Evening journal., 1898-03-29
HE vrRGINrus MASSACRE.

CURED at Santiago de CUBA IN 1879,
and which has been so frequently al
luded to in connection with The present
ENHANCEMENT between Spain and the
United States over the destruction OF
the Maine and the starving condition OF
the Cubans. He is Captain Andrew Il.
Nelson of Eighth and Madison streets,
at that time a young man, but now
gray and somewhat advanced in years,
although possessed of good health and
unusual activity. Last evening the
Wayfarer called on him at his home
and asked him to recite his experience.
He was obliging In every particular,
and answered the questions asked with
a readiness which was surprising con-
sidering the lapse OF time which had
intervened between the massacre and
the recital.
He said that he WAS born at Girls
field, Md, on March %, 1S47. When
quite a boy he spent two OF three years
on a vessel plying between different
points on the Chesapeake bay, but on
July 5, 1861 he left his home and took
20 deep water. About 1866 he ship
ped before the mast in craft trad
ing between this country and Cuba,
having previously sailed in other YES
sells until the close OF the war, being
in Europe at its termination Follow
ing the conclusion OF peace he returned
10 this country and traded on the
Spanish main for nearly fifteen years,
receiving a license as second mate
somewhere about 1870. Then he be-
came master OF the Baltimore bark
NorthwoOd, owned by Wesley Ricketts,,
and afterwards had the schooner Fran
ces, belonging to the same owner.
Later on he was captain OF the
schooner Resolute. which had been a
Cuban privateer. She was captured by
the United States, condemned, sold
and converted into fruiter. Captain
Nelson traded in and out among the
West India islands until they became
as familiar to him ais the ports along
the Atlantic coast In this country.
Wherever his vessel was ordered he
went, and he visited nearly every port
in the island OF Cuba, and many in the
neighboTlng islands. In 1874 ne was
first mate OF the brig Mary Elizabeth,
which hailed from Brooklyn. At the
time OF the massacre she was in the
harbor OF Santiago de Cuba waiting
Tor orders. While there the steamer
Virginius, with a filibustering expedl-
tion aboard, was captured by Span
ish warship and brought into port.
I'VE lay at Santiago de Cuba for
nfty-three days said the captain. ''I
remember Il well, for had Just been
married before l left on that voyage,
my wife was at home in the states, and
II seemed a long time to me. Amy
way the men found on the Virginius
were taken ashore. Relative to the
trial know nothing fbom personal OBJ
servatioh. We did not have much lib
erty ashore in those days when the
revolution was at it's height, and when
all strangers were eyed with suspicion.
presume that the poor fellows had a
trial OF some sort, but, whether they
did OF not, that does not alter the fact
that they were massacred. The cap
tain OF the Virginius was a Enan named
Frye. On the day following the cap
lure, think II was, the Spanlards
marched twenty-three OF the prisoners
out. was ashore and saw il an. Most
OF the poor follows looked frightened.
seeming 20 realize that they could not
expect no mercy from the Spaniards.
They were dressed in civilian garb the
clothing being as diversified in style
and Qaulity as any ordinary crowd OF
citizens. The soldiers guarded them
until they reached a tall board fence
There the prisoners were lined ur
close against the fence and with their
taces turned 20 II. The firing party
numbering fifty or seventy-ive men.
stood twenty feet back OF them. When
the command TO FIRE was given there
was a volley, and every one OF the
twenty-three fell lifeless in his tracks
do not think that one OF them was
ALIVE when the sound OF the volley had
died away.
A common wagon, such as we use
here to haul hay in, was brought. anf
the Spanish soldiers threw the bodie,
into II with as little respect as though
they were those of dogs. Sometime.
the toss would be too strong and tn,
body would go clean over the wagon
and fall 90 the earth on the other side
In such an event the soldiers yoult
go around, pick it UP and give il an.
other toss into the wagon. The exc
cution took place about o'clock in
the afternoon, the day being a briph
and sunshiny one, and large crowds
being present 90 see the wholesal,
slaughter.
The wagon, with its load OF dead
was hauled of. did not follow 81.
had seen enough. ! don't know ius
exactly how I felt. for 1t has been s,
long ago; but do know that. for IN,
time being / did not care whether
lived or died after seeing such a shame
less piecelof barbarity perpertated upol
my countrymen. I saw the American
consul ordered TO go into his house an,
Uhe American flag torn 20 pieces on
that same day. Concerning what NE
came OF the bodies have no persona
knowledge, but heard that they wer
buried in trenches with the same br1l
tai disregard for common decency am
fair-play which had characterized thei
ruthless execution.
ON The second day thirty more wer
LED out to slaughter They were con
Quoted to the same board fence an
forced to face it, standing close nj
against il. The firing squad stoo
about the same distance away, and tn
entire party was shot down like =
many dogs, each man receiving sew
eral bullets in the back The men Jus
seemed to collapse and fall to thei
knees, dying as they fell There wa
NO need OF second volley. The on
had cuffippd There ware ofhars fF ~,