Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1873-11-28
THE CUBAN AFFAIR.

WAR CLOUD DIsAPPEARING-THE AMER
iICAN ULTIMAT M-INTEREsTING
E STATEMENT OF THE LATE TRAGEDY
NOBLE LETTER OF CAPT. FRY-HIs
EXECUTION.
&c, &C., &C.
The Cuban affair from the latest dispatch
es up to last night, stood this way The
U. S. Government has determined to de-
mand the returned of the Virginius, the
restoration of those of her crew yet alive,
and the payment Of indemnity to the fam
lilies of those who were murdered. Spain
it is said agrees, through herminister at
Washington, Admiral Polo, to these terms.
On the other hand, Havana is being ac-
lively put i'll a state for defence, and the
United States is active in it's naval prepa-
rations. The Havana and Madrid papers
talk eight" very strong, and the latter
produce circular of the U. S. during the
war, declaring the Confederate privateers
pirates. Wegive below some details of the
late tragedy
THE EXECUTION OF THE CREW.
Regarding the manner in which Captain
Fry and his companions marched to their
fate, these advices show that they were
landed on the 9th, at about O'Clock in the
morning, from the steamer in which they
had been confined, tried and condemned to
death, and taken first to the captain of the
port and then to the jail.
About midday of the 18th instant the
fiscal, OF prosecutor in the case, Captain S.
M. Autran, of tie gunboat Cuba Espaniol
handed to the vice-consul, MI. Schmitt,
permission from the captain of the port
and commandment of marine, Don Ramon
Brandaris, to call and see Captain Fry at
the jail, who desired to see the consul.
The latter Immediately proceeded to the
Jail, where, after the usual forpalities, he
ed him that he had been asking for that
privilege, or that right rather, ever since
he had been first brought to the port, but
without avail, and he had only been grant
ed this boon now within few hours of his
death, as he was to be shot at O'Clock,
and desired to make bis declaration and
protest, having been captured, with his
steamer, upon the high seas, and therefore
protested against all and every part of the
proceedings. The protest was concluded
at about P. M, and the consul immedi-
ately transmitted a copy to Gen. Burriel
The declaration and
PROTEST.
of Captain Joseph Fry, before the United
States vice consul, after being sentenced
to death, was in substance as follows:
That he was the master of the Ameri-
can steamer Yirginius. which had all her
papers in compiete order, especially the
register of the steamer, Grey list and arti-
cles, passenger list, clearance from Kings
ton, as also dispatch from the custom
house, &c. Sailed on the 23d of October,
1873, with all his crew and about one hum
dred and eight passengers after few
hours at sea sprung a leak and put into
Port Haytien for repairs sailed from the
port of Cuimit, of that island, on the Both
day Of October, and, while between the is
lands Of Cuba and Jamaica, twenty miles
OF more from Cuba, was chased by a
steamer, and overtaken and captured about
eighteen miles north of Mofraat Point,
east end Of the island of Jamaica, about
10 O'Clock at night, the Spanish vessel pre-
viously firing several shots over the Vir-
ginius and compelling them to surrender. |
The steamer was then taken charge of by
a boarding. officer, who stated that he did
SO on his own responsibility, knowing her
to be an American vessel and under the
protection Of the flag of the United States
of America. The master, J0seph Fry,
with the crew and passengers were PLACED ]
Under guard, and all brought into the port !
Of Santiago de Cuba on the LIST day Of No
yenlber.
On the evening of the same day, sitter
having delivered oyer all the papers be-
to apply to his Consul for aid
apd urotnction and this uas nr1xyl orpan4od |