The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-05-05

hibitions OF human butchery that mas .
ever disgraced the records OF spanish
cruelty.
The Vlrginlus-a slde-wheel iron |
steamer. was at one time the property |
OF the United States. She passed
through several hands. and In 1870 she |
was purchased by a junta OF Cuban
reyolutlonists. In this country. but the
purchase was made under the name OF
John +. Patterson. an American c'u-
zen. The boat was used by the Guiana
for carrying ammunition and arms ana
aid OF any kind to their fellow-eouh-
trymen in Cuba. who at that time ana
for several years previous had been In
rebellion against Spain. Belligsrent
I rights had not been recognized. ana
the insurgents we're not able to sail the
seas under the protecting flag OF any
recognized nation But. having bought
the ship in the name Of an American
citizen. they usurped the right which
would have been hts had he been the
actual owner. u hulsting the American
colors. II was this question OF uncer-
tain ownership that turned the Tide OF
Judgment into a labyrinth OF difficulty.
when later In It's career the Nirsinius
gave cause for a narrowly ayefted
clashlng Of Spanish interests with
American honor
At that time. Ia New York. there was
q colony OF Cubans who were aiding.
without pretense OF secrecy. the pa
triots In the oppressed and revenious
isle. The last trip that the Nirgnius
made was IN the autumn u 1913, when
she left Kingston Jamaica, with 10
volunteers. and n complete armament.
and turned her helm toward the Cuban
coast. An accident TO her machinery
Obliged the Nirglnius 10 take tempor-
airy shelter In The harbor OF Kingston.
and this delay sutEced TO put the Span
lsh authorities on her track. so that her
second start for the destined landing
was interrupted by the Spanish man
of-war Tornado. which. after a pro-
tracted chase. effected the surrender
aud capture Of the Virginius, and took
her TO Cuba. Her crew. mostly New
Yorkers-had not been made acquaint'
ed with the object OF the expedition
But innocence Is word the Spanish
have yet to learn the meaning Of. ant
the unfortunate men were made TO sui
fer no less on that account Then. too
at the moment OF capture. the Virgin
ius was IN reality an ordinary mer
chairman floating under the starr aG'
stripes. for every object that nigh
have caused suspicion had been throw
overheard Again. the capture wa
made In British waters "a fact, how
ever. that was not sufficient 10 stol
the course OF Spanish determination
Tho Spanish authorities. according q
their custom. condemned the entire cx
peditlon 10 death. without even M
formallty OK the fimsIest kind Of Ia
vestigatlon. and on the protext OF pira
cy on the high seas On Nov. IN
four leaders Of the expedition unclud
ing Pedro Cospedes. brother Of IN
president OF the Cuban republicl wer
condemned 10 death. by order Of Ger
Juan Nepomuceno Burriel. The sen
tence was executed on the followin
day. when the four martyred patriot
we're bound. blindfolded and sho
Hardly had the smoke cleared fror
above the bodies Of these four lover
Of liberty when second court marti'
assembled 10 try the rank and fle {
the expedition. including the capital
and crew OF the vessel. As Il was In
practicable TO execute the entire bod
Of victims at once. they were divide
into patches and on Nov. 4-the da
following the execution OF the leader
the FIRST apportlonment. consisting
= Captain Joseph Fry. native OF Louis
- ana. and thirty-six Of his crew imam
s oi them mere boys) were marched