The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-16

governed by that agreement, and without
admitting that Spain would otherwise
nave any interest I'm the question, | de-
eide that the Virgnius, at the time of her
capture, was without right, and improper
~ carrying the American flag"
IN consequence of this decision the
Spanish minister was notified by the
state department. that the Spanish au-
thorities In Santiago de Cuba would not
be required to salute the American flag
The department also announced It's de
termination to endeavor to brLng to Justice
any persons who flew The flag by improper
means.
This matter being settled the steamship
Despatch was ordered from Key West
with an extra crew. TO Bahia Honda TO
receive the Vrginius from the Spanish
authorities. The Despatch arrived on the
18th, and was anchored near the Vrglniua.
On the appearance of the vessel the
American flag was hoisted on the Virgin
JUS by Spanish officials and the officer
OF Spanish gun boat paid the comman-
der of the Despatch ceremonious visit
On the following day Lieut.. (now lieu
tenant commander) A. Mark was placed
in command of the Virginlus and ordered
to take her to New York. The vessel was
in filthy condition and leaking. She had
water in all her compartments that gain
all hands had to go 10 pumping and bail
ing. On the Nth the crown sheet of the
boiler of the middle furnace gave out,
and the forward boiler became blstered
and gave out before the day was over,
when under only five pounds OF steam.
On Christmas day the Virginius gave UNI
mistakable signs of sinking and she was
abandoned, the officers and crew being
taken on board the Ossipee, which was
|
sank early on the morning of the 18th
near the coast of South Carolina.
After the surrender of the Vlrglnius
| Spain sought to prove that she had Sis
! tanned damage by that vessel, which the
| United States was bound to pay. This
claim was to be, in effect. an offset-to the
one which the United States made against
Spain for the slaughter Of the Vrginius
| crew. The claim was based on two propo-
| sitions First the assumption that the
! Virgihius, at the time Of her departure
from New York, sailed with false papers,
including registry, crew list and mani
fest; second, that In other respects the ex-
| petition was unlawful by reason of the
! imputed plratical character Of the voyage.
/ The United States in reply held that,
| granting the papers TO have been fraudu-
| lent, the offense was a municipal one.
subject to punishment by local law. and
| not TO be considered from an interna,ion-
al point of view Further, that the Uni
ted States could not be held responsible
! as having been lacking in diligence or
good faith in preventing a fraud not sus-
| pected by that country, and not brought
| to its attention at the time by Spain. The
/ United States also declined responsibility
/ as to the second proposition.
Spain replied to this by endeavorlng to
prove an analogy between the Virginius
| and the Alabama, but the United States
easily proved they we're not parallel
cases There was further correspondence
but the United States rejected all claims
Of Spain.
When the Virginius was captured by
the Spanish warship Tornado, there were
155 persons on board. There were but
lO2 survivors surrendered to the United
States warship Juniata on the 18th of De
cember, 1873; the assumption therefore Is
that fifty-three were shot at the Novem-
Der massacre.
On Feb. TO- 1874 Caleb Gushing was or
dered by tho United States to proceed to
Madrid and make reclamation on the
Spanish government for injuries TO the
crew and passengers OF the Virginius by
reason Of their capture and Imprisonment
and more especially TO call for indemnity
TO the families Of such OF the crew and