The New York Herald Newspaper, November 13, 1873, Page 3

be Captain and Crew of the “ Virginius Executed by the Spaniards. FORTY-NINE PERSONS “SHOT TO DEATH. pate Bloody Scenes at Santi- ago de Cuba. a DEADLY GomNGS DUBING TWO DAYS. Hranchi Alfaro’s Bid for Life. Special History of the Tornado’s ‘Pursuit and Seizure of the Ship. Names of the Principal Prisoners and Desig- nation of the Place of Capture, Arrest of Passengers from New York at Havana. TELEGRAMS TO THE NEW YORK HERALD. Havana, Nov. 12, 1873, On the 7th inst. the Captain and thirty-six of the crew of the steamer Virginius were executed at Santiago de Cuba, and on the next day (8th) twelve more of the Cuban vol- unteers on the vessel were shot. Among the Benor Franchi Alfaro’s Bid for Life. 4 Havana, Nov. 12, 1873. The despatch from Santiago de Cuba, an- mouncing the execution of Captain Fry and the crew of the Virginius and twelve more of the Cuban patriots, says that Franchi Alfaro, who was among the latter number, offered the Spanish authorities $1,000,000 if they would epare his life. The Spaniards say that Alfaro came to as- ume the Presidency of the so-called Cuban Republic, 3 Passengers from New York Arrested at Havana. Havana, Nov. 12, 1873. Several passengers, both men and women, Jy the steamer City of New York, from New York November 6, which arrived here yester- Way, were arrested by the Spanish authorities on landing. It is reported that they are accused of com- plicity with the insurgents. Whe Spanish Court Martial Still in Session—Personages Who were Among the Crew—The Place of Death. Havana, Nov. 12, 1873, The court martial for the trial of those cap- tured on the Virgivuius is still in session, working with al! possible despatch. Among the crew, and disguised as firemen, were Ignacio, Alfaro, Bosa, Arce Varona, Cas- Jellanos, Pineda Mola, Boitel and other per- pons of importance, Captain Joseph Fry was manifestly aware of Bhe object of the expedition and the nature of the cargo, which he was tempted to take ‘charge of by the large sum of money offered him, thinking that there were 99 chances in 100 of his landing in safety. It is thought that this will be the final effort of the insur- rectionists, ! THE PLACE OF DEATH. The Captain and crew were shot by a squad of marines in the public square. Twelve of the insurgents were shot in front of the slaughter-house wall, yesterday morn- ing, at bal? past eleven o'clock. Colonial Press Opinion of the Panish- ment. Havana, Nov. 12, 1873, The Vor de Cuba of to-day, says editorially, that it is as humane as anybody, more so than many who make ostentatious professions of philanthropy, but it cannot do less than ap- prove of the energy displayed toward all rebels, and particularly toward those whom the filibustering steamer Virginius brought to make more bloody war in Cuba. How the Capture of the Virginius Was Accomplished=Spanish Consular De- spatch from Jamaica to Cuba=—The Tornado Sent to Sea—Her Cruise and Place ot Seizure—Names of the Principal Prisoners—The Court Martial, Sentences. and Death—American Consular Tele- graph Detained. TIAVANA, Nov. 8, 1873, ‘The capture of the Cuban expeditionist steamer Virginius by the Spanish man-of-war Tornado has Gillea the Spaniards with joy. The press is partic- glarly jubilant over the affair, and everything re- Yating to the subject is eagerly seized upon and published with great demonstrations of patriotism and joy, and the action of the authorities, precipt- date and legally hasty as it will be considered by many civilized peoples, in ordering and carrying Jato effect the execution of the principal leaders # much applauded, But I anticipate. SPECIAL HISTORY OF THE CAPTURE AND EXECUTION. ‘ I propose to give the HeraLp a succinct account drom information received up to date by the ar- Yval of the steamer Cienfuegos at Batabano, which felt Santiago de Cuba on tho 2d inst., of the move- ents and tinal capture of the Virginius and fate i the unfortunate expeditionists, The Virginius, shortly after the departure of the french steamer for Santiago de Cuba, tert Jamaica of the 24th ult, It was the intention of whe expeditionists on board to sail direct for the Yhores of Cuba, but a slight damage to the ma. shinery obliged them to euter @ port of Hayti, his they left, touching at Port au Prince (Hayti) wa another port of the same island, until the goth, +4yon which day they concluded to sail for Cuba and stlemapt the nding. On this day the Spanish Consul at Kingston wvised the Goveynor at Santiago de Cupa that | NEW ‘YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1873.—TRIPLE SHEET, the Virginins was in the vicinity or Morrant Bay, Jamaica, As it happened the Spanish man-of- war Tornado had that morning arrived at Santiago de Cuba, and Governor Burriel immediately com- municated to her Commander, Costilla, his in- formation, which caused her to leave four hours afterwards, The following day, the 3ist, the Tornado under full sailand but little steam on, as some slight repairs were being made to her machinery, came in sight of the Virginius, which probably supposed the Tornado to be a sailing vessel, a8 her course was not changed. On the Tornado every effort was made to hasten the re- pairs they were engaged in, and at two o’clock the chief engineer pronounced them completed, NEARING THE PRIZE, All steam possible was immediately got up and the vessel headed for the Virginius, soon reach- ing @ speed of fourteen knots and slowly gaming | upon her. ‘The Virginius had tn the meantime kept on her course, but, divining the hostile intentions of the Tornado, changed it towards Jamaica, and, being out of coal, commenced to burn petroleum, grease, fat and other combustibles from the provisions on board, such as hams, &c. Night closed in and the vessels were in the same relative positions, the Tornado, however, gaining upon her prey. The bright light of the full moon kept the Virginius in plain sight, and her two masts and dense clouds of smoke, on account of the nature of her fuel, were clearly visible to the slowly gaining Tornado. Further to facilitate their flight they threw over- board horses, cannon and many cases of arms and ammunition—afterwards stated to be 2,000 Reming- tons, a mitrailleuse, seven horses and a quantity of powder and small arms, BROUGHT TO, As soon as