The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-11-13
BY TELEGRAPH
THE STEAMER vIRGINIUs
Fun Particulars OF tho Can,,re

| Va thc capture.
New YORK, November l3.-An ua
wanna letter, dated the Sth instant. give
the following particulars of the capture O
the Virginus:
The Virginius, shortly after the depar
ture of the French steamer for Santiag,
de Cuba, left Jamaica. 1t was the inten
ton of the expeditionists on board to sal
direct for the port of Cuba, but Sigh
damage to the machinery obliged them tc
enter the port of Hayti. This thew left
touching at Port au Prince, Hayti, ant
another port of the same island.
On the Both instant they concluded tc
sail for Cuba and attempt landing. Or
this day the Spanish consul at Kingston
advised the government at Santiago dt
Cuba that the Virginius was in the vicinity
OF Marrant bay, Jamaica. As it hap
pened the Spanish man-of war Tornado
had that morning arrived at Santiago de
Cuoa, and Governor Burriel Immediately
communicated to her commander. Castel-
la, his information, which caused her to
leave four hours afterwards.
The following day, the 3lst, the Tornado,
under full sail and but little steam on, las
some slight repairs were being made to her
machinery came in sight of the Virginus.
which probably supposed the Tornado to
be sailing vessel, as her course was not
changed. On the Tornado every effort was
made to hasten the repairs they were en-
gagged in, and at 2 o'clock the chief engi-
neer pronounced them completed. Ali
steam possible was Immediately got up and
the vessel headed for the Virginius, soon
reaching the speed of fourteen knots aud
slowly gaining on her.
The Virginius had in the meantime kent
her course, but divining the hostile inten-
tons of the Tornado, changed it towards
Jamaica, and being out of coal commenced
to burn petroleum, grease, fat and other
combustibles from the provisions. Night
closed in and the vessels were in the same
relative positions the Tornado, however,
gaining on her prey. The bright light of q
full moon kept the Virginius in plain sight,
and her two masts and dense clouds of
smoke, on account of the nature of her
fuel, were clearly visible to the slowly
gaining Tornado. Further to facilitate
their flight they threw overheard horses,
and many cases of arms and am
aferward stated to be 1000 REM
ingtons, mitrailleuse, seven horses. and
:. AS soon as they got within gun-shot the
Tornado fired a gun, followed by three
shots and shells. This brought the Vir-
ginius to, and two armed boats from the
Tornado came along aside took possession
OF the vessel and made prisoners ef all on
board. AT the time of the capture the
Virginius was flying the American flag, but
this was pulled down by the Spanish off
Ger and the Spanish ensign hoisted in its
place; although the papers of the vessels,
duly dispatched for color, were handed to
him.
The vessel at the time was in British
waters and within league, as l am posi-
lively assured, of the coast of Jamaica.
On this point all accounts differ One
gives the capture as having been effected
20 miles from Jamaica /; an official account
states II miles; The Diario states 23 miles
the journals of Santiago de Cuba, s miles
and 20 miles, and the version of the Voz
de Cuba 12 miles. The commander of the
Tornado publicly stated it in Santiago de
Cuba that an hour later and the Virginius
could have saved herself by entering some
port of Jamaica.
After the capture, the next two hours
were employed in transferring some Of the
prisoners to the Tornado and putting
a priced crew on the Virginius.
The total number of persons on board
to one hundred and sixty-five,
Of whom ninety are said to be natives Of
the Island, and the remainder foreigners.
Of these one hundred and sixty-fve per-
sons, sixty-three are thought to form the
crew.
At midnight that night the two vessels
started for Santiago de Cuba, and arrived
the following day at O'Clock in the after
moor, having been joined by the
Spanish steamer Cantabro. This fact
alone, of seventeen hours steaming, would
tend to prove that they were considera-
BILE distance from Cuba and very near Ja-
ma'ca, as the distance is not much above
100 miless. The following day, the 2nd
instant, a court-martial was held on board
the Tornado, which commenced at ga.
NJ, and terminated at 4. p. m. All were
tried as pirates, and the findings of the
court and sentences were sent to the Cap
tain-general and admiral in sealed pack
age. After the court had concluded its
task, all the prisoners were transferred TO
Jail.
General Burrel 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
the Commandante General De Marina. and
declared that within twenty-rour hours
all should be tried and executed
in order to avoid any complications with
the exterior that is foreign Intervention.
He also detained telegram which the
United States consul desired to forward to
the United States consul at Kingston, re-
porting the capture, and lnquiring as to the
nationality of the Virginius.
All this news was received in Havana
with great rejoicings by the Spanish.
Last evening the captain-general re-
ceived q telegram from Buiriel, telling him
of the fate of the four principal prisoners.