Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-11-22
Official Report of the Capture Of the vir.
ginius.-The Execution.

Official Report of the Capture Of the vir-
ginius.-The Execution.
N.w York, 20. The Times Havana cor
respondent gives the following account Of the
incidents connected with the Virginius affair:
In his official report the commander Of the
Tornado says he was instructed to cruise be-
| tween Santiago and Cape Cruz. and he kest
in shore at night and out during the day,
judging that the commander of the Virginius
would do the same. On the night of the Goth
of October, after cruising along the coast, he
stood out to sea, and after running Is miles
discovered the smoke OF steamer on the
horizon. From her course he suspected that
it was the Virginius, and was convinced of it
WHIT n she suddenly headed for the southwest.
He made chase a: 2.3O P. NJ, and about sun
set made out the two;funnels and masts of the
steamer, now distant about FIVE miles. The
| repYrt says:
fired five shots from the bow gun, and at
the fifth she hove to. Having recognized it
to be the Virgnius, and being certain she had
Cuban expedition on board, lowered two
boats and sent them alongside with orders to
take possession, which was done in the name
of the Spanish nation. The prisoners were
transferred to my vessel, and at IL o'clock We
steered for Santiago. The cargo of arms and
ammunition was thrown overheard during the
chase and the empty cases f1oated past my
vessel, so that nothing has been found on
board except cartridges and their effects. The
enthusiasm of my crew was, and is, unde.
scribable, and their joy unspeakable; but
nevertheless one and all Of the prisoners
were treated with that consideration which
misfortune merits and as far as was compati-
BILE with their security.
The officer commanding the two boats gives
the following particulars:
| On arriving alongside the Virginius and
observing that the deck was crowded with
people, warned them that any aggression on
their part would be severely punished BY our
forces, and having ordered all my men to
board at the same moment, it was done, they
coming on deck Immediately after had got
there. l at once inquired for the captain and
| he having informed me that the steamer was
the Virginius l required him to deliver up
his papers, which he did. ! notified him that
his vessel and all on board were my prison.
ers and ordered my people to take possession
of the vessel and the helm. commissioning
the first assistant engineer to take charge Of
the engine, and warned the prisoners that our
presence on board would not prevent the
Tornado from sinking the steamer the mo-
ment any kind of aggression or any attempts
to render the engines unserviceable was OBJ
served. The engineer reported to me that
the engines were in order, with the exception
of some slight defects. l then proceeded to
transfer the prisoners to the Tornado, and all
arrived safe on board except the captain and
lG of the crew, who remained in the Virgini-
US. A number of people having been found
in the forecastle, they were ordered aft, and
have to add that then, after was on board
these were engaged in throwing overheard
the cargo from the forehold. The transfer Of
prisoners concluded and those who remained
on board being made secure, examined the
vessel and found her condition to be very
bad, as not only were the furnaces clogged by
the quantity of hams and grease which had
been burned, but the engine packing was in
very bad order, as it had suffered severely IN
the chase. The vessel was making
water through a badly stopped leak in the bow
under the water line, and also through the
seams which the strain during the chase had
| caused to open. The cabins were in disor-
der, trunks opened and their contents scatter
ed about and all bearing evidence that every
thing of value had been thrown overheard.
All the cases of arms had been opened. and
revolver cartridges, mgtches and insurgent
uniform buttons were lying about. The sad
dies, documents. and loose effects have been
collected by my order. / sent the officer in
command Of the second boat on boa the
Tornado, confding to his care the papers
structing him TO communicate to the captain
of the Tornado verbally the state of the ves-
sci and my having hauled down the American
flag and hoisted the Spanish flag in its place.
The captain and prisoners have been treated
with every consideration due to men in mis-
fortune and compatible with the safety of the
vessel, and for which l have satisfaction in
saying they were profoundly grateful.
THE EXECUTIONS ON THE 4rH INST.
General Burriel, in his report of the cap
ture, says l65 men surrendered. Or the fret
executions, those of Barnabe, varona, Benz
beta, G. neral Ryan J sus de Sol and Pedro
Cespedes, hs wing been tried long ago at the
leisure of the government, although not pres
ent, nothing was now required but the identi.
fcstion of their persons to have them execu-
ted. This, of course, was not long process,
and, although there were one or two confer.
enees--one, l believe, between Brgadier
General Burriel and Cespedes, and another
between Bembetta and his captor, the COM
mander OF the Tornado, nothing resulted.
Bembetta, am told, refused to do anything
"meritorious" to save his life, and nothing
whatever has transpired with regard to Cess
pedes. The executions were therefore fixed
10 take place on Tuesday, November 4, at Z
a. NJ, in the usual pluce. Bembetta walked
tirst after him General Ryan, then Jesus do
Sol, and last Cespedes. Bembetta and Ryan
were entirely unmoved. The others seemed
20 feel the solemnity of their situation more.
Toward the last Bembetta also appeared to be
moved, but Ryan remained mistaken TO the
end. All four wrote while they we're in the
prison chapel, and it is said that Ryan made
his will, bequeathing q considerable amount
OF money. The captain and crew were then