The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1873-11-27
Details Of the Capture Of the virginius.

New YORK, November 10.
A letter from Havana gives an account
of the capture of the steamer Virginius,
from which it appears that on the 3Oth Of
October the Spanish Consul at Kingston,
Jamaica, advised the Governor at Santa.
60 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 had received in
formation of the Virginius, went in search
Of her. On the following day the lorna
do, under full sail and but little steam, as
some slight repairs were being made to
her machinery, came in sight Of the Vir.
ginius, which probably supposed the Tor
nado to be q sailing vessel, as her course
effort was made to hasten the repairs
which they were engaged in, and at two
O'Clock the chief engineer pronounced
them completed. All possible steam was
Immediately got up and the vessel headed
for the Virginius, soon reaching speed
of fourteen knots and slowly gaining
upon her. The Virginius had, in the
meantime, kept on her course, but divin-
ing the hostile intentions of the
Tornado, changed it toward Jamai-
ca, and, being out Of coal, commenced to
burn petroleum, grease, fat and
other combustibles from the provisions
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 fired a gun, followed
by three other shots and shell. This
brought to the Virginius, 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 the capture the Virginius
was flying the American flag, but this was
pulled down by Spanish officer, and a
Spanish ensign was hoisted in its place,
although the papers of the vessel, duly
dispatched for Colon, were handed to him
After the capture, the next two hours
were employed in transferring some of the
prisoners to the Tornado and putting a
prize crew on the Virginius.
At midnight the two vessels started for
Santiago de Cuba, and arrived there on the
following afternoon at five O'Clock, having
been Joined by the Spanish steamer Can
tabro. Upon their arrival in port the in
telligence spread like lightning, and at
tracted an immense crowd of people,
The Government Palace and other public
buildings were illuminated, and all the
authorities, civil and military, went to
felicitate Governor Burriel upon the news,
who, in the evening, gave q brilliant re-
ceptiOn. The vessels were surrounded in
the bay by number of boats filed with
bands of music and cheering volunteers.
The festivities were kept up late in the
night. n
On the following day (the 2d) court.
martial was held on board the Tornado,
which commenced at nine o'clock, and
terminated at four. All the prisoners were
tried as pirates, and the findings of the
court and the sentences were sent to the
Captain General and the Admiral in seal
ed packets. After the Court had conclud-
ed its task, all the prisoners with the ex-
ception of Bembetta, Jesus Del Sol,
General Ryan and Pedro Cespedes, were
transferred to the Jail Of the city, escorted
by force of one hundred volunteers and
is said, coolly asked that all the prisoners
should be turned over to him, with the
exception of the Captain and crew, who
of the Commandant, General de Marinats,
and declared within twenty-four hours
afterward that all should be tried and
OAONutVuS al OAuCA /" 0VO1u 6uy COu1UllCA>
ton with the exterior-that is foreign
Intervention. He also detained a teIe-
gram which the United States Consul
had decided to forward to the United
States Consul at Kingston, reporting the
capture and inquiring as to the nationali-
ty of the Virginius.
The Virginius mad her papers in order,
and was dispatched for Colon, all of her
passengers appearing on the papers as
laborers for q railroad that 10 building
there.
All accounts differ as to the position of
the Virginius at the time of her capture.
One gives the capture as having been eff.
fected at twenty miles from Jamaica, and
the official account says that it was twelve
miles. The DiGri0 states it at twenty.
three miles, the journals of Santiago de
Cuba at eight miles and twenty miles, and
the version of the Toce do Cuba at twelve
miles.
The commander Of the Tornado public.
" stated in Santiago de Cuba that one
hour later, and the Virginius could have
saved herself by entering some port Of
Jamaica.
1t seems that the virginius, shortly after
the departure of the French steamer for
Santiago de Cuba, left Jamaica on the
oath ultimo. It was the intention of the
expeditionists to sail direct for Cuba, but
slight damage to her machinery Obliged
them to enter port Of Hayti. This they
left, touching at Port au Prince, Hayti,
and another port Of the same island, I'M
til the 30th, upon which day they con.
cluded to sail for Cuba and attempt a
landing, and on which day the infofma-
ton that proved 30 disastrous to those