The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1873-11-15
RUMoRs OF WAR.

On the thirty first ultimo the Span
ish gunboat Tornado overhauled and
captured on the high seas the Ameri-
can steamship Virginius, under COM
mand of Capt. Joseph Fry OF New
Orleans, and having on board ammu-
milton, arms and q party of $50 re-
cruits for the Cuban revolutionists,
accompanied by Gen. Ryan, Gen. Va
roma, Euminio Quesada and other
distinguished Cuban leaders. The
whole party were made prisoners,
taken to Santiago de Cuba, at which
place they were landed on the first
of November, tried by Q drum-head
eourt-martial as pirates, and all but
a bakers dozea condemned to death.
Four were shot on the 4th Of Norem-
Der, thirty-seyen more On the 9TH, in
cluding the captain, first and second
mates of the vessel and thirty -four
seamen, twelve ON the 9Th, and fifty
seven on the 10th, this despite the
earnest protests of the American and
British consals, who were treated
with insolence when they interfered
to endeavor to stay the outrageous
proceedings INSTRUMENTATION could
be had with their respective govern
ments, the use of the telegraph being
refused them to accomplish this pur-
pose.
This dastardly and inhuman butch
cry has aroused q perfect storm of
horror and indignation among the peo-
pie of the United States, and in res
pense to this feeling the government
is hurrying forward warlike prepare
tons upon an extensive scale with
the anticipation of ayenging the in
suit to our country and its flag. The
right of the Tornado to capture the
Virginius and of the Spanish comman-
der to haul down the stars and stripes
and replace it with the flag of Spain
upon a vessel having regular Ameri-
can papers, involves points of inter
national law that we are neither COM
competent or DESTROYS of discussing;
bat the hurried mock trial and horri-
bic murder of large number of
American subjects is sufficient to
awake in the breast of every citizen
of our country q desire for the imme-
date punishment of the cowardly per-
petrators of the foul deed.
The blood of martyred Fry and his
brave comrades calls loudly to their
countrymen for vengeance, and if
the government fails in its plain duty
of visiting retribution upon the heads
Of the insolent Spaniards, then indeed
win blot rest upon the fair esceut-
cheon of our Republic, and the glor-
ions star spangled banner of freedom
lie trailing in the dust to be spat up
on and trod under foot by tho vilest
vermin that creep upon the earth.
President Grant has not the power
under our laws to open hostilities,
but he has directed all the available
vessels Of war to be..put in condition
for Immediate service and sent to
Cuban waters and the Gulf fortifca-
tions strengthened, so that a declara-
ton of war from Congress will find
the government forces prepared for
prompt action. Congress will assem-
bic on the LIST of December, and will
doubtless take action upon this mat
ter in the only way that can prove
satisfactory to the people-by ordering
the insult to America wiped out with
Spanish blood. Then will down
trodden Cuba join in the rejocings of
all justice and freedom loving human
isy, as the tocsin of war upon Spain
will sound the release of " the ever
faithful isle" from the clutches of
Spanish tyranny, now and forever