Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-12-26
THE VIRGINIUS.
NEW YonK. December II.

ceive the Virginius, and Captain Whiting,
of the Worcester, was designated to CON-
mand her. He was accompanied by Lieu
tenant Adolph Mariax, Master George A.
Calhoun, and Assistant Engineer N. II.
Lamdin. The crew consisted of thirty
nine men from the Pawnee. The Dispatch
sailed from Key West Sunday, and reach
ed Bahia Honda about noon on
Monday. The correspondent says: "As
soon as the Dispatch was sighted from the
shore, the Spanish flag, bearing the crown,
notwithstanding the republican edict
abolishing that monarchical emblem, was
flung to the breeze. We discovered
black, side.wheel steamship, with two
smoke-stacks, lying about mile beyond
the fort, and in perfectly smooth water.
No other craft except two or three coast
ing schooners were then visible, and it
was not until we were about to come to
anchor that we discovered a Spanish
| sloop.of-war lying close under the shore
about two and half miles away. The
| Dispatch proceeded slowly and steadily
| along and anchored about 400 yards from
the Virginius Almost Immediately after
ward a boat from the Spanish frigate
came alongside the Virginius, and
at ;45 O'Clock the Stars and Stripes were
raised by Spanish hands, and again
| floated over the vessel which carried
| Ryan, Verona, Fry, and their unfortunate
comrades to their death. A boat was then
| pulled away, and at the same moment we
saw by the aid of glasses another boat let
down from the Spanish vessel, which
| proved to be the captains gig. 1t
brought to the Dispatch handsome
young Spanish naval officer in full uni
form. He was courteously met at the
gangway by Captain Rodgers. He intro
duced himself as Senor De Ia Camara.
commanding the sloOp-of-war- Favorita.
| He was invited into the cabin,
but being informed by Captain
Rodgers that Captain Whiting was
to receive the surrender, he stepped
briskly toward the latter, and the Span
lard and American lifted caps in cour-
teous salute. Commander De la Camara
remarked that he had received a copy of
the protocol requiring the surrender of
the Nirginius, and was prepared to exc
cute it either on that or the following
day. Captain Whiting replied that he
was instructed to receive the vessel on
Tuesday, but the hour would be left to
the convenience of the Spanish Com
mander. 1t was then agreed that the GER
emony should take place at nine O'Clock
| on Tuesday morning. Salutes were again
exchanged, and Senior De la Camara left
the ship, the interview not having con-
sumed more than five minutes. In the
afternoon Captain Whiting and Lieuten-
unt MariaX returned the call, and were
received with proper courtesies.
On Tuesday morning punctually, as
the bells on the Dispatch struck for nine
O'Clock, and before the echo had died
away, the American flag flew to the flag
staff of the Virginius, and at the same
moment boat containing Captain Whit
ing and Lieutenant Mariax put away from
the Dispatch. AS they ascended the &C
cOmmodatiOn ladder of the Virginius, a
single man on deck, who proved to be
Senior De Ia Camara, advanced and made
salute. The officers then read their re-
| spective instructions, and Captain De la
| Camara remarked that, in obedience to
the requirement of his Government, he
had the honor to turn over the
| steamer Virginius to the American
authorities. Captain Whiting accepted
her, and ascertaining that receipt
would be acceptable, gave one. A word
or two more were civilly spoken and the
Spaniard stepped over the side, signaled
to his oarsmen, and in ten minutes was
again upon the deck of his own vessel,
having discharged with becoming digni.
ty the unpleasant duty imposed upon
him by his Government.
The Virginius was in a most filthy con-
dition. She was leaking considerably,
and the Spanish captain stated that he
had kept the pumps going continually
| since her arrival to keep the water down.
Barring the filthy condition of the vessel,
she was much better than expected. The
| Virginius steamed about 200 yards, all
| going well, when her engines suddenly
refused to do duty, and il became neces.
sary for the Dispatch to take her in tow.
The two vessels went out of the harbor
briskly, the Spanish flag being displayed
by the fort as they passed. In an hour
we were at sea. The Virginius was soon
again under steam. The Dispatch ceased
to tow her, and the two vessels steamed
together toward the Tortugas.
When the steamers reached the Tortugas
they found the United States sloop-ofwar
Ossipee and coal schooner awaiting
their arrival Provisions will be trans.
ferred from the Ossipee to the Virginius
and whatever coal may be needed VIII
be supplied by the schooner. When
supplied with provisions and coal the
Virginius will probably be sent to a
northern port. Washington and Nor
folk are mentioned among the prize of
ficers, much to the disappointment of
some of the officers of the Federal courts,
who are now anxiously looking out for
her arrival. She will not enter the har-
Dor of Key West at all, express orders to
that effect having been received at Wash
ington.
Beside the officers and crews of the
Dispatch and La FavOrita, and the men,
| bers of the prize crews, the correspondent
of the Tribune was the only witness of
the surrender Not single person ap-
peared on the bay, and not an inhabitant
of Bahia Honda or the surrounding coun-
| try seemed to feel sufficient interest in the
proceedings to walk or sail to the scene
of such an important historic event.
KEY WEST, December 21
Information reached here yesterday
from Havana that serious complications
in regard to Cuba have arisen between
the Spanish and British Governments.
| The adYiccs did not state the precise ma
ture of the difficulties, but it has become
known that the British Consul General at
Havana has received dispatches from
Lord Granville to instruct all naval COM
manders in the West Indies to immedi-
! ately rendezvous in Cuban ports. 1t is
stated that in official circles il is certainly
known that the British Government will
assuredly demand the punishment of
Burriel. The British Admiral has left
for st. Thomas, where he expects to be
relieved.
WARRINGTON, December Fl.
1t has been known for some days that
the Spanish Government has furnished
evidence with regard to the VirgiDus and
her claim TO a right TO bear the flag of the
United States, and that the President sub
mitted the evidence to. the Attorney Gen.
now to be understood in official circles
that the Attorney General has given an
opinion that the vessel had forfeited her
right to bear the flag of the United States,
and at the time of her capture was carry
ing 1t without right and Improperly. In
view of this opinion our Government will,