Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-12-06
THE CUBAN SITUATION.
The Delay I'm Delivering the vir-
Our Naval Preparations Continued.

vsna is accounted for by the fact that 1t was
part Of the agreement between Secretary Fish
and the Spanish Minister that there should be
show of menace whatever on our part, to in
crease the excitement at Havana and elsewher'
in Cuba The plan of release was intended u
be effected yesterday in the quietest amer
possible. An associated press dispatch from
this city SAYS:
THE DELAY IN DELIVERING THE yrRGINrus
occasions disa ppointment, but this Is not be
iieved to be the fault OF the Madrid govern
ment. The embarrassments surrounding tn
matter are appreciated, and therefore, withou
formal prolongats0n of time the administration
will wait until the delivery can be effected in
way that will give the least offence to Spanish
pride. 1t is believed from what has been pri-
vateiy learned in official quarters that 1t was
not agreed between Secretary Fish and Ad
miral Polo that the Nirginius should be
rendered at the port of Havana, but that the
vessel should be taken from the harbor and
conveyed beyond its jurisdiction, aud then be
delivered to such United States vessel as might
be sent to receive it, preparations being made
to give timely notice Of the transfer 1t is con-
sidered this course would give less occasion for
OffeDse than that one more OF our ships should
go directly to Havana for that purpose. Our
government leaves to Spain the fulillment OF
Its obligations, but IL this should prove i'm
practicable the facts will be reported to Con-
gress for action.
THEY WON'T GIVE UP THE SHIP.
The editor of 81 CronistG, the Spanish organ
in New York city, stated yesterday that he had
Cuba since the signing Of the protocol, in
which it was firmly stated that the yirginius
would not be given up to the United States
| government.
SPANISH SENTIMENT IN NEW YORK.
The adjourned meeting of the Spanish citi-
| zens residing in New York and Brooklyn which
| was to have taken place Thursday night, at the
| residence of the editor of FL Cronisfa in New
York, was a failure. Though ample notice had
| been given for a meeting at 8 p. IA, as late a.
10 O'Clock less than twenty persons put in al
| appearance. During the evenngit was reported
| that Senior Conte editor of Ell CrOnistd, stated
| to some OF his friends that he had received in
L finN htnsrf
| President Grant had asked the opinion of the
| Attorney General relative to the propriety OF
arIesting him (Senor Conto.) The news created
some feeling.
YANKEES GETTING SPAIN READY FOR WAR.
| A New York evening paper states that a fac
| tory at lion, in that State, is filling second
| order for eighty thousand rifles, on Spanish &C
| count to be shipped to Cuba. The same fac
tory furnished three mitralleuse for the Cubans.
| which were on board the ViIginius when cap
| tured.
| ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE MASSACRE OF
RYAN, VERONA, CEsPRDEs AND DEL SOL.
| A late letter from Santiago de Cuba says
| Gen. Ryan, a short while previous to the hour
| for going TO the place of execution, obtained
| permission to write some letters and make his
| will. Before being granted the permission, he
| was compelled TO make an oath that he would
| not make any attempt to escape. About )
| O'Clock on Monday morning the fated four were
| marched to the slaughter House," which is
| about ten minutes walk from the prison. Ryan
| was dressed in blue flannel shirt and light
| panialoors, wore white felt hat looped up at
the side, and carried small silver star on his
| left breast. "He showed" said the mate, ssmore
| grit and courage than one would have thought
| possible. A person would imagine he was going
| to his wedding instead of TO his death" The
others, too, acted like brave men, especially
Cespedes, the youngest of the three, whose
courage never for an instant quailed. On the
way to the execution ground Ryan spoke two or
| three times to the Spanish officer who walked
beside him, protesting that his execution
was without Justification, he had not
had a fair trial, or any trial at all, in fact.