they got within gunshot the Tornado fired a gun, Jollowed by three other shots anda shell, This brought the Virginius to, and two armed boats from the Tornado came alongside, took possession of the vessel, and made prisoners of all on board, TBE AMERICAN FLAG FLYING AT THE MOMENT. At the time of the capture the Virginius was flying the American flag, but this was pulled down by the Spanish oMcer and the Spanish ensign hoisted in its place, although the papers of the vessel, duly despatched for Colon, were handed to him. ‘The vessel at the time WAS IN BRITISH WATERS and within a league, as 1am positively assured, of the coast of Jamaica. On this point all the ac- counts differ. One gives the capture as having been effected at twenty miles trom Jamaica, ana the official account ‘states twelve miles, The Diario states at twenty-three miles, journals of Santiago de Cuba eight miles and twenty miles, and the version of the Voz de Cuba twelve miles. The commander of the Tornado publicly stated in Santiago de Cuba that an hour later and the Vir- ginius could have saved herself by entering some port of Jamaica, SECURING THE PRISONERS, After the capture the next two hours were em- ployed in transferring some of the prisoners to the Tornado ana putting a prize crew on the Virgintus, THE PRINCIPAL LEADERS of the expedition were Bernabé de Varano, better known as “Bembeta,’’ Jesus del Sol, General Ryan and Pedro Cespedes, a brother of the Cuban Presi- dent, and the total number of persons on board amounted to 165, of whom 90 are said to be natives ot the island and the remainder foreigners, Of these 165 persons 63 are thought to form the crew of the steamer, and the names of the remainder are here given in continuation :— Bernabé Varona, alias Nicolas Ramirez, Bembeta. General Ryan. Joseph A, Smith, vedro Cespedes, Punlip Abeesier, Arturo Mola. William Curtis, José Diaz, Samuel Hall. Francisco de Porras. dnan Marrero., Aliredo Lopez, José Ygnacio Lamar. Andrés Villa. Andrés Acosta, Francisco Castillo. José Madeo, Francisco Gonzalez. S. Gray. Sidney Robertson. George Winters. William Marshall, Even Pento, George Burke, Leopotdo Rizo. Benjamin Olazara, Ratmundo Pardo. Lenardo Alvarez, José Pelacz. : José Hernandez. Jutlo Arango: , Y¥gnactv Quintin Beltran. Perfecto Bello, Benito Glodes, Luis Sanchez, Nicolas Ruiz, Juan Alvarado. José Boite. Ricardo Trujillo. Ramon Calv6. Agustin Varona. Silverio Salas, Salvador Penedo, Rafael Pacheco, Canuto Guerra, Camilo Sanz. Emilio Garcia, Rafael Cabrera, Ignacio W, Tapia, Santiago Rivera. Anarés Echevarria. José Maren, Pedro Pajaen, Alejandro Cruz Estrada. Juan Soto, Manuel Perez, José Antonio Ramos, Ignacio Valdez, Felix Morejon. Evaristo Zunzunegui. Antonio Chacon. se Sireno Otaro. Antonio Padilla, Indalecio Trujillo, Carles Gonzalez, Justa Consuegra, Pedro Saenz. Patricio Martinez, Manuel Saumel, Luis Rebolio, Enrique Castellanos. Alejandro Calvo, Jesus del Sol, Leon Bernal, Gil Montero, Amador Rosellé. Manuel A, Silveiro. José Otero, Antonio Gomez. Luis Martinez. Domingo Salazar, Manuel Padron, Felix Fernandez, Ramon Barrios, José Santistedan, Francisco Pacheco, Ramon Gonzalez. Francisco Rivera, Carlos Pacheco, Enrique Canals, Domingo Diaz. ! Oscar \arona, Pedro Sariol. Miguel Saya. Severo Mendive, Enrique Ayala. Domingo Rodriguez, Arturo Rivera. Carlos Marin, William 5. Valls, Ramon Rk, D, Armas, Manuel Menenses, Among these are supposed to be many other persons of importance as yet not identified, or who have adopted false names, as the names of Santa Rosa and Quesada do not appear. HOW GOT OFF FROM THE PANAMA ISTHMUS, The vessel had papers in order and was de- spatched for Colon, ail these parties appearing on thepapers as laborers for the railroad building there, BOMBETA TO THE SPANISH OFFICER. Itis stated that after being taken by the Tor- nado Bembeta addressed her commander to the following effect:—“Congratulating him on the capture he had made, and stating to him that he did not as yet comprehend its importance; that he was not aware what elements there were on board nor the effect they would produce when dis- seminated through the island, and that, possibly, the capture of the Virginius might bring about the termination of the insurrection, as it was the last effort of the Junta of New York, which had ex- pended $200,000 on the expedition, and, further, that he had over confided in the fast sailing qualities of the Virginius, as he did not believe that there was any vessel-ol-war that could match her speed—sixteen knots per hour.” It must be doubted, as it cannot be dented—as General Varona has since been executed—that he made any remarks resembling the foregoing, undoubt- edly attached to him for effect; as the Diario cun- ningly remarks, that these words of Bembeta dissipate all doubt, if any could be entertained, of the real intention of the expeditionists of the Vir- ginius, and that proofs are abundant to prove that the pursuit of the Virginius was commenced within Spanish waters and the capture effected on the high sea, twenty-three miles from the coast of Jamaica and about seventy miles irom that of Cuba. MAKING FOR SANTIAGO DE CUBA, But to continue my narrative in order, At midnight that night the two vessels started for Santiago de Cuba and arrived the following day at five o'clock in the afternoon, having been joined by the Spanish steamer Cantabro, This fact alone of seventeen hours’ steaming would tend to prove that they were at a considerable distance from Cuba and very near Jamaica, as the distance between the two islands is not much above 100 miles, IN PORT, Upon arrival inte port the intelligence spread like lightning and attracted an immense crowd of people. The government palace and other public buildings were illuminated. and all the authorities, civil aud military, went to felicitate the Governor, Burriel, upon the news, who in the evening gave a brillant reception, ‘The vessels were surrounded in the bay bya nunber of boats, filed with bands of music and cheering volunteers, The festivities were kept up late into the night. THE COURT MARTIAL. The following day (the 2d) a court martial was held on board the Tornado, which commenced at nine and terminated at four o'clock, All were | in the present instance, Mme sentences were sent to the Captain General and Admira) in sealed