Year: 1873

WASHINGTON, Dec. q, 1873.


Commander Braine, In his letter to the Secretary
OF the Navy. dated Santiago de Cuba, November
80, communicating the information he obtained
about the virginius says


You will see by my letter to His Excel
lency Senior Brigadier Commandante General
Morales and the protest that protested against
any further punishment to any Of the Officers,
crew and passengers Of the virginius, irrespective
OF their nationality and If any more were ordered
to be executed I must be informed before 1t
took place, as l claimed the American
nag protected all. l have taken means
to circulate it ashore in the city, that II
any Of the prisoners taken from the virginius are
executed will sink every Spanish gunboat and
other Spanish men-ofwar here that can get at.
feel assured that this rumor has had good effect
and believe, should our government demand the
persons taken from the virginius yet alive,
the authorities VIII surrender them. You
will observe by my interview that the
General asks, in reply to my suggestion
that an easy partial solution to this already
complicated affair would be to deliver up all the
people now alive belonging to the virginius
'In what manner could that be done ~ leading
me to believe IL to be really wish OF his to deliver
them all to the United States. replied, sBy put
ting them in boats and putting them on board the
ship have the honor t6 command, restoring them
under the nag from which they were taken.n The
Governor replied he could not do so without orders
from his superiors.


Commander Braine asked II the people taken
from the American steamer yirginius were exc.
cutcd by the authority OF the highest ruling
power In the island or by the order OF the
government officials here. The Governor an
swered, ssBy the government here" Commander
aaid IN
that ordered their execution order their
release and delivery to him ~ The Governor re.
piled in the negative. The people taken from the
Virginius were executed by an order previously
issued by the Admiral commanding the naval
forces or the island: others were executed under
authority OF an order issued by General de Rodas
Commander BRArNE-- But were there not pas
sengers on board the American steamer vir.
giniusf


The GovERNoR-You must recollect that there
were many Spaniards among the passengers. and
one OF them a deserter from our army on this
island.


Commander BRAINE-Yes; but they were
taken from an American steamer on the nigh seas.


The GovERNoE-0n the night OF the arrival OF the
Vrginius at this port in looking over the papers
an order was found issued by the late Captain
General, and t was under his order that the trial
and executions took place.


Commander BRAINE-But have to remind you
that both the United states and British governments
protested against that order and told the spanish
government that they would not allow any such
and that the most that the United
States government could admit would be the con-
fiscation OF the vessel and cargo.


Commander Braine, havings received assurance
that his despatch to the United States government
would be forwarded without interruption. thanked
the Governor for his courtesy and withdrew, after
In person written protest relative to
the onicers, crew and passengers OF the American
steamer Virginius.