Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-01-07
,U 10 W liHW 4notG Sak GbrOd SsNaOap sannan7 1873
THE VIRGINIUS. ARg
sinking of the Vessel Off the North Car
DINA Coast.
Founaering ID lhe Nole.l shIp.


NEW YORK, Dec. 30.-The Ossippee re-
ports that the Virginius, when off Cape
Fear and in sight OF land, in spite Of all
the efforts of the crew aboard her, settled
and went to the bottom Of the sea.
Il Shortly after the arrival of the Ossippee
n reporter boarded her and had an inter-
view with the officer of the deck. The
latter said he had strict orders not to COM
municate with anybody in relation to the
circumstances attending the laundering of
the Virginius. He would not even give
the date of the occurrence or the place
where it happened. w -tt<ft-t y tatl..
aFFN About th.surviNors. -.-..9
NEW York, Dec. 30.-The crew of The
Vermont cheered the Cuban survivors as
they passed, and were met on shore by
several Cuban leaders and taken to their
quarters. The only Southerner on the list
of survivors is Philip Metzler, q cigar
maker of Charleston, South Carolina. The
survivors number one hundred and one,
including one English, one from Canada,
eight from the UnitedStates, 10 from Jamai-
ca and twenty-nine from Havana. The
average age of the survivors is about u.
Nine are students and nineteen cigar
makers. There are but few sick and they
are well cared for.
WILMINGTON, Dec. 30.-A steamship,
thought to be the Virginius is sunk about
nine miles off Main bar. She sunk in
eight fathoms water, and there are five
fathoms on deck. ..-
Particulars of the sinking of the vir
Einius,
Lieutenant Commander Haswell, eX-
ecutive officer of the Ossippee, says The
Ossippee left the Tortugas with the Nir-
ginius in tow on the morning of the 10th,
Just as is already reported. They had fair
in off of
day, the following day, when agalesprung
up, and she continued to have bad weather
like that encountered by the Juniata and
the Virginius signalled that she was leak
ing badly. Capt. Walters, commander of
the Ossippee, therefore determined to shape
his course for Charleston, S. c., but as they
got into smoother water the Nirginius be
haved better and the water was kept out of
her fire room.
On the morning of Christmas day, how
ever, the severe weather having continued,
the Virginius was again leaking as badly
us ever, and the vessels put into the frying
pan shoals about ten miles south of Cape
Fear light, where smoother water could be
obtained. Here the vessels came to anchor
and Captain Walters, hoping that the
Virginiss would out ride the gale. Before
daylight next morning, Friday, Com
mander Woodward signaled with lights
that the Virginius was leaking rapidly
with the fires out and the pumps stopped
and that the crew wished to be taken off.
Boats were lowered from the Ossippee at
daylight and by O'Clock A. NJ, all ON
board the Virgi1ius were transferred to the
former vessel. AS a heavy sea was run
ming, the work of removing the crew was
one of much danger and difficulty, and
therefore no lives were risked in endeav-
oring to save their personal effects or any
other property on the Virginius.
The hawser of the Virginius was cut and
a buoy attached to mark her position, in
case she sank out of sight. The Ossippee
remained at anchorage during the day and
at 4:15 p. n. the Virginius, which had been
gradually settling, went to the bottom.
She sank in eight fathoms of water and
her topmasts remained above the surface.
Tho Ossippee then resumed her voyage to
this port. Her supply of coal was ample,
twenty-five tons remaining on board. All
on board the Ossippee are we'll She will
proceed to to the navy yard here to-day or
tomorrow; after discharging her powder.
Capt. Walters has made written report,
which will be forwarded to Washington at
once.
Great Entlausiasni.
The released captives of the Virginius
still remain at the Cuban restaurant on
Pine street. The scene there IL is morning
was one of great enthusiasm. Resolutions
were adopted, returning thanks to Capt.
Braine, of the Juniata for his kindness,
and expressing sympathy with him in the
loss of his son. 1t was also resolved that |
the ex-captives should attend the funeral
of the child in a body.
Some of the captives this morning were
visited by personal friends, and the meet !
ings on these occasion were of the most |
affecting character.
The Prisoners Released.
NEW YORK, Dec. 30.-The released Vir- |
ginius prisoners to-day, passed vote of
thanks to Commander Braine, and other |
officers of the Juniata. Engineer Knight |
of the Virginius said the original sentence |
was that the entire crew should be hung at |
the yard arm, but the Captain of the Isa- |
bel la Catolica did not wish such a spec |
tacle made of his vessel and obtained a |
change to death by shooting, and the COM
mutation of seventeen of the crew to the |
chain gang.
COAI OIL Accident
BALTIMORE, Dec. 31.--Mrs. Coole, wife |
of VIM II, COole Treasurer OF the Central |