packets. After the Court had concluded its task, all the prisoners, with the exception of Bembeta, Jesus del Sol, General Ryan and Pedro Cespedes, wore transferred to the jail of the city, escorted by a force of 100 volunteers and @ number of marines, General Burriel, itis said, coolly asked that all the prisoners should be turned over to him, with the exce; tion of the captain and crew, who should be sent to Havana at the disposal of the Coman- dante General de Marina, and declared that within twenty-four hours afterwards all should be tried (?) and executed in order to avoid any complication with the exterior—that is, foreign intervention. AMERICAN OFFICIAL TELEGRAM DETAINED, He also detained a telegram which the United States Consul aesired to forward to the United States Consul at Kingston, reporting tne capture and inquiring as to the nationality of the Vir- ginius, HAVANA JUBILANT, As before stated, all this news was received in Havana two days ago with great rejoicings by the Spaniards, and yesterday evening two grand and brilliant serenades were offered to the Captain General and the Commanding General of Marines respectively. During the evening both of these high function- aries received the following telegram from Gen- eral Burriet, which told the fate meted out to the four principal prisoners :— BANTIAGO DE CUBA, Nov. 4, 1873. TO THE CarTaIN GENERAL AND ALL AUTHORI- TIES OF THE ISLAND REACHED BY THE TELEGRAPH, AND TO THE PRESIDENTS OF CASINOS :— At six o'clock this morning the following persons were shot to death in this city as traitors to their country and insurgent leaders :—General Bernabé de Varona; General of Division, Pedro Cespedes; Commandant General of Cienfuegos, Jesus del Sol, and General of Brigade, Mr, Washington 0. Ryan, in presence of all the corps of volunteers, forces of the army and navy and an immense crowd, which were present and kopt the greatest order and composure, CITIZEN REFLECTION. It is useless to make any comments upon this summary execution of four of the expeditionists; it only adds another page to the bloody history of the present insurrection, General Bernabé de Varona had conducted himself with remarkable senna towards the Spaniards while command- ng in the district of Camaguay, and ali prisoners taken by him were invariably treated with the greatest consideration and set at liberty. Numer- ous Spaniards are indebted to him for their lives, and it is. universally acknowledged in this island that he was as brave in battle as he was generous to the conquered, At one time he captured a party of soldiers belonging to the Battalion Habana, He not alone granted them their liberty, bat escorted them up to within a short distance of Puerto Principe, to prevent them falling into the hands of otner insurgeut bands, PA interest is greatly excited about the fate of the remaining prisoners, No further oMcial intelligence has been received from Santiago de Cuba, The telegraph is interrupted. It has been rumored that eight more of the prisoners were slot on the 5th, and that one out of every five of the prisoners would be executed, No other government under the sun would pro- ceed in this summary manner without remon- strances of some decided nature by the civilized world, And thus ends the ill-fated expedition of the Virginius, It yet remains to be seen what steps will be taken by the governments of Great Britain and the United States in regard to this matter, and if it is to be again proven that the treaty of 1795 between Spain and the United States is a dead letter. At this juncture it may be well to recall to mind THE DECREE ISSUED BY OAPTAIN GENERAL DULCE in March, 1869, which created considerable excite- Incutin the United States, and which was evoked on account of Mr. Fish, then Secretary of State of the United States, protesting against the erroncous attitude assumed by Generali Dulce, who, like most of his race, seemed to presume that Spain could threaten the world and overshadow ail nations with her power. AMERICAN OFFICIAL APPOINTMENT. The news of the appointment of Mr. Henry C. Hail as Consul General of the United States at the Island of Cuba reached Havana yesterday by tele- graph, and was received with great satisfaction by American residents, Mr. Hall has for years dis- charged the duties of Consul at Matanzas, has frequently had charge of the Havana office, and has won for bimself very general esteem. Progress of the War—-The Insurgents Repulsed. Havana, Nov, 12, 1873, Manzanillo was attacked from every direction by the insurgents in considerable force. Fighting lasted until three o'clock P. M., when the rebels Were driven off. THE HAVANA PRESS. “A Just Sentence” [From La Constancia, of Havana, November 8.) Nobody will for a moment doubt the justice of the sentence, when they learn that the four chief rebels have been executed (han sido passado por- las armas), Those who plead for the abolition of the death penalty must confess that no govern- ment could put their fine theory into practice without exposing soctety to the risk of dissolution. The democrats of the United States had to iearn this a few years since, when they executed the un- jortunate Mrs, Surratt for the crime of havin, taken part m a conspiracy with a few fanatical politicians in a plot to murder the members of the government of the Republic. We are firmly con- vinced of the necessity of dated certain crimes with death, and, notwithstanding the views of Victor Hugo and other visionaries, we believe it has never been inflicted with greater justice than The antecedents of these Risen of the Virginius are well known. The navy as fulfilled its whole duty and the tribunal the same, May God have mercy on all the unnatural sons of an affectionate and generous mother and on those who have expiated their crimes by a dis- honorable death, Miserable Pleading and Confessions, {From the Diario de la Marina, November 7.) As soon as possible alter the publication yester- day of the first news of the capture of the pirate steamer Virginius, we acknowledged in a few lines in our “offictal” column the merits of this result, which is of the first importance and may prove of transcendent consequence in favor of the peace of Cuba and the integrity of the national territory, Our navy has done many eminent services both on sea and on land