Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-11-14
THE VIRGINIUs EXECUTIONS.
Action of Our Government. &e.

tongue. The movements of the Navy ami Wa
aelaItments are anSiously watched by thoso
" no hope the government will at least send =
powerful fleet to the West Indies.
sEcRErARN FISH To CONSUL RAIL.
The Secretary OF State yesterday, on recep'
OF % dispatch announcing the wholesale eNecu
ton, telegraphed to Consul General Hall a.
Havana 10 instruct the vice consul at that place
to inquire into the matt r and enter an earnest
protest against the haste OF the trial in the fac
OF the orders OF the Spanish government for de
lay until a full examination could be made int,
all the facts attending the capture OF the Viz
glius.
CONSUL HALLS Reilly.
Mr.. Hall replied that the vice consul had al.
ready prOt6 Sted IN the strongest terms against
the proceedings, but that his action was seri
ously Distracted by the Spanish officials, a.
avenues OF communication being closed against
him. The telegraph line between Santiago and
Havana being interrupted, he was prevented
from telegraphing to Kingston in order TO make
inquiry relative TO the Nirginus when she was
brought into port. There was nothing left to
him but the slow process of the mails and this
mode of communication was OF no advantage
under the circumstances.
Mr.. Fish SAYS TO MR.. sICKLEs. - YOU PRO
TFsr.'
Immediately on receipt OF Consul General
Halls dispatch the Secretary OF State instructed
Minister Sickles to enter with the Spanish gov
eminent a strong protest against the proceed
lngs at Santiago, characterizing them as an out
rage on civilization and humanity and an insult
TO the American government.
SPAIN Is so SORRY.
Gen. Slckles has replied that he had an inter
view with the minister for foreign affairs and
acted in accordance with his instructions, and
further, that the Spanish government, duly i'm
pressed with sense of responsibility, had prom
lstd TO act in such a manper as would show il,
dlsappro0atlOn of the proceedings at Santiago.
and at the same time manifest its friendship for
this government.
UNCLE SAM GETTING READY.
The Secretary of War has issued special order
10 the engineer corps of the United States army
to place Forts jackson, st. Philip, and all tn.
tortitcatons of the gulf in complete order, and
as soon as this is consummated full garrison
Will be placed IN each, in order 10 meet any
emergencies that may arise out of the Cuban
question.
The New York Evening Post of Yesterday
says: Since the beginning OF the present week
much excitement has existed at the Brooklyn
navy yard over the news Of the outrages in
Cuba, and the report that the Navy department
has l. sued orders to get all the available vessels
ready for any emergency. The vessels in cues
ton were the POwhatan, Il anSaS and ,Juniata
The PoVhatan was the first vessel put in trim
Her commander is Captain John Z. Beaumont
She is a side wheel gunbOat, 2ls2 tons, and
carries seventeen guns. She is now completely
fitted out, and lies of the Battery awaiting or
deTs. The screw slOop-Of-war Kansas is com
mauded by Commodore Reed. She carries three
heavy guns. This vessel, it will be remember
ed, gained some notOriety while the NirginiuS
was imprisoned in Aspinwall harbor. A Span
ish gunHOat kept the latter in sight night and
day, and her escape seemed almost impossible
The Kansas was cruising in the neighbOThOOd.
and her commander offered to CONVOY the Viz
ginius out of the reach of the Spanish vessel.
Crowds of spectators lined the shore, expecting
to see naval fight, but no such fight oc-
CURED, and the Nirginius escaped. The
Kansas is now lying at the navy yard wharf
receiving her final supply OF stores. Executive
Ofcer Ransom says, II necessary, she can be
put in readiness to sail to night. Her crew are
in good spirits at tho prospect of active service,
and seem particularly pleased when il is hi ted
that their destination NAV possibly be Cuba
Most OF these men have been on the West India
station for years, and their dislike of the Span
iards is expressed in strong terms. The slOOp
of-war Juniata, Commodore Braine. which re
Gently returned from the Arctic regions, after
her search for the Polaris. Is also rapidly fitting
out. The soft coal on board has been taken out.
and anthracite substituted. Her guns have been
put IN order, and the crew are engaged in get
tirg the last of her stores on board. She will b.
ready to sail tomorrow night, unless further
orders are received from the Navy department
when an additional force will be employed and
the vessel made ready TO sail at noon to- morrow
NATIONALITY Oh THE VIRGiNIUs.
