The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1874-01-17
MISCELLANEOUS.

1
no occasion for the seizure.
MISCELLANEOUS.
South Bend, Ind, celebrated the compile
ton of ifs water-works on Christmas day.
Considerable damage was done by a hurri-
cane at Wilmington, N. c., on Christmas
night.
The seventh annual meeting of the National
Grange of Patrons of Husbandry viii be held
in St. Louis on the first Wednesday in Feb
ruary.
The steamer Juniata, commander Braine,
from Santiago de Cuba, arrived at New York
on Dec. 2S, with the survivors of the Virgin
ius passengers and crew, one hlndFed and !.
two in number. In accordance with inztfue-@
tions from Washington, sail intercourse or
communication from the shore with those on
board the ship was denied, and none of the
officers OF crew were allowed to leave the
vessel A Tribune reporter, who succeeded
in boarding the vessel, makes the following
statement:
The prisoners all agree in asserting that
their treatment by their Spanish eaptors was
uniformly harsh and in some cases barbarous.
The crew of the Tornado robbed them of all
their money ,jewelry and other Valuables. Up
on their arrival in Santiago they were crowded
into single pen about so feet long by 15
wide, where they were compelled to live al
most wholly upon rice and AFater. The air Of
their prison-pen was almost deadly, and they
were allowed no exercise. One night the
prisoners were stealthily taken from jail and
were taken with the greatest haste to point
seven miles below the city in the vicinity of
the Morro. The road lay through rough tract
of country and the journey was most weari-
some, while some of the prisoners were so
sick as to be almost unable to stand it. The
suferings of some of the number were in
tense, and no pity was In the breast of the
Spaniards. AT this point on the coast they
were placed on board the steamer Bazan,
which at once set sail for Havana. At Mani
camilla il was met by the mail steamer coming
in the opposite direction. On board this
steamer was a general, who at once ordered
the Bazan to return to Santiago. She turned
about soon after and ran aground, and the
passengers were transferred to another yes
sci. Here they suffered horrors heretofore
unknown They were crowded in the hold
of the vessel, where scarcely q ray of sum
light could struggle in. The air was poison.
The darkness was almost continuous. The
food they ate was wretehed in quality and
insufficient in quantity. The water they .
drank was what remained in the buckets
after the dumb animals ON board were satis-
fled. These animals consisted mainly of
horses and mules. They were kept on the
deck above the Virginius prisoners and were
thus a constant source of annoyance to the
helpless prisoners confined below. 1t Is
said that in the midst of all the filth and
suffering the prisoners were not allowed
to wash while on board the Bazan
for a period of ten days, and that
their arms were pinioned behind them the
larger portion of the, voyage. They were
occasionally beaten on the slightest proFoca-
ton, and sometimes on no proVocati0n at all.
These punishments, however, seem not to
have been of a nature Sc serious as to produce
any lasting effects. Commander Braine said
to the reporter: The feeling at Santiago
against Americans was exceedingly bitter,
and Vice-Consul Smith is actually in danger
of his life. He has several times been threat
ened with assassination, and think one of
our men-of-War ought to be stationed there
permanently, at least till the feeling subsidies,
as hope it will. Viee-Consui Smith was
abused shamefully in their daily papers, and
it was only by my personal intercession with
the Governor that they were stopped"
A heavy snow storm prevailed throughout
the New England States on the night Of Dec.
2s. At Hartford the snow was fully two feet
deep on a level.
Orders have been issued from the Navy De-
partment to discontinue the recruiting depots
at the various points where they were opened
at the beginning of the complications with
Spain. The number of men in the navy is
now 10000
The survivors of the crew and passengers
of the Yirginius have forwarded memorial
to President Grant, expressing their heartfelt
and grateful thanks for the energetic measures
taken for their timely rescue and delivery
from death or sentence to the ehain-gang or
Spanish prison. Grateful mention is also
made of Commander Braine. ANs8
The United States District Attorney con-
cluded the investigation of the Virginius
prisoners ON Dec. 80, and they were landed
and taken in charge by the representatives of
the Cuban Junta in New York.
The United States steamer 0ssipee, the
convoy of the Yirginius, arrived at New
York on Dec. 30, but was not accompanied by
that vessel 1t was believed that the Virgin
ius had been sunk during the passage, although
nothing definite could be learned.
FOREIGN.
Marshal Bazaine left Versailles for sainfe
| Marguerite on December 26.
The London Telegraph has a letter from