Catholic clergyman offered his minis atoms
but he refused 60 speak to him and moved away
On arriving at the slaughter house Mr.. Coffin
states that the Spanish officers directed the con
!! demned men to kneel down with their faces to
IDe wall, Ryan and Cespcdes protested agaiOsI
this as an indignity. and asked TO be allowed &
kneel with their faces turned toward their ex-
eeutioners. Finally, however, they submitted
and assumed the required position. Then there
was pause for an instant, followed by a flash
and a report and the four were writhing in the
agOnies of death. Tbersufferings did not last
long, and all we're dead within the space of four
minutes. The reports circulated in this city
that Spanish officer thrust bis sword through
Ryans heart, and that the heads were chopped
OFF the four murdered men and carried in tri-
umpb through the streets, Mr.. Coli pronounced
as altogether untrue. The mo ment life was ex-
tlnct the four bodies were placed in a cart and
taken TO the cemetery where they were thrown
into rude hole hastily dug, and some shovel
fuls Of clay thrown over the remains.
BuRRIEL, THE BUTCHER, PROMOTED.
letter from Havana says "Iien. Burrei has
been made Field Marshal, and it is understood
that he will probably return to Spain within a
few days. There h ave been rumors that he
was going home in disgrace, to be tried by
court Of inquiry for the cXection of the Nir-
ginius prisoners, but his promotion would not
seen TO indicate any such condition OF affairs.
The m9rs untavorabe to him grow out of the
fact that he has been serenaded and toasted
his way from Santiago to Havana, bat that
here he has had no public reception, although
he has been in the city some days. It is fur
ther said that he is not in favor with the Minis
ter OF Cltramar. who has publicly mantle sted
his GOODNESS toward him.
OUR NAVAL PREPARATIONS.
FIFTY men were taken on at the BROOKLYN
navy yard yesterday under orders to push the
work forward as fast as possible. Engineer
Kicker reported yesterday for duty on the Ro-
The Colorado will, no doubt, sail on Sunday. 1t
was thought she would be ready to-day, but
every thing appears in confusion on her decks.
An 1l-inch gun was placed on her poop deck
yesterday. The Florida will be hauled into the
dock as soon as the Colorado leaves. The Span
ish steamer Arapiles is still lying in the dry
dock, though she appears to be reaay to leave
The Spahiatds are anxious to have her ioated
out, but it is said that the food-gates at the
dock need repairs. A number of men were en-
gagged Yesterday in soldering up the seams in
the dock. The Swatara lies abreast of the dock
and will have to be hauled to some other loca
ton before the Spanish ship can be got out. At
the navy yard repairs on the Dictator are to be
pushed forward as rapidly as possible, and the
torpedo shed has been put in order for pushing
rapidly the construction of torpedo boats. Hun
dreds OF men are applying for enlistment, ana
all able bodied seamen and landsmen are ac-
cepted.
The POwhatan sailed Yesterday from Will
mington, Del, for Key West. The Manhattan
leaves to-day.
SENIOR oAsTnIAR's TROUBLES.
A cable dispatch from Madrid says sc 1t is
reported that disagreement has occurred be-
tween CASTELAR, and Salmeron. The Cores
poRdencia says that in the event of a crisis on
the Resembling OF the COrtes, the left will
oppose Salmeron and support Ply Margali for
the Presidency"
The following letter from Senior CASTELAR, lie
published in England:
To Agthur Arnold:-My dear friend l have
received your letter of congratulation, which
with what you tell me of English opinion, is a
consolation amid the bitterness of power, and
sustains me in my lsbors. More than ever
have need to-day Of the support of all who In
Europe defend the cause of liberty. My position
lie most difficult, battling Is am with Demagogy
and Carlism, and it would be impossible IL
could not count both upon the justice of my
cause and upon the support Of public opinion
1t needs that all my friends In Europe should
strive to point out to the peoples and govern
ments the principal objech Of my poYicy-to
establish authority, order, peace, in tie denoc
three great principles of the modern time-that