The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-06-24
OF THE VIRGINIUS' CREW
Simon Gratz Is the Vessel S Onlv
Survivor.
low He MANAGED TO ESCAPE.
massacre of Americans Mt Santiago
Grupi,icnlIy observation-disclosures Now
Lives in Philadelphia.
philadelphia Times.


philadelphia Times.
The only survivor OF the crew Of fifty
four of the Inflated steamer Virginius
| lives In Philadelphia He is Simon Gratz
f, and he lives Mt 1916 Judson street. Gratz
has followed a military life since boy
hood, and at the conclusion Of the civil war
had won his rank Of captain. He enlisted
Mt the breaking out of the war as private
in the Second Pennsylvania volunteers.
After the war he was detailed for SER
vice in the West and was mustered OUT
December 3, 1866. Coming back TO Penn
sylvania, he CHANGED to attend Cuban
meeting at the Academy of Music. There
| he heard addresses made by Judge Kelly
then congressman, and A. Il. Mcclure
| Not having had enough of war, and moved
by the words of the speakers he deter
| mined to go to Cuba. At frs, he was
| unsuccessful.
His second attempt was in 1863, on the
Cuban yacht Anna. This voyage was more
successful. He landed in Cuba in the
| Canmoway district, south Of the old trocha
near Matanzas. The yacht brought 1900
stands OF small arms, 80 machetes. five
tons Of ammunition and TWO twelve pound
ers for General Jordan, formerly chief of
staff OF the Confederate General Beaure-
gard, who forthwith defeated the Spanish
General Polio. Gratz was in tho engage
ment.
ON the island ne was surprised to tnd
espousing the Cuban cause many familiar
American faces and many prominent per-
ca - al s....
the ex consul to Cuba FREDERICK Cavela.
who threw up his consulship to take up tho
arms of his country; also his brother.
AdolphR Caveda General Ryan, the famous
Western scout In the Union army; Colonel
Bernard and others He entered the Cuban
army as a captain and served for yoar
and Il month.
His work there was interrupted by a let
ter from home, urging him to como 10
Philadelphia to settle M Tome private al
fairs. His resignation was not accepted by
his Cuban leader, Caveda. but he was de-
tailed to New York and Philadelphia to dv
what he could for the cause at home.
This was in the year 1873, aud about
me time when the ili-fated and now
historic steamship vrguius was fitting
out. Captain GratG again applied to the
Cuban juDia ana once more sailed for the
island from New York on the Atlas which
WAS carrying an expedition of 100 men, The
AtIas met the Nirginius at Kingston, Jn.
maica, All unsusplcious of the terrible
fate in store for them the entire marty
went aboard the big sidewhecler and
steamed to Port-Gu-lrince, Hayti. Tns
Ilrglnius had been searched at jamaica
by the English authorities and nothing
but coal was found in her hold She was
again searched at Port-au- Prince and
round empty save for her engine supplies
Ihen she turned toward the Cuban shore
Unfortunately, as the island doomed IN
IN the distance they We're sighted by the
spanish man-of-war Tornado. She gave
chnse. Then ensued one of the most ey
citing races IN Cuban history. The war
snip gained up the Vlrginus Bacon and
rosln were thrown into the furnaces ana
the speed was increased. The Span,ard
was being left behind. lust as a shout
OF oNultation burst from the crew at tho
slsht, the engineer sent word to the cantnin
mat me vessel had sprung a leak. She was
~, -, oi1 boat ana her bow-plate had parted.
IN spite OF all they could do the wafer
gained and put out the fires The big boat
was helpless The Spanish warship cam,
1p wlthln range and Immediately opencd
. .te TO save the lives OF his men CAPTAIN
Fry surrendered.
Ihe spanish crew came aboard ana
s%Tched the vessel There was nothing
III mgr hoid; In spite of that fact the yes
sci was taken to Santiago de Cuba III,
nearest port, the passengers being nlocnd
IA IRONS on the Spanish warship the crew
oelng kept on board TO work the boat
what happened is history II Ia Will
| .nown now the Spaniards, after a mocl,
.tlai by court martial, executed General
Ryan General Nembetta Varoua, Jesus sai
soaho tespedes brother of the presi
uent OF the Cuban republic. the four lead
ers OF the expedition. There ware Iss
passengers and crew on board the viz.
sihlus' The naval court martial tried no
crew, which consisted OF ffty-two nar
ana condemned thirty-seven nj them -
~, u, sno'' fhe army court martial tried the
,o passengers and condemned seventeen
vi .hem' Gratz was one OF the seventeen
History states that fifty-three wera ora
cu'ed' but according to the ahoye go
ment htty-four were condemned Tb,s !,
Ihe story OF how Gratz. the fiftv-fonr,h
man escaped 'S-toursh
inc men were executed in ,ao,,.
,ns', as stated, the lenders wera shn,
men the ships crew thirty-seven a, Sno.'
me horror OF the day. when these hr nvu,
anu innocent sailors were led out ana .,a's
VI a row In front OF a line of guns IN ' ,,''
,s.ns OF inc murderous Spanlards was
60, uu' what must ii have been IN
ma ra"n, "untsseu the execution from
kno,v,na Wiheow OF a Spanish cell
n ,, as he did, that possible ON ~ ~.
morrow he would stand in tbn,. on mo
ZIG a.e' INC them. he thrown for ssoa pace,
,lt HIS body. too. would no tr, Nv =
aown ny the horses of the caya,rv ~ ,r
~ r".h me dead men so that The ,r,,,
rss,.,d no' snow the place where thai
mardIy were the bodies OF the las, ,.,.