The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-11-27
THE VIRGTNTus.
The story OFEEer Chase and CaPture--she
is Taken Under the United States Flag
fseFoFeF..o~ Over FEer g.au4ure

The story OFIHer Chase and CaPture--she
is sTalEen Under the United States Flag
Rejoicing Over Her Capture.
Aletter from Havana gives an account
of the steamer Virginius, from which it
appears that on October Is the Spanish
consul at Kingston advised the governor
at Santiago de Cuba that the Virginius
was in the vicinity of Morrant bay. The
Spanish war steamer Tornado had that
morning arrived at Santiago de Cuba,
and four hours after the governor re-
went in search of her. The following
day the Tornado, under full sail and but
little steam, as some slight repairs we're
being made to her machinery, came in
sight of the Virginius, which probably
supposed the Tornado to be a sailing
vessel, as her course was not changed.
On the Tornado every effort was made
to hasten the repairs they were engaged
in and at two o'clock the chief engineer
pronounced them complete. All the
steam possible was Immediately got up
and the vessel headed for the Virginius,
socn reaching a speed of fourteen-knots
and slowly gaining upon her. The Vir-
ginius had in the meantime kept on her
course, but divining the hostile inten-
tions of the Tornado, changed it toward
Jamaica, and being out of coal COM
meneed to burn petroleum, grease, fat
and other combustibles from the provi-
sions on board, such as hams, etc.
! Night closed in and the vessels were in
the same relative positions, the Tornado
however gaining. AS soon as they got
within gunshot the Tornado fred a
gun, followed by three other shots and
shell. This brought the Virginius to,
and two armed boats from the Tornado
came alongside, took possession of the
vessel and made prisoners of all on
board.
At the time of capture the Virginius
was flying the American flag, but this
was pulled down by the Spanish officers,
and the Spanish ensign hoisted in its
place, although the papers of the vessel,
duly dispatched for Gallon, were handed
to him. After capture, the next two
hours were employed in transferring
some of the prisoners to the Tornado,
and putting prize crew on the Virgin
ius. At midnight the two vessels
started for Santiago de Cuba, and ar
rived the following day at five in the
afternoon, having been joined by the |
Spanish steamer Cantabro.
Upon arrival in the port the inteIli-
gence spread like lightning, and at
tracted large crowd of people. The |
government palace and other public |
buildings were Illuminated, and all the |
authorities, civil and military, went to
felicitate the governor, Burriel, upon
the news, who in the evening gave a |
brilliant reception. The vessels were |
surrounded in the bay by a number of |
boats filed with bands of music and |
cheering volunteers. The festivities
were kept up late into the night.
The following day the second court
martial was held on board of the lorna
do, which commenced at nine and ter |
minated at four. All were tried as |
pirates, and the findings of the court |
and the sentences were sent to the cap |
tain-general and admiral in sealed pack
cts. After the court had concluded its |
task, all the prisoners, with the excep- |
tion of Benbeta, Jesus DeSala, Gen. |
Ryan, and Pedro Cespedes, were. trans
ferred to the jail of the city, escorted by !
force of one hundred volunteers and a |
number of marines.
Gov. Burriel, it is said, coolly asked
that all the prisoners should be turned
over to him, with the exception of the
captain and crew, who should be sent
to Havana at the disposal of command
ants Gen. DeMarinals, and declared
that within twenty-four hours afterwards
all should be tried and executed in or
der to avoid any complication with
exterior, that is foreign intervention.
He also detained a telegram which the
United States consul decided to forward
to the United States consulate at Kings
ton, reporting the capture, and inquir-
ing as to the nationality of the Virgin
ius.
The Virginius haG her papers in order
passengers appearing on the papers as
laborers for the railroad building there
All accounts differ as to the position of
the Virginius at the time OF capture.
One gives the capture as having been
effected at twenty miles from jamaica
and the official account states twelve
miles. The Diario states twenty-three
miles. The journals of Santiago de
Cuba say eight miles and twenty miles,
and the version of the VOse de CJtbd
Tornado publicly stated in Santiago de
Cuba, that in an hour later the Virgin
ius could have saved herself by enter
ing some port of Jamaica.
Tt seems that the Virginius, shortly
after the departure of the French steam
er for Santiago de Cuba, left Jamica on
the oath ult 1t was the intention of
the expeditionists to sail direct for Gu !
ba, but a slight damage to the machin-
cry obliged them to enter the port of
Hayti. This they left, touching at Port
au-Prince, Hayti, and another port of
the same island, until the 9Oth, upon
which day they concluded to sail for
Cuba and attempt landing. and upon
which day the information that proved
so disastrous TO those on board was
given to the authorities at Santiago de
Cuba.
Density Of Population in London.
The population of London was stated
at 3, PSI, ,sO4 in the preliminary report of /
the census of April, 1871 the revision
at the census Office has shown the true
number TO be 3.254. .26O. In 1901 the