The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-03-16
The yirginins Indemnity.

the United States and the Spanish gov
ernment, in relation to the claim for
indemnity from Spain for the eXecu-
tion at Santiago de Cuba, of the Ameri-
cans who were on board the Virginius.
The Secretary reports that the claim has
been disposed of by an agreement eNtcr-
cd INTO by Minister Cushing and the
Spanish Minister of Foreign affairs.
The CORES pOndcnce dates as far back rs
November ID, 1873 giving the origin of
the Nrginius difficulty and includes the
Fish-Polo protocol. Also report Of the
Naval Court of Inquiry convened by Sec
retary Robson, January Sd, 1874.
The British government, in making It's
demand for indemnity for the British
subjects taken from the VirginuS and
murdered fixed the sum at EjOO for each
white man and E30G for each CO!orcd
man, the total sum amounting to g, 100,
there being ten white men and nine ne
grocs killed. After much negotiation
Spain agreed to pay E6, 700, one thou
sard less than had been demanded,
with the stipulation that if any
of the families or heirs Of the persons
,lan did not make claim to the money,
the amount they would be entitled to
should be- returned to the Spanish gov
eminent. The proposition VII, accepted
by Great Britain on November -, and
the Secretary of State informed that the
Spanish government would do the same
for the United States rs it would for
Great Bli.aln. Secretary Fish informed
Minister Cushing that the United States
would not take less. Secretary FlSh's
instructions to Minister Gushing are rs
follows. They are dated November 2S,
1874:
"In the settlement Of all the crew not
claimed hv Great Britain and for whom
she did not receive indemnity, and who
must be treated rs American
, ed for white persons, namely not
less than y, 500. The captain, mate,
engineers, purscrs and doctor should bc
allowed more. Three OF the passengers
slain are understood to have been
: American citizens, and must be allowed
T for the same as the others. You will
n,k indemnity for detention and i'm
nri.orinr, and for the LOSSES sustained
bv those of the crew and passengers who
are American citizens and who were not
: executed. We understand the number
/ to be fifteen of the crew Including two
1 engineers and one asslstantl
and four Of the passengers, nine
teen in ALL" On December 3Oth,
1874. Secretary Fish writes Cushing,
EXPRESSING that Minister Ullva should
have deemed it necessary, even IN defer
cnce to public feeling i'll Spain, to refer
To- the executions at Santiago Us 'thc strict
fulflment of the laws in special clrcum-
stances" or called for by 'the imperious
voice of duty" or to take from the moral
effect of the indemnity proposed, by
charactcrizing "the reparation by sentl-
ments of pity consequent on n duty full
filled and caused by desire to alleviate
the misfortuncs of those who suffer
through punishment imposed on others
by the law | could have hoped
that review of all the facts
attending the executions, and a
consideration at this late day of these
barbarous and cruel acts, happily with.
out parallel. would have deferred the
accomplished Minister of State from the
use of any expressions and from allow
ing himself TO he committed TO any views
tending to iustify'those executions. While
/ such expressions accompanying an ohcr
of settlement may not prevent accept
ancc Of the offer, this Government would
fail in its duty, did it not signify its dis
sent from expressions tending to Justify
or opolorisc for these acts; and this may
be done as suggested by You, and appro-
we'd by my telegram OF December II, by
"A counter protest or joint memorandum,
precudng any inferences adverse to the
position of this Government III regard to
the acts complained of.
Without considering what supposed
necessity may demand such an apparent
Justification, | cannot hut believe that
had Spain joined the civilized world in Il
denunciation of these executions, and
had she long since visited prompt and
effective punishment on guilty parties,
the moral support she would have gained
thereby would have largely exceeded
any corresponding detriment.
Here follows the draft of agreement
between the United States and Spain IN
substance as below.
In the case of the United States, Sec
retary Fish made claim on the basis OF
/ $500 for each of the crew slain without
regard to color, and larger sum for
each officer slain without specify
ing any particular sum. inns
demand was passed and adhered
to strenuously until the Spanish govern
mcnt Welded and consented to pay 3So,-
600 in gold unconditIonally, the money
TO be distributed by the United States
government without any accountability
for sums not claimed as in thc cas-" OF,
/ the Great Britain Minister.
Secretary Fish teIcgraphcd to Minis
ter Cushing March 3, 1873:
/ "You are authorized to present the
credentials, if Immediately thereafter the
final agreement will be signed.
Minister Gushing telegraphed to Sec
rctary Fish March 9:
The official agreement has been sign
ed substantially Us tclegraphcd "n the
second and the credentials to be present
I'd on the tenth
Minister Cushing tclcgruphcd March
18th;
The credentials were presented onthc
10th. and the ratification was signed on
the llth and sent the same day by cN-
press
4 SpirituaIist Exposed.
CHICAGO. March l5.-The Times to-
morrow, will state that Mrs. Parry. VINO
has been giving spirit manifestations at
. No. 237 West Madison stree IN this
city. for several months past was eA-
posed this evening. Mrs. Parry has at-
tractcd the attention of several scientific
gentlemen interested in the subject aud
the? have been making Investigations
which have hitherto been rcsutIess.
To night, however, lady having exam
incd her at the close OF seance, discoV-
cred concealed about her clothes pieces OF
rubber, etc, which, upon being inflated,
had the appearance of masks, arms. etc
The would-bc medium became greatly
enraged at the expose, and abused her "u-
dicnce in most profane manner.