The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-04-14
TWENTY-FIVE a N YEARS AGO

n, oETHD SPANISH AUTHORITIES.
Tho UrTIMATuM OF THE
UNITED STATES HOW GREAT
BRITAIN, ACTED IN Tho MAT
TER.
Frequept reference IL made to tho
Sirginius affair. which nearly brought
oh war with Spain twenty-five years
ago. The commander OF the Virginlus
was, Captain Fry, brave Confederate
oitlcer who was among the first to be
thot by the spaniards.
r The, Philadelphia Ledger has compiled
the following history OF the incident:
On the last day, OF October, 1878, the
Spanish steamer Tornado sighted and
captured, near Jamaica. the yirslnius.
o sailing ship, flying the American flag.
1t was claimed that the vessel was en-,
) gagged as q tlAbuster, The Tornado
took her prize into a Cuban port, and.
with the usual disregard for humanity
! or the ordinary observances OF the
usual rule OF other nations toward cap
tured prisoners, the Spanish authori-
ties Immediately shot four Cubans who
were found on board. This was on Mo-
yernber a.. The United States was no.
4 tilted on the 9Th OF the capture OF the
vessel and the slaughter. and a strong
: protest was made at once to President
Z Castelar,, Of Spain. He ut once sent an
order to Havana to delay further pro-
\ ceedlngs, but this order was not deliv-
cred. 1T Is said. until after n second
massacre Of u large number OF prison.
2 ers took place. Many of these slaugh-
tered men We're citizens Of the United
y States and OF England. 1t was the mas
sacre OF these men that aroused tho
American people TO frenzy, and, nearly
4 brought about q war between the
United States and Spain.
President Grant at once made a per-
s5emptory demand on Spain for q restora-
tlon OF the vessel, for a prompt and I'M
conditional surrender OF the surviving
{ prisoners, for q heavy indemnity as u
recompense for the murdered men, for
"a salute to- the American flag. and for
the punishment of the offending parties.
The demand was sent on the 18th OF
& November, and twelve days were given
Noncompliance.
n On the 18th General Sicllles,- then
minister. TO Spain, received reply
which he regarded as q refusal, and
proposed, Unless otherwise ordered by
: his government, to close the legation.
THE next day he telegraphed SPANS.
Rrejection OF the protest Of the United
States, and announced that Spain had
sought the good offices OF Great Brit
Tain, but that Lord Granville had de-
ciiIed, unless on I basis of ample rep
Z aratIor to the United States But
: while General Sickles was making prep
& aratlons to leave he received dispatch
from Washington saying that the Span
4 ish minister had asked for more time
Sand promised to make ample repara-
stion, and hewas directed not to close
the3lssation.
Spain .Aceeies.
-onsthe 18th General slclsles tele-
s graphed his opinion that Spain was
Z playing double, and that matters could
4. be-. fastened II he left Madrid. Mr..
4 Fish, the American secretary Of state,
replied that II the differences ,of atti-
tude on the part OF Spain in Madrid and
washington existed the President felt
!; bound to consider the representations
made in Washington. as they were most
Z nearly In compliance with our demands.
+ The. dispatch concluded with an order
= for General Sickles to remain at his
z post. Apparently, however. the Wash
( tngton government soor came TO the
conclusion reached by the American
minister. that Spain was playing double.
for on the 18th General Siclles received
{ dispatch saying: If no -accommoda-
q ton Is reached by the close Of to-mor-
!. row, leave" This frightened Spain to
some action, apparently, for the next
day President Castelar, informed Cen
& eral Sickles that 1t had been informally
agreed at Madrid that reparation should
Z be made in accordance with American
I demands. Whilelt this informal" agree
nlcht3 was being arrived at In Madrid,
however, the Spanish minister in WASH
ingtorf was spurred into signing a for
s mai document Of agreement Mr.. Fish
telegraphed on December , that time
i and place had been arranged for carry
!. Ing. out the terms Of the protocol.
During the negotiations the Spanish
government. commended that, while the
;Sirginius carried the American flag,
4 she did so without warrant. that her
= clearance was fraudulent; that instead
,6of belonging to an American citizen the
vessel was owned by the Cuban junta,
5Band in the articles of agreement which
were signed by the Spanish minister
4 this was taken into account.
rs Terms OF tho Protocol.
Tirst-That the Virginius shall be re-
stored and surrendered by Spanish
vessel OF war to q vessel OF war OF the
United States, in the harbor OF Bahia
Honda, on the 10th day Of December,
y between the hours OF In the morning
and 4 in the afternoon OF the same day,
the Vlrginius. to have the flag of the
United States flying at her main peak
Z or flag staff at the time OF her surren-
& der. but the fact OF the vessel being re-
\ stored with the flag shall not be taken
as an admission by either party of the
fright OF the vessel 10 carry The flag at
= Sthe time Of the capture: nor shall It
4 prejudice the right reserved to Spain on
Or before the 25th OF December, that the
vessel was not entitled to carry that
flag, and was carrying 1t at the time
n OF her capture, without right and i'm
properly; nor the representation OF the
Freciprocal .reclamations as provided in
the said protocol. Should any accident
prevent the arrival OF the United States
q vessel In the harbor OF Bahia Honda on
the day above named, the surrender
and restoration Of the Virginius shall
Il take place In the same port as soon as
may be after, the arrival there. OF the
United States vessel. ..l