The record-union., 1898-04-04
THE VIRGINIUS AFFAIR.
How the Spanish Butchered Amer
lean Citizens.

AhL SAhGlN1US AEfA4h.
How the Spanish Butchered Amer
lean Citizens.
The black episode of the Virginius is
still fresh in the minds of the American
people. 1t shows what may be expected
by any Government that handles Spain
with too much consideration in diplom-
acy. The Virginius, known originally
as the Virgin, was a British blockade
runner during our civil war. In 1870,
when the Cubans were trying to break
away from Spain, the Virginius re-
sumed the old occupation, only with
change Of base. For three years it
succeeded in carrying on its business
without being captured. 1t was under
the command of a citizen of the United
States, Captain Fry. The crew were
partly American and partly Cuban. But
one ill-starred day the Virginius came
upon another vessel, the Tornado,
which had been built in the same ship
yard as itself, and for the same pur-
pose, but which had drifted in the for
tunes of ownership into Spanish hands.
After a hot chase the Virginius was
run down and captured. Captain Fry
protested that his was IAN American
ship, carrying American colors and
papers, with an American captain and
crew." All this was true, but far from
being saving truth" The vessel and
all on board were taken to Santiago de
Cuba, the passengers thrown in prison
and Captain Joseph Fry, the command
er, and his crew kept on board the
Tornado. Drum head courtmartial
was held for the trial of the prisoners
and almost Immediately four of them
were shot in the back their heads dis
played on spikes and their bodies
trampled by horses. The trials, con-
formations and executions of the others
were in squads. In the first batch was
a gallant soldier of our own war, but
British subject, Brigadier- General
Washington Ryan. In the last batch
Captain Fry himself was shot. With
such indecent haste were these execu-
tions made that the news of the cap
ture of the Virginius had not yet
reached Madrid nor Havana. General
John Burriel, the Governor for the Gu
ban province, caused the cable to be
cut that the American Consul, e. q.
Schmitt, at Santiago, might be prevent
ed from making any communication to
his Government, and the United States
Consul at that place was not allowed
to leave the consulate or have any in
tercourse with the prisoners until the
last day.
Not a man would have escaped, but
before the entire work of butchery
had been finished a British gunboat
came along in that region and heard
fyxho he 10 ai in
no time in reaching Santiago, and
without waiting for the slightest cere-
mony demanded that the slaughter
cease or he would lombard the town.
That sort of pluck and promptness,
from the days of Drake down, have
made Great Britain a great nation. In
less than ninety days ninety-three men
under sentence of death were saved by
the brave and humane interference of
Sir Lambton Lorraine of the Niobe.
| He told the Weylers, or butchers, OF
Santiago de Cuba that he represented
the United States and Great Britain
both, and if any other man was harm
ed he would shell the town. That set
tied it. The Spaniard is full of bra
vado, but in the face of resolution and
courage he quails.
| L VI d llliIe puDllc III lhS
| United States ran very high. Mass
meetings We're held in many places,
the newspapers showed deep resent
ment Of the insult to the American flag
and the atrocities which American cit
! liens had suffered Immediate ven
geance was called for, and the Gov
eminent made faint show of prepare
lions for war. 1t went as far as to
ialy lnC
from Madrid, but on the eve of his
withdrawal Spain consented to con-
slider proposals for restitution and in
demnity. Then followed a series of
diplomatic negotiations, the final result
of which must have made all Spain
chuckle with delight. The men who
were rescued by the Niobe were put
on board the Virginius in the remote
port of Bahia Honda, and there, be-
fore a handful of witnesses, the Span
iards went through the farce of sa-
tlute. The Spaniards should at least
have been compelled to take the Vir-
fginius into the harbor at Havana, and
there, in the presence of all the people,
made to pay homage to the United
States. Spain paid the sum of SSOOOO
in full indemnity for the lives of fifty
three persons murdered by its repre-
sentatives. while all communication
of these victims was shut off from the
country to which they might have
Hooked for protection The total sur
vivors of the crew were fifteen and the
passengers eighty-seven, who were sur
RENDERED at the same time as the yes
sci. This closed the episode of the
IVirginius, which aroused more ind1g-
nation in this country than any other
event save the firing on Fort Sumter
in the memory of men now living. The
blood money was pocketed, and the
insult to the flag has remained I'M
avenged to this day.-Iowa State Reg
lister.
Web to the length of two and ONE
Fro