since the outbreak of the rebellion at Yara, and it may well be said that during this uniuerrupted campaign of more tian five years, almost witnout parailel in history the worthy commanders, officers and subordinates of our whole force have given many proois of their persistency, their valor, seli-abnegation and con- stancy, battling against deatn and disease in order to beat the enemies of Spain; but the service which they now render cannot be sumicientiy re- compensed with either honors or goid, as the warm expression Of public opinion atiesis at this mo- ment. * * The steamer Virginius was a pirate ship, armed by the “separatists” of Cuba in the ports of the United States, which has occa- sioned great trouble to ourarmy and navy. occasion she landed a cargo of arms and filibusters under the charge of Manuel Quesada at Guaira and Puerto Cabello, which rendered consideravie ser- vice to President Guzman Blanco, Since then she has had numerous excursions which it would be useless to detati, landing on the south coast of Cuba at one time a party of Venezu- elans, headed by Rafael Quesada, which party, thanks to the difficulty of the marching, fatied to unite with the main centre of the rebel army. She next goes to Colon (Venezuela), where she be- comes the object of much dispute and objectionable criticism; and thence, alier having apparently changed her name, made frequent other attempts at landing goods, with the knowledge and consent of the government at Washington, she comes to Kingston, Jamaica, with arms and other para- phernalia of war, by means of which the Hhibusters who had sailed from New York and other points of the Union, with the avowed inten- tion of landing them on our territory, hoped to give anew impulse to the rebellion and give new energy tothe militant rebeis. The history of the Virginius during the past three years is that she has been nothing more nor less than openly piratic, $0 much 8o that it was impossible for those apprehended on board of her to boldly deny their criines, because they were confronted and con- founded with the news collected in the New York HERALD and many other American journals, con- taining the account of the departure of the ex- edition, establishing their numbers and show- ng clearly the puaishment they deserved. This evi- dence in hand, her evident destination when seen by the Tornado, and a comparison of the numbers captured on board of the Virginius, gives full proof of the criminality of those who, being born Span- jards, are enemies to Spain, and, ifno more worthy of puniahment than those filibusters by proies- siop who have taken up arms against a nation which ig not at war with the people from whom they proceed, and whose protection they renounce until the moment When they infringe the funda- mental principles Of international right and the prescriptions of the several treaties, Our corres Spondents at New York and New Orleans and the newspapers above mentioned have repeatedly given the exertions of the laborantes to send out one or more filibustering expeditions as a means ol reanimating the revels who are fighting in the Camagticy and the Kastern Department, The re- sults obtained do not correspond with the chime- rical hopes, Among the eapedicionarios above Mentioned, may be counted rebels who, with more or less prominence, have figu in all the dis- turbances on this island whi the rebellion has shown itself; and this confirms the well tounded suspicion tidt they thought to produce a new agitation in our midst, Taking this weil founded suspicton into account, We can scarcely grasp the tried a9 pirates, aud the dndines of the Court aud proportions of the thestimable service the navy hag reudered, begause it hag Undgubledly pr¢- On one | vented the agitation indicated, and perhaps annihilated the chimerical illusions of those who think that the island of Cuba will cease tobe Spanish or that it can be a miserable plaything for those who at Yara became renegades to their fathers and their country. SKETOH OP PEDRO PRANOHI DE ALFARO. This prominent Cuban patriot, wro 1s reported to have been executed at Santiago de Cuba, was born in Havana in November, 1844. His parents were old Cuban natives, occupying a high social position, His father, who was a prominent law- yer and one of the old professors as well as foun- ders of the Havana University, died in 1866. His elder brother, Ignacio, who is now in this city acting a8 secretary to Genera) Quesada, was @ wealthy merchant until the revolution broke out in the island, and became subsequently a member of the Revolutionary Junta in Havana and of the Cuban Junta in New York, under the presidency of J. Morales Lemus. The mother of the unfortunate young patriot, who was only twenty-nine years of age at the time of his death, was residing in this city until lately, but has gone to spend the winter in Havana. Sehor Franchi de Alfaro came to this country in 1852, and remained here the whole of tbe time until his departure by the last tll fated expedition, with the exception of occasional visits to Cuba, When the Cuban reyo- juvion broke out in 1868 he entered the service of the patriots and has done much valuable work for the cause, He was oneo! the warmest advocates of Cuban independence, and never was any service required of tim, no matter how dangerous, that he refused to do, risking everything that can be dear toa man in life. For along time he was the agent o1 the Cuban Republic in Nassau, N. P., where he is favorably known, While in that capacity he signaiized limsel! by skill and bravery. Among other services he performed the follow- ing:—It was urgent to cowmunicate with the patriots tn Cuba, to designate a point for landing a cargo of arms that was about to be sent to tiem by the steamer Salvador. Nobody could be found to undertake the perilous task; 80 he went himself in afishing smack, and ran the biockade in and out, in sight of Spanish cruisers, He fully accom- plished his object. He visited the Commander- in-Chief of the :evolutionary army, who designated the point o! landing. Mr. De Aliaro went afterwards to South America, and, together with General Quesada, Who recoguized his worth, he did much to promote the cause of Cuba, both in Venezuela and New Granada. He was suosequently called to New York by the agents of the Cuban