Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-07-29
THE vIRcINlUs AT SANTIAGO.
unenviabic Note 20 years Ago OF the
Scene of the Present Activity.

Cnenviablc Note 20 years Ago OF the
Scene of the Present Activity.
Since the Spanish feet has been
bottled up in the harbor OF Santiago
de Cuba frequent illusions have been
made, both by public men and the
press, to the historic "Virginius af-
fair" which, in 1870, almost caused .
war between the United States and
Spain. There was a tremendous eS-
element aroused in this country, and
1t occasioned long and diplomatic
correspondence.
The Virginius, ship registered in
the New York custom house Scptem-
Der 20, 1870, as the property of an
American citizen, was captured on the
high seas ne9r Jamaica by the Spanish
man-of. war Tornado, on October 81,
1873. The reason given was that she
was about to land men and arms in
Cuba, which was thou engaged in the
ten years war against Spain. At the
time of its capture the Vhginius was
flying the American flag. She was
taken to Santiago.
President Grant at once remonstrat-
ed with the Spanish government, and
through the United States minister to
Spain, General Daniel l.. Sickles, de-
manded the release Of the 'Virginius
aud her crew.
Spain was at that time a republic, uu'
der President CASTELAR,, and while his
government was asking for time TO OBJ
tain information and was making prom
ises, the authorities in Cuba determined
to take matters into their own hands.
On November 7, 1873, the captain of
the Virginius, Joseph Fry, and thirty
six of the crew were shot.
The next day twelve Of the most
prominent of the passengers were also
shot. The captain general OF Cuba,
General De Rodas, directly sanctioned
these murders.
When the news Of this action he.
came known In this country the ex-
element was intense. Meetings were
held, and the bloody work was de.
nounced.
President Grant authorized the put
ting of the navy on war footing, dip
lomatic relations were on the point
of severance aud war was imminent.
Meanwhile President CASTELAR, made
the excuse that his orders TO stay pro.
ceedings were received too late to
prevent the crime. 1t was probably
because Spain was just starting on her
career as republic that President
Grant used every effort TO adjust the
difficulty through diplomatic means,
and that war was averted.
Several times II seemed that HOSTILE
ties could not be prevented. Once
General Sickles sent for ship to take
him from Spain. At last, however, on
November 30, a protocol was signed
between Secretary Fish and Admiral
Polo, by which Spain agreed to sur.
render the survivors OF the crew and
passengers Of the Virginius, together
with the ship, aud to salute the flag Of
the United States on December %.
II, however, il should be proved in the
interval that the Virginius had no
right to fly tho United States flag the
salute should be dispensed with,
though Spain should disclaim any in
tention to insult the flag Three days
before the time agreed on Secretary
Fish announced himself as satisfied
that the virginius had no right to fly
the flag, and the salute was dispensed
with. On January 30 Admiral Polo
made the disclaimer AGREED on.
The virginius was delivered to the
United States navy Mt Bahia Honda
on December 10, with the American
flag flying. She was, however, I'm.
seaworthy, and, encountering a heavy
storm Off Cape Fear. sank. The pris-
oners who survived were surrendered
on December IS, at Santiago de Cuba,
and landed in safety in New York.
IN ndarIaa. mi