
his oarsmen, and in ten minutes he was again
upon the deck of his own vessel, having dis
charged with becoming dignity the unpleasant
duty imposed upon him by his Government.
CONDITION OF THE vRGINIUs.
Ii appears that the Virginius was towed to
Havana by the Isabel la CatOlica, the Com
mander of which retired immediately, and left
the surrender to I've made by La Favorita
which had been in the vicinity OF Bahia
Honda for several months, engaged in survey
ing duty. The notorious steamer beng once
in American hands, no time was lost in put
ting her in order for sea. Assistant Engineer
Lamdin of the prize crew and Chief Engineer
Harris of the Despatch first made an
engineering survey, and in twenty min
utes reported the engines very dirty,
but otherwise in order. IL wonderfully
short time thereafter fires were lighted and the
vessel reported ready for sea- The Virginius
proved to be in a most filthy condition, and
was stripped of almost everything movable,
save few vermin which haunted tie mat
tresses and cushions III the cabin,
and half-a- dozen casks of water. The
decks were caked with dirt and nui-
sances recently committed, combined with
mold and decomposition which caused foul
stencil in the forecastle and below the matches.
In the cabin the odor of carbolic acid gave
evidence that faint attempt had been made
10 make that part of the vessel more inhabit-
able. Our officers were reluctant to put the
men into the forecastle. and slowed them away
into hardly more agreeable quarters, afforded
by the staterooms of Ryan and his butchered
THE vIEGINIUs AT SEA.
The search for trophies was partly rewarded
by the discovery of a bayonet drill, and
chart The latter was a chart of the Wind
ward passages in the neighOrhood OF Cuba,
Jamaica, and Hayti, with annotations and
marks of a course which must have been that
of the Virginus, before or during the men,
orable chase. This trophy was carefully pre-
served on the bare possibility that it may be
of use hereafter. At the stern were two
very small brass swiyels hung On pivots,
and on each Of them the name OF
the Virginius was stamped. The ship was
leaking considerably, and the Spanish Captain
stated that he had kept the pumps going con-
tinually since her arrival in order to keep
the water down. Barring the filthy condi-
ton of the vessel, she was much better
than expected, and some of the men
seemed much relieved to find no internal
machine to blow them into eternity on going
aboard. At about 2 o'clock the Virginius
steamed about 200 yards, all going well, when
the engines suddenly refused TO do duty, and
it became necessary for the Despatch to take
her in tow. The two vessels went out of the
harbor briskly, the Spanish flag being displayed
bythe fort as they passed that antiquated apology
for fortification. In an hour we were at sea.
At s o'clock an American war-vessel was
observed, and the fine navy tug Fortune,
Lieutenant Commander F. NJ. Green command
ing, soon came up and remained with the con-
voy during the night In the mean time
prize.oficers Marix, Calhoun, and Lamdin
were unremitting in their labors on the Vir-
ginius, and at O'Clock she was again
under steam.
DESTINATION OF THK vIRGINIUs.
At about o'clock on Wednesday morning,
a consultation was held, and, under orders Of
Capt. Whiting, the Despatch ceased to draw
the Virginius, and the two steamed together