Republic in the United Staves, in whose labors he bas been associated until now. Although comparatively young he was a man of rare ability, sound judg- ment and executive talent, a ready writer, an energetic, iearless and uncompromising patriot. The dead patriot was in appearance tail and slender, but of a strong, wiry constitution, capabie of suffering much and of doing an immense amount of work. In disposition he was amiable and witty, and a great favorite in refined society. A great number of friends will mourn his untimely but glorious end, Young Alfaro not President. A HERALD reporter called yesterday afternoon on Sefior Ignacio de Alfaro, brother of the dead patriot, and secretary to General Quesada. He pronounced as highly absurd the report in the papers that his brother Pedro had been sent to Cuba for the purpose of assuming the Presidency. A President of the Republic of Cuba is, like @ Presi- dent of the United States, elected by the people and not sent like a Captain General from Spain. His brother had an important position, but of what nature Sefior de Alfaro did not feel at liberty to say, for if known it would serve the purposes of the enemy. He thought that the lastreport of the additional forty-eight executions was unlortu- nately too true, and believed thatall the remainder of the expedition would be shot, tf they bad not al. ready been executed, Senor de Alfaro added:—I cannot give you a list of the crew and passengers of the Virginius, neither can General Quesada. The list will be obtained by the next steamer from Jamaica. The Virginius was to go to several places to take passengers, but we have NOT YET RECEIVED ANY INTELLIGENCE from those points. Possibly several oi those who lett New York to embark in the Virginius tn Jamaica remained at Kingston, Among the crew executed were probably Mr. P. Corvizon, the parser on board; Mr. F. F, Chamberiain, the first engineer, Who 18 an American citizen, though a native of Santiago de Cuba. He was a middle- aged gentleman, highly respected 1n his native city. Mr. Pochet, the second engineer, also a native of Santiago de Cuba and @ son of the railroad manager of that place, is probably included among the crew executed. Among the Cuban passengers who have been shot is, undoubtedly, Lieutenant Colone: Santa Rosa, the American citizen Who was liberated a few months ago irom @ Spanish dungeon at the re- quest of United States government, and per- haps the son ot General Quesada Herminio, who was 01 seventeen years of age, and left school but a few months ago. THE PEOPLE AROUSED, The Santiago Barbarity—General In- dignation Everywhere and a De- mand for Redress—Fitting Out Ves- sels at the Navy Yard—Names ef Some of the Virginius Party. it is seldom that the people of this city have been aroused to such a feeling of vindictive indig- Dation as was experienced by them yesterday upon the announcement of the execution by the Spaniards at Santiago de Cuba of forty-eight others of the crew and passengers of the American steamer Virginius, and the arbitrary arrest and im- prisonment of passengers—American citizens— on the regular mail steamer, plying between New York and Havana. It was everywhere construed a8 an intentional and deflant outrage against the lives, hberty and property of American citizens, and thousands of people who counselled modera- tion @ few days since, when Ryan, Bembetta and others were butchered, have cast off their leniency of disposition and avow that no mere apology or diplomatic dickering will atone for so shameiess, even barbaric, a crime, Atew days since Mr. Hamilton Fish announced that he had taken measures to prevent any further reckless effusion of blood. This was a day or two after the receipt of tne news of the first execu- tious, Now that the utility of his preventive | measures is demonstrated people universally de- | mand that summary measures shall be resorted to, Jn hotels, cavés, saloons, club houses and on | s et corners there was no other public tupic dis- cussed. AT THE CUBAN RESORTS the feeling was one ol extreme surrow, and asa | rule it was very noticeable that they abstained from the expression o! any vioient opinions, But beneath the reserve which they maintained conid readily be detected a feeling of hope for the future and a belief that the critical and for- tnnate crisisin the history of the rebellion had come at last. They have desired for years that the United States migut interfere; but botwithstand- ing many light affronts which were offered our flag no action was taken. Now they think the United States must interfere in her own behalf, ‘hey | further express the belief that the lives of the men | who have been slain couid not in any other man- | ner have been of more signal service to the cause, A MONSTER MASS MEETING of Americans, and under American ausptces, will be organized and held this week to protest against | the outrage on humanity at large and to demand | of the government immediate measures to avenge the insult thus recklessly hurled in the aation’s face. The “Amigos de Cuba”? swarmed at their heal- quarters in Exchange place yesterday, all the prominent members of the organization being present and actively engaged in their preparations for the fitting out of an expediton. It is just likely, however, that, should the government as- sume a war attitude, they will delay their expedi- tion and throw their forces in a body into the hands of the United States, to be used ag A DISTINCTIVELY CUBAN ORGANIZATION, regimental or brigade, believing that in this way they could be made more effective. There is no doubt whatever that one or two good regiments could be recruited in a week in this city under government auspices, thus relieving the Cubans of the embarrassment they are now subjected to by being compelled to move secretly. In addition to this they argue that such a battalion, being com- posed of acciimatized persons, woul endure double the fatigue which any similar number of unaccli- mated individuals could withstand, Great satisfaction was expressed by all classes of people yesterday alternoon at the announce- ment that the government had ordered the tume- diate fitting out of A STRONG NAVAL FORCE, to be despatched with all possible celerity to Cuban waters. It was accepted as an evidence that the government would really