Year: 1874

Stories OF the PRISONERS Returned by


the Juniata.


Many of the circumstances of the cap
ture of the Virginius and the imprison-
ment of those taken on board which the
prisoners brought by the Juniata
have related are of considerable interst
Samuel Gray, carpenter, of Harris
burg, Pa, is one of the most intelligent
of the prisoners. He barely escaped
the fate OF his more unfortunate friends.
He was sent to the chapel twice, each
time being told that he was to be shot,
but was afterwards remanded to the
place of imprisonment, much to his
own surprise and to the amazement of all
the prisoners, who had twice bidden
him what they supposed to be a last
farewell. At Santiago he was in the
hospital for a considerable time before
the departure Of the Juniata, when he
was taken on board. The treatment of
himself and the other prisoners in the
hospital seems to have been more con-
siderate than would be expected from
people who had shown themselves so
bitter and cruel. They received proper
medical attendance, good nursing, such
nutriment as their condition required,
together with comfortable quarters. 1t
is doubtful if the Spaniards themselves
in the hospitals receive better attention.
1t is said that Gray's real name is Graft,
but during his connection with Cuban
affairs he has uniformly been known by
the former name, and is called Gray i'll
the list of prisoners. Mr.. Gray himself
attributes his safety to the good will OF
and Englishman who is an officer in the
Spanish army; while it is thought by
certain persons familiar with all the cir
cumstances that his Masonic relations
served him at the last moment, when
every expedicnt had been tried. MIR.
Gray acknowledges that some things
were thrown overheard from the Nir-
ginius during the chase by the Tornado,
but claims to have no personal knowI-
edge of what kind of property or what
amount of it was disposed of in that
way.
Another instance of good fortune is
the case of fireman named King, who
is an Englishman by birth. He could
not speak word of Spanish, and was
unable to give any account OF himself
to the Spanish authorities. When the
thirty-seven who were shot together
were taken out for execution, King was
also taken, but when the names OF
the condemned were called his was not
among them, and he was returned to
the boat overcome with delight at
his narrow escape. He had witness ed
the terrible slaughter, and had himself
expected immediate death, when the
ioyful word was given that he should
live. One of the cases that has excited
| especial interest among the officers Of
the Juniata is that of Edward Scott, an
American boy sixteen years OF age.
His homo is in Salem, n. j., and his
father is superintendent of the gas
works in that place. Some month ago
young Scott, like many country boys,
became tired of the dull life Mt home,
and excited by the wonderful stories OF
the outside world, came to New York
without the knowledge of his parents.
He was accompanied by several young
friends, and made up his mind to go to
sea. The Atlas was about to il from
New York, and he was given a chance
to go as lamp-trimmer upon the vessel,
which was bound to Costa Rica. This
opportunity he gladly accepted. On
board he fell sick, and was left at
Jamaica, but after week or so re-
covered and went on the Virginius at
Kingston, without knowing or thinking
ranything about the character of the ves-
sci. When taken prisoner with the rest
by the Tornado, he was among the few
who were placed upon the small gun.
boats. Of the five who were with him
upon one of these vessels, three were
taken to make up the wretched 81 who
were shot together. His was remarka-
BILE good fortune in escaping death,
since many of those who make up the
doomed band were taken indiscriminate-
ly from the whole number. Some Of
the officers of the Juniata being pleased
with his appearance and interested in
his story, took him into the cabin on
the passage from Santiago, and lie is
now in good spirits and reioiced to re-
turn to his friends after so severe an ex-
yerience. The foregoing is his story
very much as he has given it to several
of the officers OF the Juniata.


Philip Metzler, native of Charles
ton, s. c., and a cigar-makcr by trade,
gives a somewhat confused account
Of the boarding ol the Nirginiu'
by the Tornado. He was syidenly mu i
frightened, as were many OF thepsssen