The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-07-05
THE V|RaNUS MASSACRE.
STORY OF THE ONLY SURVIVOR OF
THE HORRIBLE AFFAIR.
The Mock Trial by Court Martial
Fffty-three Men ktlIed-One Es-
capped After Being C0mdenned-


sengers @hich were aboard the famous
steamer R'irginsus when IL Was eaytared in
1873 By the Spa aiards, while making for
the Cuban coast IL Simon Gratz. Of issS
JGdson street, Philadelphia, His expert
ence while ia the hands ~ the enemy Is
interesting. lie was confined In Moro
castle Santiago de Cuba. together with ali
the other eaptiv@z from the steamer. was
condemned 10 death with hfty-four OF
them, Was led out 10 be shot as they were.
but saved almost oy 81 miracle. Graz
attributes his rescue to the number L.
Gratx has followed military life from
boyhood and al the conclusion of the civil
war had won his rank as captain. Afte.
TIRE war he was detailed for service III the
West, and was mustered aGt December -.
lsex Coming back TO Pennsylvania, he
CHANGED to attend Cuban meeting at the
Academy Of Music There ne heard adj
dresses made by Judge Kelly. then con-
gresham, and a. X. Mcclure. Not hav-
ing had enough of war. and moved b. the
words of the speakers he determined 10
go To Cuba.
At frat he was unsuccessful In finding
way TO get TO the island. One OF his IN
fortunate early efforts Wac or board the
steamer lillian which was f0gndered on
an island In the sea. Two OF the crew
died OF starvation before they were found
hy an English ship ard sent by means OF
Key West
His SECOND attempt was In 1869. % the
Cuban yacht Anna. This voyage was more
successful He landed in Cuba in the
Canmoway district. south OF the Ola
trocha near Aatanzas. The yacht brought
10 stands Of small arms. 30 maehetes.
tens Of ammunition. and I2-pounders for
Jordan formerly chief Of stan Of the Con
federate Gen Beauregard. who forthwith
defeated the Spanish Gen. Polio. Crate
was in the engagement.
On the island he was surprised 10 find
espousing the Cuban cause many familiar
American faces and many prominent per
sonages OF the civil war. Among t1eul
were the ex~consal TO Cuba, FREDERICK Ca
yes;a. who threw up his eonxuishtp to take
up the arms OF his country, also ms
brother. Asiolpha Cayeds. Gen. Ryan. the
famous Western scout ia the Union army
Col Bernard and others. lie e't"fea the
Cuban army as "A captain, ana served TOT
q year ana month. There were over ~
CO.. insurgents under arms at that time In
the island, and 1000 others armed "niy
with the nachete. During his service ne
was in eight engagements. ana nad SO I'M
pressed his personality upon the minds 81
! the Spaniards that price was put upon
his head.
hts work there was interrupted by
letter from nome, urging him TO come TO
phiIadelpaia 10 settle up some private al
fairs His resignation was not accepted
hy his Cuban leader Caveda, but he was
detailed 10 New York and Phiisdeipnia 10
do what he could for the cause al nome,
His business once adjusted ne AGAIN
turned his attention toward Cuba, and
east about him for "A way To get pdch 10
the island OF his adopted army.
This was In the year 1888, and about the
time when the Inflated and now historic
steamshlp yirginius was fitting out zap
Craty again applied 10 the 1unah @nh'"'
ara on%a more sailed for the island from
New York on the Atlas, winch WIS car
ryiuw an expedition Of il. men. Iae Alias
mat the Virsinius at Kingston. Jamaiea.
An ,,,gnsnicious Of the terrible tate IN
s,nre for them the entire party went On
hoard the big side-wheeier ana stea"ieo 70
I,ort-au- Prince, Hayd. The Nifsiiaus uae
naen searched at Jamaica by the f.hshsu
an,hori.,.~ and nothing but coai WAS
ga :, her hold She was again search
"a al porf-at,-rrincc and found empty
.ava for her engine supplies linen sac
,urnc.3 ,oward the Cuban shore'
Tnsor.nna,ely, a. the island doomed up
a. The distance, they WeF" sAs"',a ~ M
S,anIsh man of~~ar Tornado, she cav
chase Then cnsued one "i W H-o ',.,
,t,I,sr races In Cuban history The wafsnip
..s,,ca anon the VifginIus. Bacon ana
-, v.ara thrown into the furnaces ana
,hn sneea was increased. The Spahiafo
..s hing left behind. Just as a shout oi
sx,,f,atios, hurst from the crew AT the slsat.
the engineer sent Word 10 the captain tha'
m. vessel haa sprung leak She was ','
aid boat and her bow-piate mao pA'''u
IT, snste ~ all they could DO tie water
..,raa and put out the fires. The big boat
was heir,lesS The Spanish warshtp came
~, withlu range and Immediately opened
n,e To save the ,ivcs Of his risn capt
Fry surrendered
The Spanish crew came aboard ana
searched the vessel. There was nothing II
her hold. III spite of ihat ftc' me Nvs~e'
Was taken q, Santiago 10 Cuba, tne near
.s, t,ort. the passengers being placed Ia
srons on the Spanish warShp tn, crew be
Ing kefs on board to work the boat
What hsppened Is history. II Is well
known now the SpanisrdS after n mock
trial hv court marital executed zen. Ryan.
cen Nctu.safta N3rona. Jesus dAi Soeano
Cesfs.,lrs a brother 90 the President NJ the
cuban republic, tho feur leaders ~ The eN-
er.Niit.on. There We're - passengers and
crew On Board the N,ygiuisgs. The naval
.sat,rf- martial tried The crew. which con-
sisted ~ Gfty-twe men. and condemned
thirty-seyen . thern 90 to- shot The army
court martial tfir1 The rs passengers and
condemned seventeen Of Them tratT Was
ore. ~ the seventeen.
History states tbat fiitY-three Mere exc
cutes. hut. according 10 she above stale
fnent. iffN-feur were condemned. This Is
she story 81 how Gratz the nity-foarth
r3an escaped,
1'Ar wien were executed in sections Frs;
s.A stated. tho fosr leaders were shot. then
tie ships crew thErty-seV@u az once, TIL.
horror - that day when fhosc brave ana
iunoceu, sailors were led out and siooi IN
q row i0 fscug of lime - guns So gllr
hands II The yaas3crous spaalaTds VAS
ieerfu' bat whst rnu+t t. have hesa to