take some posi- tion of honor on the question, The orders include vessels at most of the principal navat stations on this coast, Beginning with Philadelphia, the monti- tor Manhattan has been ordered ready for sea by to-morrow, s THE VioTIMs. Numerous attempts were made hgh a to ob- tain the list of persons on board the Virginius at the time of her capture, but were unavailing. It is stated by Cuban officials here that the roster of the crew and passengers has not yet been for- warded irom Jamaica. [tis certain, however, that she had upward of 110 souls on board, and that but haifa dozen orso of those Who weut to Jamaica to jo the Virginins were left behind, or these three backed out from the voyage and three were lying sick trom fever when’ the Virginius sailed from Kingston, among tho latter a son of Dr. Arango, of this city, The entive party sailed on the Atlas from this port. Sefor Arango has | Spirits or sounder condition. lesio Trujilo, Ricardo Trajillo, Enrique Canals, Juan Alvarado, Andres Acosta, Perfecto A. Bello, Julio Arango, Ramon Oulvo, Serafin Rodriguez, Baie Castellanos, Guillenno Valz, Joaé Hernan- dez, Miguel Ramirez, Arturo, han) Oscar de Va- rona, Agustin de Varona, Emilio Garcia, José M. Lamar, Pedro Alfaro, José Rubiera, Simon Gratz and Edward Scott. From other sources the reporter obtained the following additional names :—‘Colonei” Jack Har- ris, Colonel Boitel Herminio Quesada, Gilo Mon- tero and Santa Rosa, ‘There is nothing at present to show how many of the persons named above are still living, though it is ofMfclaily reported that some of them have been executed. Four of this number are CERTAINLY AMERICAN CITIZENS, and two of them had already declared their inten- tions to become citizens and had obtained their “rst papers.” Enrique Castellanos was na- turalized in the Supreme Court of this county, and had resided nearly seven years here. Colonel Jack Harris was an American, and it is believed a native of Vermont. He rose to the rank of major during the late war in the federal service. Edward Scott is alad of perhaps eighteen or nineteen years of age, and was born at Salem, Mass. Scott occupied the post of lamp trimmer on the steamship Atlas, and being young and inexperienced, was fascinated by the promise of adventure and excitement which the expe- ditionary party expected to encounter. On the arrival of the Atias at Kingston he left the ship with the party, and joined his fortunes, and prob- ably his fate, with theirs in THE ILL-STARRED VIRGINIUS enterprise. Simon Gratz is also an Ameri: nativity, but the reporter could learn no particulars concerning him, Jt is also positively known that six of the crew of the Virginius were Engiish seamen. If it be true that the whole crew were executed, this gives England a chance to say a word or two. Captain Joseph Fry, tue Captain of the Virginius, who is reported by name among the killed, was about fifty-two years of age and a@ native of Louisiana. He was a seafaring man by profession, and during the late war commanded the blockade runner Agnes. For some years past he has re- sided at-Albany, in this State, n by ther Judge Pierrepont on the Cuban Mas- sacre. A HERALD reporter had the good fortune to meet the learned Judge yesterday in Wall street, and asked what His Honor thought about the reported execution of fifty-two of the Virginius’ crew and passengers. Judge PIERREPONT—I would rather suspend my opinion for the present. I can hardly believe that this horrible news is true, It is scarcely possible that a nation like Spaln, claiming a high rgnk among the civilized Powers of the earth, would be guilty of such a wholesale slaughter, Let us wait until the particulars of the news shall have reached the government, The administration will act with justice and firmness. The Secretary of State must be careful to take no grounds from which he might subsequently be obliged to retreat. The peo- ple are doubtless impatient for action on the part of the government. That they will have in good time. The fag of our Union must always be preserved inviolate, whatever the cost may be, The ensign of a nation of 40,000,000 of freemen shall be respected. The young Republic of Spain is a Power struggling for existence in the midst of monarchical Europe, and, asasister nation having republican institutions like our own, she is entitled to American sympathy. But that will not prevent our government from acting with firmness and energy if itbe found, alter proper mvestigation, that American rights have been invaded or our fag insulted by the mis- guided men who represent—say, rather, misrepre- sent—the Spanish government in Cuba. GENERAL MANUEL QUESADA, the accredited agent of the Cuban Republic, was the next gentleman visited, for the purpose of learning his views about the dreadiul tidings pub- lished in the evening press. General Quesada said that he believed the Span- jards capable of anything. He remarked that the news came by way of New Orleans and not by Key West. This circumstance, he thought, was singular, and left room to hope that the news might prove tobe untrue, For his own part he would decline to believe it unless confirmed by subsequent tele- grams, the arrivalof which he was waiting with intense anxiety. Buteven il the dreadful rumors should prove true—a thing not to be wondered at, when we consider into whose hands the unfortunate men of the Virginius fell—tne. struggle for Cuban | independence would go on all the same. When one man falls-in the breach another will be found to step into his place, It isa lamentable misfortune to lose one’s fellow patriots and friends in a shock- ing manner hke this, but by the blood of martyrs are the liberties of the peoples secured. ‘rhe reporter asked General Quesada if he had geen @ report wherein it was alieged that the Cubans in the United States had no confidence in him as confidential agent of the Cuban Republic. The General said that he had noticed a para- graph ofan interview containing statements some- thing fike those above indicated. He paid hut lit- tle heed to such statements. He represented the legitimate government of Cuba. The Cu- bans themselves iramed that government by their electoral suffrages. Tiose who were not in favor of the government, which all patriotic Cubans acknowledged and obeyed, or who did