Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-04-02
The VIRGINIUS MASSACRE.
A Brutal Deed of the Ten-vears War.

voice. made the rufllanly occupant un-
derstand him In n way that sent an
aide post haste to the matadcro; for
one more death meant the fall of his
palace about his ears and the force of
the two great Anglo-Saxou nations
crushing down upon Spain and just
in time he was TO save a group stand
ing against the wall, u group In which
there We're three Americans, two of
whom were mere boys from New Jer-
sey. That was the end of the bloody
saturnolia-and now how did diplo-
macy thrive?
Hardly had the cable flashed the
news to Spain before our minister
Gen. Sickles. was In the presence of
Carvajal the Spanish minister of for
eign AFFAIRS, to announce the capture
of the Nirginlus on the high sens, by
the Spanish man-of-war Tornado, and
to warn him that the Virginius was
flying the American flag. with Ameri-
can citizens on board. In the subse-
quent communication to the Spanish
minister. he stated the American posi-
tion: First-Spain not having de-
clared war existed In Cuba. and the
United States not having recognized
them as belligerents, the Tornado had
exceeded her instructions in undertake
ing to capture a ship under u foreign
United States denies the right Of any
power to visit. modest. or detain. ON
the high seas. In time of peace, any
American vessel. This liz claimed and
observed by all great maritime pow
ers.
caryajal tried Burrlel's style of dip
lOmatic letter writing with Gen.
Sicklss, but very quickly abandoned
1t, and adopted a different tone. Cas-
telar, the president of the Spanish re-
public. was dignified and gentlemanly
throughout the controversy. He as
surcd Minister Sickles that he had
sent a telegram at a. m. Nov. 6, as
soon ms he had received news OF the
capture, admonishing Capt. Gen.
Jovellar that the death penalty must
not be imposed on any non-eombatant
without previous approval OF the
Cortes. nor on any person taken in
arms against the government. with
out the sanction of the executive This
was simply the repetition of an order
perfectly well understood by Jovellar
and Burrie Notwithstanding this.
wholesale shooting continued until
noon OF the Sth. The Spanish minister
declared that the shooting ceased i'm
medately upon the receipt of the
home telegram at Santiago. but the
terrifying apparition Of the command
ing officer of the Niobe must have
the telegram into the trembling hands
of Burriel. SO much for their respect
for home orders in Cuba.
Now, while the men-of-war watch
the Spaniards at Santiago. rapid
working OF the cable goes on between
Secretary Fish, Gen. Sickles. Minister
Cnrvajal and the Spanish minister at
Washington, Admiral Polo de Berne-
he. and we have Kaleidoscope view
OF Spanish chivalry and honor. Car
vajela receives word from Cuban au-
thoritics that the Virginius had no
papers, was therefore not n regular
documented American ship and there
fore had no right to fly the American
nag, but the consul at Kingston de-
clared she did have papers, that they
We're properly made out, and were
subsequently handed to the captain
of the Tornado by Capt Frye. As to
flying the flag. Mr.. Carvajal was in
formed by Secretary Fish. through
Gen. Slckles, that the United States
reserves the right to decide that ques-
tion. and under no circumstances will
allow 1t to he decided by any other
nation" Spain then claimed that the
Nirginius was discovered landing men
and munitions OF war on the Cuban
coast, was chased off, and captured 90
miles from Jamaica,--all OF which was
proved false
on Nov IA, six days after the last
fusillade at the matadero, Mr.. Sickles
demanded within twelve days "the
restoration of the Virglnus. the re-
lease of the survivors, the punishment
of Jovellar and Burrel, and the salute
TO our flag Of twenty-one guns at
Santiago de Cuba, with full repara-
tion to all American citizens, or their
families. that We're on board the Vir-
ginius at the time Of her capture"
This Spain declared to be arbitrary,
humiliatng and inadmissible:" that
they had not had sufficient time to
examine Into the facts. and contrast