The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-15
THE vIRGINIUS CASE.
How England Defends Her National
Honor.

luc correspondence, JUST pIcscuJcu w ruIlld-
ment, respecting the capture Of the Virglnius and
the treatment OF her crew and passengers does
not add materially to the facts which have been
already unofflcially published, but 1t removes all
doubt which may have existed as to the nature
and reality OF the outrage committed upon British
subjects by the Spanish authorities In Cuba. The
first information on the subject reached US, 1t Will
be remembered, early in last November, from
Madrid. The details OF the case were not given
very fully. We heard only that the Virginlus,
vessel under American colors, had been cap
tured by q Spanish cruiser on the high
seas, not far from the coast OF Jamaica !;
that she had been taken into the port OF San
tIago. and that some OF those who had been
found on board her, and an American citizen
among the rest had been summarily put to death.
News soon followed OF further executions, but we
had no distinct statement as to the nationality Of
the sufferers. BY the 10th Of November apologies
from Madrid had already been received at Wash
renee were based entirely upon the suppOstion
that the affair was one between Spain and the
we Was h0s an We
concerned IN the matter. On the 18th OF Novem-
Der the report nrst came that sixteen OF the VIC
tins had been British subjects, and we heard
afterwards that other British subjects who had
been found on board were still detained
in Cuba as prisoners Our goyernmens
about the facts. Lord Granvlile's attention
was nrst called to the case by the tele-
graphic intelligence which continued to appear in
tn press. He had, as yet. no knowledge that
there were any British subjects among the prison.
ers, but on the possibility mat 1t might be so,
put himself in communication with our Acting
Consul General at Havana, desiring him, in such
an event. to watch the case on their BEHALF and to
use his utmost endeavOrS to secure them a fair
trial. He received telegram In reply. on the
morning. OF November l5. informing him very
briefly OF the facts which have since become no.
torious. He then learned that the chase OF the
Virginius mad begun, as well as that her capture
had been effected. on the high seas; that IN spite
OF the utmost efforts OF the Governor OF Jamaica,
British S Vice Consul S'0; ss Santiago
OF the Virginius, had been shot on the 7tn
instant, and that there were still seven British
subjects remaining among the prisoners. On re-
egraphed straghtway to our Minister at Madrid.
instructlng him to reserve, for the present the
CURED, but to state without delay that the Span
ish government and all the persons concerned
would be ned responsible or any nrt9er exeSu-
tear Immediately sent OIL a message to the Cap
tain General ofOuba, directing the suspension OF
The British authorities in the neignborhood had.
meanwhile, not been idle. A British vessel OF war
mad 9een despatched to Santiago as soon
ceived. She arrived on the sth OF Novem.
ber- unfortunately too late to prevent all
the mischief that had been feared, but in time to
lend powerful aid to the representations OF our
Consular stafr as to the treatment OF the remain
ing prisoners. the executions were stopped the
rest or the prisoners were ultimately released and
the Virgnins herself was surrendered to the United
States the further question OF satisfaction to both
settled.
1t remains to inquire what justification can be
put forward by the cuban authorities for the out
RACES OF wnich they have been thus guilty, and
under what prctence OF justice their acts OF barbar
lty were committed. The question finds Its answer
partly In the previous history OF the Captured veS
sell and partly In the almost undOubted pIrpose for
which she had just put to sea. me Virginius was
not unknown to tue Spanish authorities in Cuba.
She bore, indeed the American nag, and had been
registered as an American vessel, but 1t was no
secret that she was Ia act the property Of one or
tiOn and that she had been employed more than
once already to land men and arms and ammuni-
III at Kingston, Jamaica, on the och OF July, pre-
csdng her capture, and even while in harbor had
been closely watched by Spanish man-oi-war.
She remained at Kingston Tor some time, clearing
on the I'D OF October, ostensibly for Port Lmon,
In Costa RIGA, but with more than q suspicion at
taching TO her that her intention was to proceed
once more to the coast OF Cuoa, and there continue
her efforts on behalf OF the republicans" or this,
however, there was no positive PROOF She
terial-not, indeed. by her own choice, but
because she had been deprived OF them after a
most rigorous search by the customs authorities
at Kingston. The British subjects whom she had
on board were partly members of her crew and
partly passengers VINO appear to have sailed with
the bona tide notion that they were going to Port
Limon and to have paid Tor their passages accord
ingly. There Is some doubt about her movements
alter she lett Kingston. She certainly put in at
Port-auPrince, in Hayti, whether, as mas been
asserted, Tor necessary repairs or, more prob
ably to take in fresh cargo OF arms, On the 3lst
OF october she was deserted by the spanish screw
corvette Tornado about eighteen miles rom the
Cuban coast, and, beyond doubt, far out OF her
course Tor Port LimOn. She was Immediately
pursued and captured, after q ten hours chase,
about tweDty-tllree miles from the coast
OF Jamaica, and was taken into Santiago
as q lawful prize Of war. On her ar,
rival at Santiago the master, crew ana
passengers were declared by the Spaniards TO
be .'prates." c0urt-marta was held on them
and fifty seven were at once sentenced to deatn.
on the 4th OF November this sentence was execu,
ted upon tour Of them, one of whom, General
Ryan, though without doubt an insurrecIlonary
leader, was equally without doubt an American
citizen. The remaining nIty-three we're shot three
days afterwards. and among them the sixteen e,
British SUBJECTS, all members Of the crew, ana ths
In spite OF the urgent circumstances OF our con-
suar authorities on the spot, ana, as we nave
sad, Just one day before the arrival OF the BRITISH
man-ofwar Niobe. We have endeavoured 10 state
the facts as favorably as possible TO the Spanish
authorities, but II clear tnat there IS nothing in
them which could justify either the original sez-
ure OF the virginius on the hlgh seas or
the subsequent treatment OF her crew. Spain
had nerfact right to defend her own ter.