Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-01-24
THE vIRsINIUS MASSACRE.
General Ryan's Murder.
The Last Act in the Tragic
Drama.

play commenced at Santiago, Cuba
November A, 1873, when General W
A. G. Ryan, Captain Joseph Frey ant
forty nine other Cuban patriots were
shot to death after a mock trial By
order of the Spanish authorities al
Santiago, after having been taken from
the steamer Virginius while that YES.
sci was on the high seas flying the
American colors, and sailing with
American clearsRce papers. The
government of Spain justified this
inhuman butchery on the grounds
that General Ryan and his compatriots
we're Cuban rebels, and that they
were on their way to Cuba to again
assist the rebels on the island to set
the laws Of Spain at defiance. How.
ever, the United States government
took different view Of the case, and
made demand on Spain for the high
handed and bloody act, of her chief
executioner, General Burriel, who
ordered the murder Of the Yirginius
victims. The result Of this demand
was an agreement on the part of Spain
to salute the American flag it had
grossly insulted; to surrender the
steamer Virginius; to bring " Butcher"
Burriel to trial. and to pay a certain
amount Of woncy, tbout $4,000, to
the United States, to be distributed
among the heirs of those Ameri-
can citizens who had
been SO cruelty murdered.
These conditions were complied with
by Spain, with the exception of bring,
ing General Burriel to trial for the
murders he authorized committed
Instead, however, he was recalled to
Spain and promoted for his part in the
terrible Virginius horror. If infamy
was ever deserving Of reward, certainly
this monster only received his Just
dues, for the murder of General Ryan
and his martyr compatriots virtually
ended the ten years war Of the Cubans
for freedom. Burriers summary
vengeance on the Virginius captives
accomplished in a few days what
Spain failed to do during the long
years Of ftherebellion for independence
COnsequently,if the butohery of fifty.
one helpless men was a glorious ast,
then Burriel deserved promotion.
General Ryan was the main object Of
SPANS hate, and when he fell into the
hands OF her higslings, his doom was
sesled His mode Of warfare included
retaliation" Spain first raised the
black flag" and murdered indiscrim-
inately. When General Ryan was
placed in command of the Cuban cav.
airy, he retaliated in way that struck
terror to the hearts of the Spanish
soldiery. But he spared the women.
children and non-combatants. Gem
eral Ryan was a prominent young
American, aud a soldier OF four years
training during The war Of the rebel.
lion in the United States. His for
tune was cast on the side of the
Union, and in defense Of the "old A,g"
he made a gallant record, aud retired
from the field Of glory with many
wounds and well wen title Of Cap
tain. And when he fell on Cuban
soil, after battling five years for her
freedom, only thirtylsummera' suns
had smiled upon his life. hut on that
4th Of November, 1873, morning. as
Spanish bullets hurled his soul into
eternity, no cloud rested on his brow.
and no fear Of death shook his nerves,
his only regret being that his sudden
taking of would darken the prospects
Of his Patriotic brothers, fighting for
liberty. Ten years have nearly passed
| since the Gfty.ohe Virgiuius martyrs
we're sacrificed and the last act in the
terrible tragedy has been played
When the Brooks Baxter war in Ar.
kansaw had subsidized, end the people
had rescgsd that State from
the hands of the despoiler,
Colonel John George Hyap, 6fother
lof the Cuban martyr, went to Wash
llgtol to settle up the Generals
business, and take steps to present his
mothers claim for portion Of the
Virginius indemnity fund paid to the
United States in trust ior t6e heirs Of
those murdered at Santiago. BY a
second marriage Mrs. Ryan had be.
come Mrs. james Dunno, aud the
death OF Mr., Dunno left her in widow
hood. % presenting Mrs. Dunpe's
claim to the Secretary Of State, Col
Onel Ryan was requested 10 exhibit
lproot OF HeReTal Ryan having become
g RatuFallzed citizen Of the United
States. The Colonel was lsboriug
under the impression that a foreigner
| lighting ia the service Of the United
Statea became citizen" under
tho law, and that as his brother haj
left his native home in Canada whep
a boy, and had entered the Iiuiop
when yet a minor, aud had fought and
bled tOg hia adopted country, he was |
"citisen' y to all intents and purposes
| However, he was soon set right 10 tl,
premises by discovering that an alieI
serving in tAe United States army O
navy could become a citizen by pFO
du6ing his honorable discharge To
court of record, and having a certi6
cgte Of citizenship granted to him b
Che court livery avenue ofreeord wa
searched foF this evidence Of citizen
ship without avail, aud although ever
person believed that General RyaI
had properly become a citizen Of Ia
: United Statea, atill the Colonel foun
himself poweTless to present the proof
required by the Secretary Of Stai
! and the fact that unless ~ ..,Is annarCr ,,s
: defect was remedied Mrs. Danr
conl.Ss not get her share Of she linden
$ nifty fund in the hands OF the goverr
j mens, 30 which she would be entitle
0 Ii the proofs required existed, and {
q which she stood in such sore nee,
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