The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-28
STORY OF THE VlRCINIUS
BLACK EPISODE I'm SPANISH
AMERICAN HISTORY

Spaniards Butcher Fifty-Three
American Citisens-The Sum of
$4,000 Accepted as Full In
demnity--Heads OF the Dead
Displayed on Spikes-Indigna-
ton, but No Action.
From the Chicago Chronicle.
Adolph Mark, Judge advocate Of the
court Of inquiry on the Maine disaster,
is man who has had experience with
the aptitude of American administra-
tons in swallowing Spanish atrocities.
He was the flag lieutenant of the Dis
patch. the gunboat sent to the harbor
of Bahia Honda, Dec. 16, 1873, to re-
celve the surrender from Spanish
hands of the Virginius, and American
boat which had been captured by the
Spanish, and fifty three Of the crew Of
which had been shot down In cold
blood.
T. The black episode Of the Virginius is
historical and aroused as much indig-
nation among the people of this coun-
try as the recent treachery in Havana
harbor; but public protest was unheard
by the administration, q long and hui
initiating correspondence was conduc-
ted by the government at Washington
and the sum Of $50, 900 was accepted as
full indemnity for the butchery Of
fiftythree American citizens. Capt.
Fry, a native born American COM
mander Of the Virginius, wrote the
day previous to his murder: II die
without country or a home"
These words of bitter rebuke awoke,
however, no response from the admin
istration, which did not even insist
upon the complete fulfllment of the
agreement entered into by Spain by
way Of redress.
Story of the Butchery.
The story Of the lVirginius is a stir
ring one. She was registered on Sept.
26, 1870, at the custom house Of New
York. as the property of citizens of the
United States. She was originally an
Eiglish-built sidewheel steamer, called
the Virgin, and acted as a blockade
runner during the Civil war. She was
captured by the Federals and sold. to
an agent Of the Cuban junta-the
Cubans were then In the middle of their
war for ndeDendence-and her name
changed to the Virginius. About Oct.
4, 1873, she cleared for the port Of Cura-
Goa and made the voyage according to
her clearance. At foreign ports she
showed her American papers and inva.
rfably put forth aiJclaim to American
nationality. 1t is therefore settled that
when she left the port of Kingston,
Jamaica, Oct. %, 1873. under the flag Of
the United States she had, as against
all powers the right to fly the flag and
to claim it's protection.
1t was claimed, and not denied, that
from 1870 to 1873 she was daring fill
clustering craft, landing arms and am
munition on the Cuban coast for the
benefit Of the patriotic insurrectionists.
A few hours after she left Kingston
on her historic voyage she sprang
leak and was obliged to put into the
port Of Caimit for repairs. Oct. 80 she
once more set sail, having on board 1855
persons. f1fty-two Of whom composed
the crew and 103 being passengers.
While between the islands of Cuba and
Jamaica she was given chase by the
Spanish warship Tornado and captured
about eighteen miles east of Morant. on
the&east1 end of the island of jamaica.
Several shots were fired over her pre-
vious to her capture She was then
officer Of the Tornado. who stated that
he did so on his own responsibility.
knowing the Virginius to be an Ameri-
can vessel. Some sailors from the
Spanish ship hauled down the American
colors, apparently with the acquiescence
of their superiors.
The Virg1nius was taken to Santiago
de Cuba, the passengers thrown in
prison and Capt. Joseph Fry, the com
mander. and his crew kept on board
the Tornado. Drumhead court martial
was held for the trial Of the prisoners
and on Nov. four Of them were shot
in the back. their bodies beheaded, their
heads displayed on spikes and their
bodies trampled by horses.
One Of these victims was a resident
of Chicago, Gen. w. A. c. Ryan. He
was a Canadian by birth and without
naturalization papers from the United
States. But he entered the Civil war
before attaining his majority and
fought for the Union throughout the
war, obtaining the title by which he
was known. When Spain paid the in
men, Mrs. Eliza Dunno, the mother Of
Gen. Ryan, received as her share 81, $780,
Many prominent citizens Of Illinois,
among them Congressman Springer.
lent their influence to the securing of
her claim, arguing that Gen. Ryan had
proved his right to citizenship in a
much more effective manner than by
the taking out of naturalization papers
With such indecent haste were these
executions made that the news of the
capture Of the Virginius had not yet
reached Havana nor Madrid. Gen. Juan
Burriel, the governor for that Cuban
province, caused the cable ito be cut
that the American consul E. G. Schmitt,
at Santiago might be prevented from
making any communication to his gov
eminent. Gen. Burriel refused for two
days to make any response whatever
to the letters of our representative
and when he did reply remarked that
the American consul should have known
better than to disturb him upon All
Saints day, when he and all his Off
Gals were engaged in contemplation Of
the holy mysteries Of the occasion.
Correspondence in the Case.
Under date Of the American consul
ate, Nov. 8, 1873, Mr.. ~Schmitt wrote as
follows to Burriel:
II would most respectfully inform your
edge that the Virginius, which was brought
into this port at $50 O'Clock p. m. on the
LIST inst, conveyed by the Spanish warship
Tornado, as vessel captured on the high
seas, having on board many passengers be-
sides the captain and crew, was cleared
from Kingston Jamaica, and as l. under
stated that the said captain sailed under
American colors, I, therefore, representa-
tive Of the United States government at this
city and port Of Santiago de Cuba, went
yesterday morning at o'clock precisely to
the Office of the Submarine Telegraph Cable
company to transmit a. message to the
United States CONSUL at Kingston, Jamaica,
asking the nationality Of the steamer Vir-