The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-06
WAS ON THE VIRGINIUS
DIR. wAGNER's EXPERIENCE ON A
FIIIBUsTERING EXPEDITION.
Incident of the Last Cubnn Insurrec-
tiOn That Caused Strained Re-
IatiOns with Spain.

The present existing feeling between this
country and Spain brings TO the minds of
residents of this city of a generation ago
the fact that in the early sew
entities there was another period of
strained relations between the two
countries, caused by the seizure of
the American ship Virginius by the Span
iards in 1870 The Cuban ten-years war was
in progress at that time, and the cause of
Cuba excited sympathy among Americans
just as the present attempt at freedom
does. Arms and ammunition were shipped
from this country on every chance 10 the
Insurgents, and recruiting for the insurgeDt
army was carried on secretly but energeti-
cally by representatives of the Cubans. 1t
is probably not generally known that there
is living in this city q man who when
boy, offered his services to the Cubans and
passed through an exciting and dangerous
experience with the ship Virginius, which
nearly became the means of Cuban indie
pendence at that time In this respect the
Virginius and the Maine occupied similar
positions in a similar trouble. The gentle
man referred to is DR.. Theodore Wagner,
who has for thirty-three years been resi-
dent of indianapolis. While in Chicago at
that time he was approached by Cuban
-
triotism and securing his enlistment at the
same time for service in Cuba. The doctor
was taken to New York and introduced TO
the Virginius, which was much the same
sort of boat as the Three Friends, at least
in mission.
On the vessel he met Captain Fry, who,
on his next voyage, was captured by the
Spanish man-of-war Tornado, and with
several of his crew was shot, the incident
leading to international controversy. DR..
Wagner states that, while it was an open
secret that the vessel was hllbuster, yet
no one on 1t except the commanding off1cers
were in possession of positive evidence OF
that fact. Even the arms and munitions OF
war were taken on during periods Wnen the
men were asleepso absent; but that she
carried arms in some quantity DR.. Wag-
ners eyes can attest. His companions in
men of refinement and intelligence, whose
sentiments had been touched and whose
action had been voluntary.
When the cargo of arms and supplies and
the passengers l. e. Cuban recruits had
been loaded and American papers had been
secured for cruise to the West Indian
with no demonstration. started on her voy-
age. Everything went pleasantly, and
neither Spanish war ship nor American rev.
enue cutter disturbed them until somewhere
near Key West, when one of Uncle Sans
patrol boats headed them off and captured
the vessel and those aboard it.. While the
evidence was all against the Virginius, yet
no actual proof was produced to show her
intentions against Spain in Cuba nor any
thtlSLHPL u NlOidlS the neutrality laws VI tue
United States The officers and men were
taken to New Orleans in custody and were
afterwards sent as prisoners to New York
for trial. The inquiry developed such con-
fusing evidence that in their perplexity the
federal officers washed their hands of the
whole affair by ordering all the prisoners
to leave the city within twenty-four hours.
Some stayed with Captain Fry and accom-
panied him on the next attempt, which was
destined to be the death of the captain and
several of his crew and the means of the
destruction of the VirginiuS.
DR.. Wagner, however, had got over his
first impulse, and with a companion went
to Philadelphia and began life which has
proved to be an extremely prosperous and
useful one.
He is very diffident about speaking of his
experiences on the Virginius, disking
prominence of any sort. He does not seem
to feel that in this day, when the Cuban
cause has aroused universal sympathy in
this country, that his action would not only
not be looked upon as q reproach. but would
be emulated by thousands if they had an
equal opportunity.