Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1874-01-02
The virginius and Survivors

The Virginius and Survivors
Dispatches from New York state that the
Brooklyn navy-yard was visited on Monday
morning by large number of persons who,
from various motives, were anxious 10 get on
board the Juniata and see the surviving pris-
oners of the Virgiuius. Among the applicants
were II number of Cubans; but all made at
ternpts in vain, Admiral Rowan having issued
strict orders that no one except authorized
United States officers should be allowed either
TO board or leave the vessel. Unusual strict
ness was also observed in the requirement OF
passes to visit the yard. as no one was permit
ted to approach the docks without pass from
Captain Chandler. United States District At
torney Bliss, Assistant District Attorney Sim
mons and United States Commissioner Dayen-
port, accompanied by official stenographers
boarded the Junata shortly after IL o'clock,
10 continue their examination of the passen-
gers and crew of the Vrginius. Twelve of
the Virginius passengers were SO Frustrated
by disease-the result of il-usage--as TO re-
quire their immediate removal to the marine
hospital. OF the sufftrings of the captives
and heir final deliveranee the New York Tri-
bune gives the following account
BARBARoUs AND CRUEL.
AL reports of the prisoners agree in one
particular, namely, that the treatment received
was uniformly harsh, and in some cases bar
barous They were robbed by the crew OF the
a., a,l, I'll, -i,of ,aH linn
had money. jewelry, watches, and other vau-
ables stolen. The prisoners were taken TO the
Jail of Santiago after their arrival in port.
The jail is low, gloomy looking structure,
situated near the harbor, in one of the lower
portions of the city. Through its dismal por-
tai the unfortunate capIives were driven; here
they were crowded together like cattle; here
their suferings began. They were not as
signed to separate cells indeed. there was no
opportunity for such confinement in the con-
.racted quarters of the Santiago Jail, but the
eutire party OF nearly two hundred were driv-
en- into small room hardly fifty feet long by
fifteen feet wide. Here they were obliged to
live as best they could, though the air OF
course was almost deadly, and there was little
or no opportunity for exercise The prison
ers were supplied with provisions, which
though sufficient in quantity, were poor in
quality, and hardly fitted to sustain life.-
These provision consisted almost wholly OF
rice aud water. Ryan, Farona, Del Sol aud
-GeApedes were speedily separated from their
companioa aeld after il speedy tri, before "A
Spanish court-marli.1 were sentenced to i'm
mediate death.
THE SLAUGHTER PEN VICTIMS.
On the morning Of November their com
pauions looked them for lie las; lime, and "a
few hours later they fell riddles with bullets
in the trenches which surround. the slaughter
house. The fate Of their compat3ions soon be-
came known to The capiires IN prison, and
they tretnhlinely Whiting the Developments
which were hourly expected. Three DAYS
later their r&nks were agaia dininished and
Captain Fey and his brave coppa mons wenl
forth to death. From this time forward The
prisoners we're in hourly fear for their own
safety Their fears were not unknown to
their capors aud again and gaia they were
iold HAT the day Of their de,sh had come -
Not only were they told bat they must die
but the priests we're admitted 10 their presence
and on several occasions they made what they
sppposed to be their dying confessions AS
the time appointed for their death arrive
none Of the Spaniards appeared to lead them
forth 10 execution, and they we're led 10 sup
pose that The day for their death had been
postponed Again ami again was this tor
ture inflicted upcb them aud every possible
was resorted to.
LED FORTH TO LIBERTY.
1t was at sunrise on the mora OF Thursday,
Dec. IS, that the remaining prisoners OF the
Virginius were led forth from their dungeon,
as they expected. to meet the fate of their
companions. Their inhuinan captors were
still deceving them on every possible occasion,
and torturing them both in body and mind.
They had been told that morning TO prepare for
death; the priests had entered the prison, and
had administered the solemn duties Of their
Office, and they were then led forth in the
same manner as Ryan and Fry hadspeen a few
weeks before.
The Juuiata was living short distance away
in tie harbor Of Santiago de Cuba, with the
United States flag flying The prisoners were
placed on board scow aud lowed out in the
stream, and in a few minutes swung around
the stern Of the United States steamer and
were then no longer masters of their emotion
TRIUMPHANT JOY.
As one Of their number stood out promi-
nently among his comrades, and us the truth
flashed upon him. he gave one triumphant
shout, and swung his hat wildly in the air
1t was the single spark needed to FIRE a maya
zine aud his shout had not died on the air
When il WAS taken up and echoed and re-echo-
ed By his companit s. and the shores and The
h:;rbor Of Santiago rang with cheers for the
flag Of the United States. The Spanish officers
looked on in moody silence but made no other
demonstration Of their disapproval Like
ta,admen the liberated capiives rushed upon
the decks OF the Junaia. Like children they
cried when they found themselves iree from
their barbarian prosecutors. They were hun
gry aad many Of them nearly naked They
were he'd only with the thin, iattered gar
ments which had formed their prison garb-
There on the deck were ranged the abundant
stores which the foresight OF the officers Of the
Juniata had provided, and the need of all
were abundanilv supplied Many Of them
cling to their ragged prison garments most
tenacously, and looked on with almost mourn
gu eyes when they saw them thrown away
Said am officer Of the Juuiata, 1T was one Of
the saddest and gladdcst sights ! ever saw
when We gave them clothing, which they
hardly knew vi hat to do with, and chung to
their rags as if they were old friends
THANKS AND GRATITUDE.
The crew and passengers of the Virginus
have forN arded memorial TO President Grant
expressing their heartfelt and grateful thanks
for the energetic measures taken for their time
~ rescue and delivery from death or sentence
TO the chain gang. or Spanish prison. Crate
full mention is also made Of Com mander Braine
and officers and men.
HERorsN.-The Hudson Star says girl
of Albion, Wisconsin, has proved herself
made of heroic stuff Going into the woods
few days since with a fve-year old brother
IL -. /