Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-01-10
The Yirginius CaptiVes.
The Treatment Harsh and oten Barba-
rous--The Death Menace Held Over
the Heads OF the Survivors OF the
Two Maasacres.

rous--The Death Menace Held Over
the Heads OF the Survivors OF the
Two MassReres.
A reporter, who boarded the Juniata
Immediately after her arrival at New
York with the Virginius survivors on
board, obtained full particulars from a
variety of sources concerning the treat
ment received by the prisoners at the
hands of their Spanish captors. All
these reports agree in one particular
namely, that the treatment received was
uniformly harsh, and in some cases
barbarous. The Tornado with the cap
tured Virginius arrivedin the harbor of
Santiago in. the manner already de-
scribed. A fact which has not, how
ever, generally been known, by the
statements of the prisoners now comes
to light, which is that they were robbed
by the crew of the Tornado, and nearly
all who owned anything were robbed of
money, iewelry, watches, and other
valuables. The prisoners were taken
to the jail of Santiago soon after their
arrival in port. The Jail is low,
gloomy-looking structure, situated near
4 the harbor, in one of the lower portions
of the city. Through its dismal portal
the unfortunate captives were driven
here they were crowded together like
cattle; here their sufferings began.
They were not assigned to separate cells
Indeed, there was no opportunity for
such confinement in the contracted
tquarters of the Santiago jail, but the
entire party. of nearly 200 were driven
into a small room hardly so feet long by
Is 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 prisoners were supplied
with provisions, which, though sufi-
cient as regards quantity, were poor in
quality, and hardly fitted to sustain
life. These provisions consisted almost
wholly of rice and water. Ryan, Varona,
; Del Sol, and Cespedes were speedily
separated from their companions,
and after a speedy trial before Span
ish court-martial were sentenced to i'm
mediate death. On the morning of
Nov. 4, their companions looked upon
: them for the last time, and few hours
later they fell riddled with bullets in
the trenches which surround the slaugh-
ter-house.
The fate of their companions soon
! became known to the captives in prison.
and they tremblingly awaited the de-
|, velopments which were hourly expected
Three days later their ranks were again
diminished, and Captain Fry and his
brave companions went forth to DEATH
From this time forward the prisoners
were in hourly fear for their own safety.
Their fears were not unknown to their
captors, and again and again they were
told that the day of their death had
, come. Not only were they told that
, they must die, but the priests were ad-
/ mitted to their presence, and on several
occasions they made what they supposed
to be their dying confessions. As the
time appointed for their death arrived,
none of the Spaniards appeared to lead
them forth to execution, and they were
j led to suppose that the day for their
death had been postponed. Again and
, again was this torture inflicted upon
{ them, and every possible means for in
creasing their mental suffering was re-
! sorted to.
; In an interview with Commander
! Braine of the Juniata, Governor De La
Rois of Santiago pledged his honor
that none of the prisoners should be re-
> moved or executed until the commander
of the Juniata had received due Motif
cation. On that very night the priso-
a ners were stealthily taken from the jail,
y and marched with the greatest haste to
. a point seven miles below the city in
, the vicinity of the Moro. The road
; lay through rough tract of country,
and the journey was most wearisome,
while some of the prisoners were SO
, sick as to be almost unable to stand.
q The sufferings of some of the number
! were intense, and no pity was in the
breasts of the Spaniards. At this point
a on the coast they were placed on board
= the steamer Bazan, which at once set
sail for Havana. At Manzanilla it was
met by the mail steamer coming in the
opposite direction. On board this
steamer was General Burriel, who al
: once ordered the Bazan to return tc
! Santiago. She turned about, but soon
/ after ran aground, and the passengers
: were transferred to another vessel.
g The Spanish soldiers are regarded
+ rather contemptuously by United States
a Navy officers, and they have not feared
to express their opinions freely. 1t was
!, feared by the Spaniards that the threats
:. of the naval officers might be carried in.
4 to execution, and the prisoners could
a easily have been rescued from theil
). former quarters. In the Moro theil
> treatment was similar to what had pre-.
, coded, though their experience here was
short. The orders from Madrid de
handed that they should be delivered
e on the 10th of December. Many have
e condemned Burriel for his delay in sur
e rendering the prisoners, but the officers
y of the Juniata declare that he seems tx
a have done as well as he was able. He
i was in readiness on the 10Th inst. tC
l. treat with the United States officers
z. concerning their delivery. It was no
W until the 18th, however, that all the ar
n rangements were completed, and tina
b was the day fixed for their transfer Il
It the Juniata.
j. It was at sunrise on the morning c.
= Thursday, Dec. 18, that the remaining
6 prisoners of the Virginius were lee
d forth from their dungeon, as they ex
IS pected, to meet the fate of their com
y panions. Their inhuman captors wer,
s. still deceiving them on every possibl,
3. occasion, and torturing them both OF
10 body and mind. They had been tolt
p that morning to prepare for death; th,
!. priests had entered the prison, and hat
vs. administered the solemn duties of thei
IS office, and they were then led forth il