The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-03-08

Philadelphia Times: After lapse Of
over a quarter OF century, during
which time q war has been fought and
won and free Cuba has become real
ity under the protectorate under the
United States, some just recognition Of
the first American martyrs In the cause
Of Cuban freedom Is to be made by
the United States II Senator Money Is
successful in pushing through the SEN
ate his bill to provide the necessary
funds for exhumlng and returning to
the United States the bodies OF Captain
Joseph Fry, of the American schooner
steamer Virginius, and his men, who
were brutally butchered in Cuba after
the boat was captured upon the high
seas by the Spanish gunboat Tornado
in 1873.
Owing to the manner in which these
men, were murdered and thrown into
their graves some doubt has arisen in
the minds Of those interested in the
bill as to the possibility OF finding and
Identifying their graves. Senator Money
has been led to insert in his bill n
clause which in that event will enable
Congress at least to fence in and appro-
priately mark the spot where they lay.
When interviewed upon the subject
Senator Money said: 1T seems right
and fitting that the people Of the United
States should do rs much for the mar
tyred crew Of the Virginius as they have
done for the sailors Of the Maine. Both
were innocent victims Of Spanish in
humanity. I feel sure that II this coun-
try does not honor her VirSinius dead
the Cuban republic will"
There were about q hundred passen-
gers aboard the Virginius who were
left unexecuted by the Spaniards out
OF the entire boats crew OF 40. OF the
number who were actually led out to
be shot only one came back alive. The
fortunate man was Simon GratZ. Of 1916
Judson street. Philadelphia Tho dra-
matte story of his escape after he was
condemned to death by the SpanInrds,
owing, he says, to the number thirteen,
was told in the Sunday Times during
the Spanish war.
Concerning the possibilities of finding
the bodies Mr.. Gratz said: ~ do not
think there will be any trouble about
that. You see. General Ryan, General
Cespedes, Verona and Jesus del Sol
were executed first. Their bodies were
buried in the Catholic cemetery and
marked with the usual grave stones.
Captain Fry and his crew of thirty
seven men were shot four days later.
The bodies Of the dead crew were
thrown at random In tho ditch where
they fell outside Of the slaughter house,
but Captain Fry was buried separately.
The five leaders. therefore, can easily
be found. but the identity Of the other
victims fear has been irretrievably
lost. heard later after I got safely
back to America that the place where
they lay had been marked by railing
enclosure"
Few echoes survive at the present
day Of the terrible crime Of 70, which
awoke the entire United States into
frenzy almost equal to that occasioned
by the destruction Of the Maine. 1t
was thought ut the time that the bloody
deed could be wiped out only by war
between the countries, and President
Grant hestated long while upon the
brink. Diplomacy smoothed matters
over and war was averted until great
er number OF American sailors were
killed by the some hand and the nation
was reused in earnest.
The Vlrginius was an American
steamer, a 'side-wheeler" She was
called. She was also equipped with
schooner sailing rig and was considered
remarkably fast boat for her day.
For three years she had been sailing
from American ports among the West
Indies. and during that time had gained
reputation among the Spanish author
tiles similar In many respects to that
OF the Laurada, which was -captained
by Captain Hart.
On October q. 1873. the VIrgInius
steamed out OF Kingston harbor. ia
maicu, In command of Captain Joseph
Fry. After having received on board
US passengers General W. A. C. Ryan,
the famous western scout In the union
army during the rebellion, and native
OF New York state: Pedro Cespedes, 4
younger brother OF Carlos Manuel Ces-
pedes. then president OF the Cuban re-
public: Jesus del Sol and General Var
ona. who had Just escaped from Madrid
and was working his way back to his
army In Cuba.
The presence OF these men on board
the Virginius. together with the general
reputation of the boat, was enough to
make the Spanish consul at Kingston
suspicious. He Immediately cabled to
Governor General Jean BurrIel. then
governor OF Santiago province, who dis
patched the fleet gunboat Tornado,