The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-16
THE VRGINIUS AFFAIR.
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER MARIX
CONNECTED WITH 1T.

The Capture of the Vessel and the
The Demands for ReparatiOn and
the Difficulty of Having Them Set
tied.
From the Philadelphia Ledger.
This is not the first time that troubles
in Cuba have brought this country to the
verge of war with Spain. Twenty-Five
wears ago there was almost the same eX-
element. and nearly as pronounced de-
mand that Spain be brought sharply to
book. Then, as now, the popular frenzy
was wrought up over a ship, and war was
only averted by Spain making complete
surrender and ample reparation. The
great difference between the two incidents
is that the ship in question at that time
was a filibustering vessel, known as the
Virginius. and the massacred people fill
busters, while now the anger of the peo-
pie is over the wanton destruction of one
of our finest war ships and the slaughter
of 266 of it's gallant crew, while in the sup
posedly friendly harbor of Havana. I'm
der the circumstances. an account of the
Virglnius affair, including its final settle
ment cannot be other than timely.
On the last day of October, 1873, the
SPANISH steamer Tornado sighted and cap
tured, near Jamaica, the Virginius, sail
ing ship, flying the American flag. 1t was
claimed that the vessel was engaged as
hlibuster. The Tornado took her prize
into Cuban port, and, with the usual
disregard for humanity or the ordinary
observances of the usual rule of other ma
lions toward captured prisoners, the
Spanish authorities Immediately shot four
Cubans who were found on board. This
was on Nov. A. The United States was
notified on the 9Th of the capture of the
vessel and the slaughter, and a strong
protest was made al once to President
CASTELAR, of Spain. He at once sent an Or
der TO Havana to delay further proceed
ings but this order was not delivered, it
is said, until after a second massacre of a
large number of prisoners took place
Many of these slaughtered men were clti-
zens of the United States and of England
II was the massacre of these men that
aroused the American people to frenzy,
and nearly brought about war between
the United States and Spain.
President Grant at once made a per-
emptory demand on Spain for a reStora-
ton of the vessel, for a prompt and I'M
conditional surrender of the surviving
prisoners, for a heavy indemnity as a
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 Novsm-
Der. and twelve days were given for com
pliance.
on the 18th General Sickles. then min
lister to Spain, received a reply which he
regarded as a refusal, and proposed. IN
less otherwise ordered by his governm mt,
70 close the legation. The next day he
telegraphed SPANS rejection of the I,ro-
test of the United States, and announced
that Spain had sought the good offices OF
Great Britain, but that Lord Granville
had declined. unless on a basis of ample
reparation to the United States. But
while General Sickles was making prepar-
atoms to leave he received a dispatch
from Washington, saying that the Span
ish minister had asked for more time 9bd
promised to make ample reDaration, and