not support its properly accredited representatives, could not be jriends of Cuba. He hiinself owed no enmity to any Cuban who would assist the cause of the country; and any one who, ata time like this, would introduce the demon of discord, or withhold a hearty co-operation with the agency under such trying circumstances as the present, could be little less, whether intentionally or not, than @ Spaniard at heart and a traitor to his country, SENOR MIGUEL ALDAMA sald, nreply to the inquiries of a HERALD re- porter, that ne was periectly horrified to learn the news in the alternoon press. He would rather, however, not believe it true. Indeed the Span- jards bad committed many bioody deeds, but sel- dom had anything like this disgraced the pages of @ nation’s history, at least during the present gen- eration, It was to be noted that the telegram came by way of New Urleans. This was singular. It | ought to have come by Key West, irom Ha- | vana direct. He would, on that account, | rather not believe the news until something very definite was heard, If true, it was a soul-harro: ing deed of blood that cried aloud for vengeance. Tne United States would now surely take a decided attitude, It was plain that the American and Eng- lish fags had both been insuited, and the govern- ments of these nations, in defence of their own na- tional honor, would be compelled to demand satis- Jaction from Spain for the outrages committed against the persons of their citizens and the dig- nity of their flags. As tothe Cubans, while they Mourned the untimely loss of their friends, they were determined to continue the fight to the bitterend. Any expedition that might be captured would speedily be succeeded by another more | formidable than the one beiore it. The crew of the Virginius, but 120 men, would at once be replaced | by many more who would voiunteer for their coun- | try’s service at a moment’s notice, hours alter the news of the capture more than 600 men volunteered to go out on an expedition, COLONEL MACIAS said that all the Cubans want ts means of trans- portation. If they had that, 4,000 men of the Cubans alone could be embarked at once. The Cuvans, far irom despairing, were never in better Reports irom the field showed how the government troops were losing ground, They were being driven trom the field in ali directions, aud the centre of the entire tern Department was in the hands of the | Cubans, The Spaniards were now demoralized and shunned the combat. If these dreadtul tidings | were true, 1b was a last bloody effort of the Span- | iards to overawe the Cubaus, This could not be | accomplished; and the Spaniards, by this awful | tragedy, had but sealed their own inevitable jate— | expuision irom the great Antile, A prominent Cuban gentleman, who formerly served with distinction in the Spanish navy, | thought that the news of the massacre in Cuba might be true. He was well acquainted with SPANISH MARINE ORDINANCES, and believed that, according to them, the Spaniards | might commit the crime against humanity of trying all on board the Virginius, crew and passengers, as pirates, and might therefore execute them ail, He gave the following extract from a decree of the Captain Geueral, issued in 1569, which order was directed to the port captains in different parts of the island, This law was circulated by the Admiral in Havana, Vid. i— from this date all the ports of the island of Cuba are declared blockaded to coasting and foreign comm excepting those hereinafter expressed, wo witi—Havana, Matanzas, Cardenas, a, Cienfuegos; all those where custom houses and tortifications are to be found. Itis Drought to the notice to the commerce of the district and to that of the chiets of naval stations, that all vessels at- tempting to enter any of those ports must be taken and towed tu Ihe nearest port, to be tried as violators jof the laws of blockade and punished accordingly. ‘The same gentieman states that at least six of the men on board the Virgintus were British sub- jects, shipped in Kingston, and that doubtiess tuey are among those recently executed, SENOR MARTINEZ HERNANDEZ, a Cuban merchant of high standing and much in- fluence, who has generously contributed lis money and time to the cause of his country, says that his soul is aflicted at the news just received from Cuba; but sanguinary deeds of violence wil be sure to yet rise in judgment against their perpetrators, Tue Cubans have this year senf more men and arms to the aera in the field than at any equal time before. the men in the field have inflicted more loss upon the enemy thaftdhas been done since the first year of the war, Recent losses will soon be replaced by new reinforcements and the war will continue to be prosecuted with vigor, The world knew his opinion, which was given a month alter the out- break of hostilities; that was that the beginniag of the end of Spanish rule in America had been In- augurated on the 10th of October, 1868 Tue last man and-the last dollar would be cheerfully sacri- ficed by Cubans to achieve that independence for which they were now fighting a sities SENO! PLUTARCO GON: ES, a gentleman of Cuban birth, who has long beon a citizen o/ the United States, and a very sincere and Intwenty-iour | } «merce with the United States o! of Cuba, the American flag had been a: the mire by the bloodthirsty volunteers of Havana, Itisa di to the manhood of our giant repae lic to allow ourselves to be spat upon by the over- bearing, haughty Spaniard. The Germans on the Cuban Question— Demanding an Energetic and Vigore ous Policy Toward Spa: The German Democratic General Committee hela ameeting at the Teutonia Assembly Rooms last night, for the parpose of discussing the results of the late elections, Several congratulatory Speeches Were made and resolutions of the same nature were adopted. A resvlution, introduced by H. Hausler, was also adopted by @ unanimous vote, calling on the United States government, after it has been the first to iat poe the Spanish Repybiic, to det now that liberty lovitig citizens of that 8 Repubiic are not to be treated in the same manner as When ancient despotism ruled in Spain, and that, by the history and position Of our govern- ment, it 18 in duty bound to adopt an energetic and vigorous policy in that direction, On motion of Dr, GERKE @ resolution