New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-14


one few feet from the ground, when T na'
one mass Of bullet holes and dark stains. i
fore this wall the prisoners OF me ts an
were halted The spectators gathered on d
knoll opposite: the garrison lined up III u nor
low square The prisoners were forced 10 hn ',.
against the wall. Priests stood on me Iism.
with uplified crucifixcs in horrible mochel!
Of mercy: on the left stood line or mar ms
I ne officer in command raised MS sword III
was volley OF shots and the prisoners ronfu
with cOnVulsiVe struggles into Inc ul''n' IN"
tho procession returned to town As the cav
airy rode along by the wall the horses w
seen occasionally to step on the dead "ouleH'
the wheels OF the field artillery crushcd thein'
and the mob dragged them about IN sheer eA
ultation Of brutality Before the curious crown
had entirely left the scene negro scaNe"sc',
knocked the irons of the still warm pOulcs an"
carried The poor mutilatcd remains IN carts ~
a pit OF qucklime some two miles away. IL -
said that some OF the poor wretches We're s''ii
IN nave as they were thrown into TINS Uehch
Next day the horrible tragedy was enacted
afresh and twcnty-eight more Of the crew OF
the Virgnus were butchcred in the same nor
ribe fashion. These hideous festivities Wcre
dttinelV closed by a buhGht gwen III no"uI
OF the cantor Of tho Nirgnus. IN" streets
were gayly decorated ana In the evening lhe
Governors palace was the scene oI grca'
rect ption when beautifully dressed w'ine"
mingled with handsome men IN gorgeous UNI
The dreadful news of this orgy Of blood first
rearhed Kingston. Jamaica. where lay the
British warship Niobe. commanded by captain
Sir Hampton Lorraine. >ilth0ut waiting 10.
orders from the home Governments, inlS Si'""'
officer Immediately set out at fun speed I"i
Santiago starting in such a hurry that some
Of his crew We're left behind without an;
diplomatir prelude h. demanded the stay OF All
executions and when h" was asked ms au
thnrity he did not hesitate I" say tnat ne vas
the representative Of the United states as wei
as Of England The fact that there were seven
British subjects on the captured NirSiniuS
strengthoncd his claim. and as ne hGd1d
threats To turn his guns the town his pro-
test commanded a respect which no dlpi"Hhu'
Ion, ia
When the news Of the execution OF the crew
OF the Nirgnus reached tho 'ht'' Hl"ttS
there was the greatest possible 'N''rn u',';
Such n cl3mor for war arose that II S',i'u
impossible to avert it, The monitor Manhat-
tan al the Philadelphia Navy YARD. ana the
National vessels in the Brooklyn and Norf"Ik
yards were ordered To be made ready at oh'~.
Spain believed that a declaration Of war was
imminent. and asked the good Offices 81 Eng
land Lord Granville. however. Declined 10 IN
tcrfere except on the basis Of ample rep2ra
tion to The United states. General Slckes
made al! preparation To leave tho legation ana
momentarilr expected instruct pns for his win
drawal from the Spanish Court. M"anWhHe
The Spanish Government did all I'm it's power
10 secure delay 10y diplomatic correspondence
between its American Minister ard our Secre-
tarv Of state The resultant body OF CORE
spondence Is immense. The main contention
OF the United states Is set forth III inc loI-
lowing summary OF one Of these l'tiers. ,
The United states in the interest or All
maritime Powers denied the right or capture
Of documented vessels on the hlgh seas IN t'he
quire into the validity Of papers was IN me
Power issuing them which in the case ~ the
Vrgirirs the United states was prepared 10
do We also said that would consider the
subject Of reclamations when the honor ~ the
flag was vindicatod. that the identity or the
virgins was not In question and that any
irregfarity In her papers was therefore H'''eS
technical.
TO us who have learned in war to dcspise
the Spsniard foe the demand maze ny ny
President Grant for PREPARATION seems absurdy
Insd.,ouate II was that the Nirglnius ana the
remainder Of her crew should be surrendered
and that Spain shoIld salute the stars ana
Stripes Lord Granville. to whom spain re
ferred the matter considered the demand both
lust ana moderate. Nevertheless. much CORE
spondence ensucd about our right To claim
salute 10 the Gag and-inglorious concession
II was finally agreed that the salute should
be dispensed with should IT be shown Ihnt the
Virginius was on an Illegal mission. This owl
IDENTIFY was not done. for SPAN NhalIy nah'
all these concessions.
on December Is. 1873 the Nrginius was
delivered to Captain whiting. OF me Ohncu
states Navy The Stars and Stripes were
again hoisted nor and accompanied hy the
sloop -of-Nar Ossipec. she sailed for IN" 'nlt"i
states II may be mentioned as indicating the
gross methods bv which the Spaniards dis
played their hatred and contempt FOR us tha'
the Vrglnius had been so b'i'uI"d by 'hrh
as 70 be UNIT for human hahiiatlon. ON me
homcward voyage the snip was FOUND TO he
leaking go badly that it was decided {" abandon
her Her crew was Transferred Il tn" osslpce'
and soon after the Inflated vessel sunk
sengers and crew wer" delivered ~ captain
Brain Of the United states steamer Juniata.
The surrender took place about hfi"en mi"s
haIoy santiago These poor creatures had
beer herled together I'm a small cell and nis"r-
ably treated They had been kept IN ignorance
cf their coming dclivcrance. and priests "cr"
corstan;lv with them preparing them for
death When released they found themselves
before the Juniata flying the American nag
Sudden Ms realizing their freedom. their JOY
know. no bounds They wept and laughed. and
threw themselves into each others arms. Ihey
we're supplied with clothing from the Wardrohc
OF tho .Tunlata's crew. II was said mat tho
cuban volunteers begged - Ice allowed TO
make a night attack on the Juniaia. but the
Governor forbade II, b'iAg aware "a' W.
o,ho~ American nan-of-war were near. II IS
also reported that several high spanish or
Ncials resigned ana returned In disgust -
SPAR because Of the delivery 81 me NUsInLus
ond tho remnant Of her crew from further
torture and death.