The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-07-10
A. THRILLING STORY
9F The CUBAN lNsuREtoiTio'N. 4


PHILADELPHIA, July 9.-The Pres has
the following from its Harrisburg CORES
pondent: "Well, yes, l had something tc
do with the Cuban struggle for independ
enee,n said Captain Simon Graiz, talking
in halting, meditative manner with some
friends. ~ was enrolled in the liberatinI
army for three years." he continued; "wst
made prisoner some half dozen times
by different governments; was in half 8
dozen battles in Cuba; shipwrecked, and
ashore on barren and upinhabited island
among the dead and dying OF staryaticni
and escaped from three patches Of Vlrgi.
MUS prisoners, who were shot by the
butcher, Governor Burrie!."
"Why not tell us about it?"
THE vIR0INIus EXPEDITION.
''In the fall Of 1871 we were ready foran
expedition, and l left New York on the
British steamer Atlas, bound for Kingston.
There were l90 OF US, all citizens, having
signed no papers or made any agreement.
Al Kingston We found the iVirginius, !the
old rebel blockade runner. She was built
on the Clyde with the Lillian; both were
sidewheelers and very fast. The Virginius
had been lying at. .Aspin wall for years, aud
was not in good condition. She was owned
In New YORK and commanded by Captain
FRYE, former Confederate. We went
aboard about the middle OF October. The
original party was increased at Kingston
| by English and. Cubans to 200 strong.
General Cespedes, GeEeral Ryan and Gem
eral Vanvelta Varona were OF the party.
1--WE cleared for Port Lemon, on the
coast Of Port Rico, but after getting outoi
Kingston steeretl. Tor the small ,townpf
Gernmea, on the coast OF Hayti. There we
were given terrific reception. About 100
negroes marched up and down the beach,
making unearthly noises to frighten US oil,
But we came to and finally secureda pilot
to take us around 10 PorLau-Prncc. The
ylrginius was then leaking badly, but at
| the Port We took aboard boxes containing
so breech.loading rifles aud boxes marked
provisions" containing ammunition. -
AFTER lying there twenty four hours and
getting fully ready for a march into the in
terror, and getting the steamer patched up,
we sailed about noon for Cuba, calculating
to land after dark on point near Santiago,
de Cuba. About3 o'clock We were sighted
by theSpanisll man. of.war Tornado, sbnt'
Immediately ran out OF her sight and were
not suspected. We were on cruise tol
Jamaica when seen, and continued SO for
IN hour and half or more, during which
time consultation was had. We had
made better timethan. was expected, and
Captain Frye insisted on landingl as soon
as possible, but Cespedes, Varona, Ryan
and all OF us favored not landing until late
in the night. Frye, however, clailiedto
be in command, and he. turned about ana
ran straight for the point near Santiago dc
Cuba. All the officers expostulated with
him, but'to no purpose. Finally General
Ryan told Frye that II they ever lived to-
land he would shoot him. Alas poor.
Ryan, he was saved hattronble. S3 : -
CHASED AND CAPTURED BY A GUNBoAT.
! "We had been on the course toward the
island about an hour when the Tornado
sighted US again. She lay directly in our
course and as soon as we hove in sight gave
us chase. Frye put the yirginius about
againand ran for Jamaica. Z She ran ikea
sacred Indian. Barels of. rosin, jail our
hams asd meat provisions were fed into
the furnace. The mons,rous Tornado shot
Llames and clouds OF black smoke from her
stackss butwe were holdinsodr own bfayeS
ly.! For three hours the chase eontnaed,f I
each steamer doing her utmost and I'VE
every moment getting nearer safety. SThe
Tornado gained slightly on us, but not
enough to overtake US into Jamaica, where
all the people were, friendly and We would
have beached.the steamer and taking our
arms and ammunition, fled beyond the
reach oil the Tornado.
Suddenly the Virginius sprung leak
forward. The plating opened wide, and,
water rushed in andlput out the fires ire,
mendously quick. The Tornado chine lap.
idly on, and soon fred two shots al .us,. and
when she got within l50 yards she whirled
10 give us broadside. Then we struck
our colors. A Spanish officer and soldiers
came sboard. On examination our. books
and papers were found all. fight. They
hauled down Che American flag, however,
and grossly insuted it No arms or nun.
munition were found on board. But the
spaniards went Though every man, rob.
bing them OF every cent Of money, WATCHES,
jewelrg and trinkels, even twisting rings.
Of Of The hngers. y agJ 81.
r. a% & SElIE MASSACRE. a
son the Sd OF November the butcher
Burriel began to shoot the prisoners. The
batch shot on the morning 0t the 4th were
marched into the prison chapel on the
evening before and separately asked eues.
Etions and insulingly taunted with ,ttieir
certain death, while priests were saying
mass for their souls. They were kept
there nearly all night iu,this mock trial
and religious exercise Ryan, yaroha,
Cespedes and ohier officers and prominent
Cubans were in the first lot. Ryan gave
ap assumed name, but his long hairngav
him away and he acknowledged bis idkn.
,ity Captain 0'Callihan was one OF the
Spanish oglcerSengaged inIihe. hptchery.
IIie was in the Confederate army and
made an effort to save Ryan, but Barriel
would not listen to,it, -
ATS o'clock in the morning the ainad
was marched OUT chaina1 in pains, 1.-TWO
soldiers between every two prisoners and a
file Of soldiers on each hand. They were
made to kneel upon bank OF dirt by the
side OF newly-ilug trench, facing the
ditch. A platoon Of soldiers marched up,
when within few rods Of the .knseling
figures, fred, ehootingl them in the'bac
The bodies fell into the ditch, and the
soldiers wheeled and marched away while
the banda were playing and aagsItlying.
The trench vas edlately alsd. Up and
oil the military bapdS marched FovF ITO
lively Airs. Tie next morning another
large squad was shot in the same way. On
the 7th the Virginius crew was brought
ashore and shot Captain Frye and Cole
mel Harris were amongtha sfuad, which
numbered thirty-seven. The purser was
not killed at the Grst-fFe, and he rose up,
and, turning round, shouted: "You coward
~, ban barops butchers, have the deCency
10 shoot yonr victims sdead.n A see9ndl