The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-22

New York, March 1.-THE vehement de-
uunciation in the United States Senate
Of Spanish cruelty and bloodthirstiness in
the conduct of the war against the Gu
ban patriots has called forth a storm OF
protest from the Spanish nation. Senior
Dupuy de LONE. the able representative
in Washington of his most catholic ma
jesty. has even gone to the trouble OF
analyizing some of the accusations hurI-
ed at his countrymen, and has succeed
ed in exposing minor errors of fact in
Senator Sherman's presentation of the
case against them. But here his success
has ended; for the evidence of Spain's
reign of terror in the green girdled isle''
is so overwhelming that mere juggling
with words mere diplomatic phrases. will
he of little avail to stem the current of
American public opinion now rapidly ris-
ing to flood tide.
Is it to be supposed that the leopard
has changed his spots; that Spain. which
twenty odd years ago, turned the fair
Eden of the Antilles into a charnel house
is to-day disposed to treat her down.
trodden sons with common humanity
much less with ordinary justice! Many
readers will recall something of the ter
rible ten-years war of 1S6S-'7S. IL is not
my intention to recapitulate its manifold
horrors; but one event, printed in letters
of blood. concerns this country more d.
rectly, and at this juncture is we'll worth
retelling. 1t is a fearful illustration OF
the persistent and tigerish ferocity of the
race that gave the world an Alva and a
Torguemadal
Late in 1870. the Cuban revolutionary
party purchased in New York a Clyde
built iron side-wheel steamer, called the
Virgin and notwithstanding her ''Vir-
ginius,' fitted her up as a cruiser and
transport for landing men and supplies on
the island of Cuba; and in the following
year she sailed on her first expedition un-
der orders from Gen. Raphael Quesada
the revolutionary chief. She succeeded
ON this occasion in landing a force near
Santiago de Cuba, and rendered similar
services some time later. In the fall of
1913, an expedition on a still larger scale
was planned by the revolutionary commit
Zee, ana on Oct. 8 of that year 175 volun-
teers and full complement of able sea-
men, the majority native Americans, left
New York to embark on the Virgf1jus
then lying in the harbor of Kingston. ia
malca. The ship was commanded by Capt
Joseph Fry of Louisiana, who had distin-
guished himself as blockade runner our
ING the civil war; and among the revolu-
tlonary leaders, who boarded her at Kings
ton were Gen. w. A. c. Ryan, a native
New y orker who had already fought in
Cuba, Pedro Cespedes a Younger brother
OF carlos Manuel Cespedes, president of
me cuban republic and Gems Jesus del
IL was on the oath day of October. 1873
take the story from reliable contempor-
aheous accounts-that the Virginius
steamed out of Kingston harbor The
original intention was to sail direct for
the shores, of Cuba, but damage to the
machinery necessitated a stoppage at Port
on 90 % llayl. a second start was made
on Oct- 81. Meanwhile the Spanish consul
~ hlngSton had been keeping a watch on
lne movements of the cruiser, and this re-
suited in Gov. Burriel, of Santiago de Gu
OIuGFlNR canf9in 0f wa rel in
tornado to sail in quest of her On the
morning OF the 3lst. the Spanish vessel
slghtlng the hlibuster on the high sea The
Iormer was at the time under full sail
with little steam on, as her engine was un-
dergoing repairs. The captain of the Vir-
SlnluS mistook the enemy for an ordinary
sailing craft, and did not alter his course
until too late. AT 2 o'clock in the afternoon
Inc IornadoS engineer announced that his
repairs We're completed. Thereupon the
chase began in earnest, the warshfp head
ing Tor the VirginiuS under full steam. At
ms point the filibusters suddenly realiz-
ed their danger and started to make a
run for the Jamaica coast.
by a strange lack of foresight on the
part OF her commander, the Virginius had
OF life or death, no exertfon vas spared to
reach the protection of the Nritish wa
Iers. TO supply the lack of Fl all the
greasy substances on board, h as oil
lat and hams, from the provisIua stores
We're thrown into the furnaces: all the
weapons, the horses and the cargo were
Even the coming on of night proved of
nttle benefit to the fugitives, for the moon
rose IN full tropical splendor. Finally to-
ward ten in the evening a shell was sent
across the bows of the Inflated cruiser.
lhere was now no alternative: surrender
was unavoidable. Presently two armed
boats from the Tornado came alongside,
ana taking possession of the Virginius,
made all on board prisoners.
Inc nrst order of the Spanish officer in
charge was to lower the American flag,
and hoist in its place the Spanish ensign
Notwithstanding the fact that Capt. Fry
presented his papers, demonstrating that
me Nlrglnius had been duly cleared for
colors; and shortly after midnight and the
Two vessels started for Santiago de Cuba,
which was reached the following after
noon at o'clock.
The arrival of the Tornado with her
prize created a tremendous sensation, and
me Wharves were soon crowded with ex-
ullant citizens and officials eager to gaze
N the foolhardy yankees" The elite of
me population fastened to congratulate
~ Burriel, and the principal editicies
III town were illuminated as if after a
great victory. Santiago was fairly drunk
win JOY. In the evening Burriel gave
saahd reception; and the bay re-echoed
win the songs of the volunteers, who
crowded its waters in gayly festooned
9 9oaIs. so much for the first act of the
Whatever dismal forbodings the actual
leaders of the Virginius expedition may
rave entertained amid all these public
demonstrations, it does not appear that
Siy <AAiSIiCdH pOTllOn Oh the crew
looked forward with any serious appre-
tension TO the outcome of their enter
pilSe. While 1t is true that the Spanish
Suthorities had good reason to suspect
hostile intentions on their part not a
Scentllla of evidence had been obtained
when would warrant prosecution; for,
a. already stated, every object of suspi-
{LIous nature had been thrown overheard
i4eI9re the surrender and when the Span
t a5 boarded the Virginius she was to
@ll outward appearances a peaceable
ttbberchan tman, duly documented, with
~ ie american flag flying at her stern.
apt Fry and his men therefore ex-
pected' at the worst, short imprison-
SStte4t, ana an early return to the United
StdItes. But the poor fellows had not
lcgckoqed on the bloodthirsty temper of
9Oy' Burriel and the Spanish volunteers,
''i r. their intense hatred for this country
VI IN lne day following the arrival of the
,9nsihhluS IN Santiago a court martial
w. @ds held on board the Tornado 1t began
~. ana ended at o'clock. The charge
La rag piracy on the high seas" and four
Sdders, Ryan, Varona Cespedes and Del
Ho,, We're promptly found guilty and SEN
renced to be shot. Early at dawn on the
n NFs1xr .