The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1873-12-30
Comma ander Braine arrives
in Now York with the
Virginius Pris-
Oners,
His Precautions Against
any attack oU his Vessel.
He takes a Statement from
Each Prisoner.
Some Account OF their
Treatment.
They are all safely Landed
in New York.
The Steamer Virginius Sup
posed to be Lost at Sea.

- ~AC - -StCa1AaoA 4A'S4AAAS sup
posed to be Lost at Sea.
The U. s. Steamer Ossippee
Arrives at New York
Without Her.
New YORK, Dec. 2S.-The United
States sloop-of-war Juniata, under Com
mander Braine having on board l02 sur
viving passengers of the Virginius, arrived
here to-day. She anchored off Quarantine
at l0:30 clock this morning, and, after be-
ing inspected by the Health Officers,
weighed anchor and steamed up the bay,
and anchored off the Battery at P. NJ.
Later, she was towed to the Brooklyn
Navy Yard. She left Santiago de Cuba
at 6 P. NJ. on Dec. 49, When only a few
hours out she encountered terrific storm,
which drove her many miles out Of her
course, and continued with varying severi-
ty until she reached this port When she
arrived off the Battery her supply of coal
was so nearly exhausted that she had to be
towed to the Navy Y ard by tug boat
She was intercepted in the Lower Bay by
a reyenue-cutter which bore orders to her
commander Soon after she came to an
chor off the Battarv,a "A revenue tug brought
out to her United States District-Attorney
Bliss, Assistant District-Attorneys Ire
maine, Post, and Purdy, three stenograph-
ers and an interpreter. They were con-
Quoted to the cabin by Commander Braine,
where they at once began an official exam
lnation Of the Nirginius prisoners who were
| on board The greatest secrecy was OBJ
served in conducting the examination, Mr.
Braine being the only Lerson not really en-
gagged in conducting the proceedings allow
ed to be present The surviving passen-
gers were poorly dressed and the common
sailors were huddled together near the
forecastle. One by one they were sum
moned before the court of inquiry, which
did not adjourn until after the Juuiata had
anchored off the Navy Yard.
Henry Knight, Antonio Constantio. Man
uel Manazs, Leopold Bio, Henry King,
Thomas Lindsay, and Ignacio Naldes were
examined during the afternoon. The ma
ture of their testimony could not be learn
ed, but it is understood to be concerning
promises said to have been held out t.
them, when they took passage, and the al
8 legged carrying of munitions of war by the
: Nirginius.
The examination will be resumed to-
morrow. OthcerS say there seems to be q
h concerted plan among the survivors of the
Virginius massacre to profess utter ignor
ance of the nature of Nirginius' mission at
. the time she was captured, and all facts
D relating to her Officers who have talked
:. with them say there is a striking similarity
k in their stories, which can only be account
ed for in this way. They have agreed tt
: this scheme, it is supposed, in order t.
avoid trouble with the United States Gov
= ernment, in case it should be proved that
. neutrality laws were violated The few
facts which could be learned from the ma
\ val officers who had conversed with the
passengers of the Nirginius go to show that
the latter treatment was wretched
Commander Braine says that during the
first four days out Of Santiago de Cuba. h,
q took unufficiaiy the statements of eacl
, passenger separately, and they were al
substantially the same.
II He says that, while his vessel was an
chored at Santiago de Cuba, he was in
. formed by friends that a scheme had beer
devised by the residents of the town fol
boarding and capturing his vessel and tn,
- night on which the attack was to be mad,
was e7en told him Acting on this infor
nation, he had boarding nettings put u,
around the vessel, and kept extra watch a
the guns every night they were in port. bu
no open demonstration was made aeains
!. them. The residents of Santiago deiCub;
exhibited great animosity towards tn,
Americans, and had several times threat
ened the life of Consul Smith. In viey O
this fact, he thought vessel of war oieh
to be stationed there to protect the CuRu
\ and such other Americans as might be
stopping in the place.
The survivors of the crew and passen
gers of the steamer Virginius have foy
warded memorial to President Grant e,
pressing their heartfelt and grateful THANK
for the energetic measures taken for the
:. timely rescue and delivery from death,
sentence to the chain gang or Spanish pri
on. Grateful mention is made of Con
mander Braine,
A large number of people, includir
many Cubans, besieged the Navy Depar
ment to-day for permission to board til
Juniata and see the Nirginius prisoner
but no one was allowed to have any con
munication with the vessel or passenger
except authorized L. S. officials.
Twelve of the prisoners are suffering !
from the effects of i'll treatment as to RI
quire removal to the marine hospital
The United States District Attorney co
cluded the investigation of the Virginiu
prisoners this afternoon and they wei
landed and taken in charge by represent
tives of the Cuban Junta.
WASHINGTON, Nov 29.-It is official
stated that the Virginius will be seized |
the collector of the port at New York {
her arrival there, and hbelled by the Di
trict Attorney, and if it be shown that 81
obtained her register fraudulently, she W
= be sold and the proceeds paid to the Tn
ed States. 1t is not believed by the Of
cials here that Spain requires of the Unit
States the return of the Virginius and t
s. payment of indemnity, but if she shoul
it is certain that this government wou
not entertain such claim.
Ii New YORK, Dec. 29.-The steamsh
Georgia, which arrived yesterday frC
: Charleston, reports that Wednesday, t
o, oath. at p. M. she passed the stea
ship Virginius in tow off Cape Roman.
Us, New YORK, Dee 29. The United Stai
ae steamer Ossipee has arrived here withd
Ta- the Virginius, which vessel, it is rumort