New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-22
A COMMERCIAL rowan.


The developments in tho history Of the VIr-
ginius continue to be of a highly sensational
character and az specimen of the enter
prises in which this american vessel was
engaged in the West Indies, we purpose sum
marizing the evidence OF Capt. Charles Smith,
who was her commander from June to NOvem-
Der, 1872. Smith was engaged by Alfaro ana
Quesada, at Puerto Cabello, i'll Venezuela. his
wages TO be 5000 month with bonus OF
IS 900 if he succeeded in landing an expedi-
ton on the coast of Cuba. he joined the ship
Immediately, and found on board only one
American an engineer named knight, with
several Cubans who were enrolled as HleucaDs.
The vessel was furnished with six Cuban
flags, and one old American ensign
which had been bought at second
hand a little while before. There was no cargo
in fact It does not appear that the Nirginlus
carried hundred pounds of merchandise
during her whole career in the Antilles, or ever
earned dollar except on one occasion when
she towed a schooner to sea-but there was
"a large quantity of arms for merchant ship
namely, about 100 or $50 rifles, which would be
four OF five for every one of the crew When
Capt. Smith examined the ships papers, he
nOt1ceu tIdt lnt CtIiHCdtt VI ltsiH'iy hhu ho
official number (Which the law requrcd), and
that Dir. Patterson was inscribed as the owner
Naturally ne inquired of AIfaro who Patterson
was and AlfarO replied in effect that Patter-
son was all right" did not own fraction
of share in the ship, had got his price
and would never trouble them. In point of
fact Patterson never did trouble them, and none
of the successive captains of the ship appa-
rently had any dealings with him whatever.
The Virginius at this time seems to have
been source OF endless vexatiOn and per-
plexity to tho American Consul at Puerto
Cabeil0. That gentleman, Dr. LacOmbe,
very frankly told Capt. Smith that the ship
was nothing but filibuster. " 1 often had
"the old doctor come up and tell me in the
"club- house." says Smith, "'Captain, ! know
every well that the Virginius amt no bust
ness to my protection, but l can't help but
protect her; / don't know what TO do :
"and when a man-Of-war would come in he
would try to throw the Yirginius off on her."
The men-of-war, however, were not anxious
to take the responsibility. The vessel was
tied ND for some time by creditors on shore,
and by a Spanish gunboat just outside the
port. An attempt was made i'll July to relieve
her by fictitious sale to an Englishman, and
Capt Smith set to work making an English
flag when the scheme was defeated Ito the in
expressible disappointment OF Consul LacOmbe)
by o telegram from the British Minister
at Caracas threatening if she hOisted
the British flag to have her seized as a
pirate. She now fell back upon the protec
tion of the United States, and proposed to
make " trial trip" if Capt. Renshaw of the
Canandaigua would kindly;see her safe out of
port; but Capt. Renshaw, who was not born
Yesterday, would not do anything of the kind.
Finally, Alfaro gave bonds for the payment
Of the steamers debts, and III August she
showed clean pair of heels to the Spanish
man-of-war and went to sea, bound 0stensl-
bly, for st. Thomas, with Quesada and Alfaro
on board. Qnesada now proposed to arm the
ship. give Smith a commission in the Cuban
navy Che carried several of those valuable
documents in blank), and make raid upon
the Spanish merchantmen in those waters !;
but as his plan did not meet with the cap
tain's approval, he shifted his course for
Maracaibo, hoping to earn little money for
the Cuban cause by hiring out the ship to
one of the factions then contendinp for ths
government of Venezuela. The Vrginius en-.
tered the port of Maracaibo with the Venezue-
Ian flag at the fore and the Stars and Stripes
at the stern, and during her stay at that place
she displayed also the colOrs of the Cuban
Republic, while some Of her officers used 10
sun themselves on shore in Cuban uniforms
and side arms The Consul at MaracaibO, Mr..
Jutting, reported these tactA to tho admins