New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-02
THE vIRGINIrS At SANTIAGO.
INEVITABLE NOTE TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO OF

INEVITABLE NOTE TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO OF
TIE SCENE or TIIE PRESENT ACTIVITY.
Since the Spanish feet has been bottled up In the
harhor OF Santiago de cuba frequent illusions
havelecn made both by public men and the press
| 20 tho historic "virrinus affair" which in 1870.
almost cansed n wa: between the United States and
Spain There was a tremendous excitement aroused
I'm this country and II occasloned long and dipio-
matte correspondence.
The Nirgnius n ship registered In the New York
Custom House September 81 1870 the property
| OF nm American citizen was captured on tho high
! Jamaica, by the Spanish man-of-w war
| Tornado October 81. 1873. The given was
| that she was about tn land men md I'm Cuba.
! which was then engaged in the Ten Years War
, against Spain. Al the time OF its capture the
\irginius was flying the American flag She was
taken 10 Santiago.
President Grant at once demonstrated with the
| Spanish Government. and through the United
States Minister to Spain. General Daniel T.. Sick
| les demanded the release OF the Vrginus and her
Spain at that time republic, under Presi-
1 dent CASTELAR, and while his Government was ask
| Ing for time To obtail Information and was max
| ing promises. tho authorities IN Cuba determined
| 10 take matters into their own hands. on November
= 1873. the captain OF the Virgnus Joseph Fry.
ara thirty-slx Of the crew. were shot.
The day twelve of the most prominent OF
the passengers also shot. The captn!n-G
erai o! Cuba General DE Rodas. directly
toned these murders.
When the news OF this action became known
In this country the excitement was intense. Meet
lngs were held. and the b cody work was denounced
President Grant authorized the putting OF tho
Navy on war footing. diplomatic relations were
the point OF severance. and was imminent
Meanwhile President Castelar, made the excuse
that his orders TO stay proceedings were received
too late prevent the crime. II was probably
because Spain was Just starting on her career a.
O republic that President Grant used every effort
to adjust the difficulty through diplomatic means,
and that war was averted.
Several times IL seemed that hostilties could not
be prevented. Once General SiclteS sent for ship
yember 20. protocol was signed between Secretary
Fish and Admiral Polo. by which Spain agreed TO
surrender the survivors of the and passengers
OF the Nirginius. together with the ship, and
salute the faE OF the United States December
%. II. however II should be proved In tho interval
that the Nlrglnus had no right to fly tho United
States flag the salute should be dispensed with,
though spain should disclam any intention to In
suit the flag. Three days before the time agreed
on Secretary Fish announced himself as satisfied
that the Vlrginius had right to ny the nag. and
mira Polo made the disclaimer agreed on.
The Virginius delivered to the United States
Navy at Balm Honda on December Ii. with the
American flag flying. She was. however. unseawor-
thy. and. encountering heavy storm OF Cape
Fear sank. The prisoners who survived we're sur
rendered on December l8 AT Santiago de Cuba and
landed In safety In New-York