The Nirginius was in AspiaHall in August
lS,l when the Tornado threatened ID seize her.
The American consul interfered, ami told the
captain of the Spanish vessel to do il at his peril
The facts were reported to Mr.. Hurlburt, tn
American minister at Bogota, who at once ap
proved of all the consul had done, and laid down
the principle that Spain could, under no cir
cumstances, modest the Yirglnius Oh the high
seas, except in Spanish waters, when caught in
contraband acts.
In April 1872, the United States ship Kansas
conveyed the Nirginius to sea from Aspin1all,
on the demand OF Minister HurIburt, when she
slip-ot-war PiZarrO. In June of the same year
the Nirgnius, being again in Aspinwail, was
menaced with seizure by the Spanish war yes
sci BaZan, whose commander requested the
captain OF the l nited States ship-oi war Kansas
to state whether she was an American vessel
MIR. Thompson, the American consul, being
Intercepted upon the subject, stated explicitly
that her papers were in all respects complete,
and that she was an American vessel beyond all
question, and entitled to protection. A long
corresY onGence ensued, which resulted in the
Kansas aSrOrtinp the tn he
demand of our cOnsul-as an American ship en-
titled to protection. Since then she has been in
different ports OF the Caribbean Sea, where she
was, in all cases, cleared as an American ship.
Even in her last voyage out she was cleared
an American vessel from Kingston, Jamaica.
1t was believed that the State and NaYydepart-
ments at Washington were cOgnizant Of these
facts, and that there is not a shadow OF doubt
that the Nirginius was at the time of her recen'
capture entitled to protection as an American
vessel.
PHILADELPHIA AROUSED.
large meeting OF Cubans. resident OF Phil
adeiphIs, was held last evening, the president
of the Philadelphia junta, n. A. Montego, pre-
siding. He. with others, made addresses in
which great stress was laid on the Virgiuius
Powers, two well-knOwn military men of thai
city, were present, and after making addresses
offered their services TO the Cuban cause, say
ing they would raise, If Necessary, 1900 men
Great enthusiasm prevailed when the snbscTip
ton list was opened. Several hundred dollar
were promptly subscribed, and watches and
their cash subscriptions were not hesvl
enough. One Cuban prssentsd his horse and
carriage.
PROPOSED MASS MEETING IN NEW YORK.
number of influential Americans who
sympathiZe with the cause of Cuban indepeh-
dence held meeting at the Aston house yester-
day afternoon. A committee was appointed TO
arrange for grand mass meeting, 20 be held al
an early day.
TANaANY's DANDER "RiZ."
The Tammany hall committee organiZ a
ton in the course OF its proceedings yesterday
adopted resolutions demanding of the govern
NEXT a careful investigation of the butchery
of American citizens in Cuba and prompt win.
dication Of the American flag and honor OF hu-
manity.
JOHN BULL TO HAVE A Handle 1T.
The British government has instructed its
cousuls at Havana and Santiago de Cuba to
watch proceedings against the captiyes OF the
Vlrginius, az It, the British goyernment, has
been informed that one of the captiyes Is q sub
ject of Great Britain.
soMK OF THE vIRGINIUs VICTIMS.
Capt. Joseph Fry, the commander OF the
NirgiDius, was a native OF Florida. and son OF
Major Fry of the United States army, who wa
killed in the Seminole war. Capt Fry catered
the naval academy at Annapolis in 1874 and re-
NAMED in the navy until 1861, when he resigned
and entered the confederate service. While a