New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-14
THE VIRGINIUS.
CHAPTER IN THE HISTORY OF SPAIN
IN CUBA.


Robert II Lowell in The Overland Monthly.
1t is significant fact that for the third time in
the history of our dealings with the Spanish
race the American people have adol led as bat
tle-cry appeal to the past Remember the
Alamo" was the slogan under which American
troops went forward to the conquest Of Texas.
To the cry OF Remember the Name their
erandsons are marching to-day to the conquest
Of the last of SPANS once splendid empire. A
generation ago our fathers were thrilled with
an appeal which unfortunately for the sake of
humanity did not become battle-cry-'Re
member the Nrginius." faint echo OF this
cry is still heard
In 1873 the Cubans had been in revolt against
Spanish misrule and barbarity for five years
AS at the present time. the sympathy Of the
civilized world with the insurgents The
causes which have led to the present revolt
we're operative then, and the war was conducted
with savage brutality on both sides. In 1870
most OF the South American States had ac-
corded the rebels begerent rights. President
Grant disposed to accord similar recogni-
ton to the insurgents. but was restrained by
the conservative policy Of Secretary Fish. Ere
Quent remOnstrance made by the United
States Government against the constant seques
tration OF the property Of Americans by the
Spanish Captain General. and the protests Of
President Grant served at last to irritate the
Spanish into an attack on the American Lega-
ton AT Madrid
The tension between the two governments
had become almost acute when the Nrginius
incident occurred The In the main
similar to that Of the Competitor TIE Viz
3
the command Of Captain Fry. a graduate OF tho
| Naval Academy at Annapolis. She owned
In part by American citizens and had an Ameri-
can register. She was laden with munitions o.
War ard carried as passengers four prominent
men known TO be devoted TO the Cuban cause.
These were General Verona Pedro Cespedes,
! brother Of the rebel President; Jesus del Sol
and General Ryan When the vessel was near
Santiago de Cuba she was sighted by the Span
/ ish gunboat Tornado. which Immediately gave
chase. The Virgnius promptly displayed the
/ American flag and made off in the direction Of
! Jamaica She Overhauled not far from
/ Kingston. When General Verona saw that their
capture was inevitable he proposed that the ship
/ be destroyed but Captain Fry convinced
| OF the regularity of his American papers that
| he allowed the Spanish officer 10 board ais
! steamer. without alarm. The Spanish officer y
| amined thu papers and admitted that they ap-
/ peared to be In order. He nevertheless hauled
! down the Amcrics1 flag and hoisted the $9an-
! ish cOlOrs ir its place. Meanwhile. two Spanish
war vessels had approached. ana escorted by
three men Of-waI the Nirginius was taken to
the nearest Spanish port. With scant ceremony
| the PASSENGERS AMI crew of the Nirginius were
| dragged to Jail. and the four prominent men
named above were Immediately tried ny court
martha and condemned TO be shot Fifteen Of
| fees Of the Spanish Army who had been made
! prisoners on the battlefield by General Verona
some tiyle before went to the Governor ~ the
/ city and begged that his life be spared. since he
! had given them theirs. The request was per
/ emptorily refused. With indecent haste the
! four men taken TO the plaza of execution.
! Ccspedcs and Jesus del Sol knelt and were shot
/ in the back. General Ryan ana General We
/ roma refused to kneel. but they were seized.
/ handcufed and thrown down The resistance
/ they offered To die knceling finally VOL them the
/ concession they craved. and they We're allowed to
| receive the volley while standing. The marks
/ manship Of he Spanish volunteers 50
! wretched that Ryan was seen to be still alive.
/ and a Spanish officer stepped forward and
| thrust his sword through his heart. revolt
/ ing scene followed The volunteers hurled
! themselves upon the four cOrpseS, tearing them
/ apart. and the severed heads We're thrust upon
| pixies and borne through the town. Captain
| Macarthur of the British schooner Brilliant.
! which left Santiago the next day. described the
scene as one of the most hideous barbarity.
where not one word OF sympathy was uttered
/ for the men cruelty done TO death
TWO days later. on November t. the news
| OF the butchery reached the United States and
our Government at once demanded an explana-
| ton from Spain. General Sickes our Min
! lister ct Madrid. and his representations to the
Spanish Government were made with that VigOr
ized him. spain as ever was prompt 10 express
hcr regret; and she sent orders TO her Cuban
oihcials to stay further action until the status
OF the Virginius had been ascertained. But
/ with characteristic da toriness this order was
| not transmitted in time to prevent further exc
! cutons and on November Captain Fry and
| twenty-siX OF his crew were condemned by
! a drumhead court-martial to be shot As If
| fearing interruption of their savage plans the
| Cubans Immediately led their prisoners TO dea III
! Manacled in from the American captain and
his crew were led TO low. square structure
! with whitewashed walls surmounted by a roof
! OF dark red tiles with projecting caves They
J were followed by a procession Of monks and
| a large military escort. Until recently the wall
of this building stood scanned and ptted and
Scared with hundred bullets breast high
| the adobe torn away In places. few scattered