was also passed embodying an appeai to the charitaple public, iinpressing the same with the urgency of organized aid for the suffering, in view of the threatening destitution among a large class Of our population during the coming winter, WAR FEELING IN BROOKLYN, The Vessels Available for Service at the Navy Yard. ‘The most intense excitement prevailed in Brooke lyn yesterday alternoon upon the announcement of the startling barbarity of the Spanish authori- ties in Cuba in extinguishing the iives of the un- fortunate officers and crew of the ill-fated steamer Virginius at Santiago de Cuba. Some of the local bulletins intimated that the United States government contemplated taking immediate measures to show their determination to stop at once further display of reck- less and sanguinary contempt for human life, and disregard for the amenities which should distinguish the action of one friendly nation towards another, in the treatment of alleged offend- ers against the neutrality laws. The feeling of indignation was intensifled because of the in- decent haste displayed by the Spaniards at a juncture when the American government was aoing all in its power to peaceably comprehend and settle x THE OUTRAGE COMMITTED in the slaughter of the first four unfortunate men of the Virgimius, Rumor had it that several vessels of war had been ordered to be placed in readiness for service at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and a reporter of the HBRALD repaired thither to ascertain the truth or falsity of the iniormation. Naval Inspector Hanscome said, when questioned upon the subject, that if despatches had been received from Wash- ington to fit out additional war vessels he knew nothing of it. There might have been such with- out nis knowledge. At all events there are FOUR VESSELS at this station whose services could be made avail- able upon very short Lotice. The steam sloop of war Kansas, which arrived here from Aspinwall a week ago, has undergone a few slight repairs and is ready for sea. The Kansas wanted to obtain stores from the'In- spector but would not make requisition upon that official Orders came yesterday from the Department to furnish her with‘requisite stores, ‘he steam sloop Ossipee, third rate, is in perfect. trim tor service any where she may be needed, The steam sloop of war Juniata, Commander D. L. Braine, recently returned from the Polaris Search Expedition, has undergone. @ few needed repairs and is awaiting orders. The steam sloop of war Powhatan (side wheel) is also nearly Sal for sea. There are other vessels here that could be made avatiable for service upon very short notice. One thing is certain, there will be no scarcity of men, should the emergeucy arise, to perform the labor o! fitting out ships of war at this station. The 600 men who were discharged from the Navy Yard last week are Auxiouay expecting re-employ- ment, in view of the possibility of their service being required. ‘A reporter called upon Admiral Rowan, who was seated in his office at the Lyceum, in conversation with Admiral Porter, and questioned him concern- ing the reported reception of orders to fit out the available vessels. ‘he result of the inquiries made Was that no despatches had been received from the Navy Department upon the subject. INDIGNATION IN BALTIMORE. Soldiers of the Late War Anxious to Go to Cuba—A Mass Meeting to Be Held. . BALTIMORE, Md., Nov. 12, 1873, Sefior Camejo, the agent of the Cuban Republic in Baltimore, stated to-night to the HERALD cor- respondent that the news of the slaughter at Santiago de Cuba, although only received this afternoon, had greatly increased the excitement on the subject. Within a few hours he had received twenty-five additional offers of recruits for the Cuban army, who were anxious to start at once and would provide all their own arms and ammunition. Most of these were Americans and all of them soldiers of the late war, Camejo refers all to Quesada, at New York, An indiguation meeting will be calied here, and from the temper of the public sentiment it is anticipated that lt will be attended by thou- sands of Americans and that earnest pleas for in- terierence between Cuba and Spain will be made to the administration at Washington. Comejo states that he can name only two o! the Virginius’ passengers who have been executed. These were Petro balloand Manuel Meneses. Ballo was a Cu- ban refugee, Who came to Baltimore two years ago and left here a month since to meet the Vir- ginius ata South American port, Meneses was a@ Cuban, who had been estavlished as a dentist in New York and abandoned business to join the patriot army. Both were young men and of ex- cellent families in Cuba, THE NEWS OF THE EXECUTION IN NEW ORLEANS, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 12, 1873, The news of the execution of forty-eight of the Virginius prisoners creates considerable excite- ment here and is the subject of gen- eral conversation to-night. Captain Joseph Fry, the commander of the Virginius, was a native of Florida and was forty-six urs ofage., He entered the Naval Academy at jolis in 1844, and rematned in the navy until when he resigned and entered the Confed- erate service, He leaves nere a wile and seven children, the oldest a cripple and the youngest only ‘our years of age. THE SLAVE POWER IN OUBA, 1 de Armas Cespedes. New York, Nov. 12, 1873, To THe Epitor or THe HERALD:— Str—According to the Washington despatch published to-day fn your infuential journal, Gen- eral Grant, at a Cabinet meeting yesterday, said that it was time to interfere between Spain and Cuba, and alluded to the Elliot treaty forced upon the Isabellists in their war against the Carlists in 1834. It is farther added that “this precedent was not generally known, and its announcement to- day was an agreeable surprise to all the members of the Cabinet.” The undersigned begs leave to enclose you a let» ter which, on the 3d of June, 1870, he addressed in London to Lord Clarendon, in which that treaty is alluded to, and the pamphlet he published in New York last year, entitled “Position of the United States on the Cuban Question,” addressed princi- pally to the United States Congress, in which aiso the same treaty is spoken of. Now that something similar to it in regard to the war in Cuba is pro- posed by General Grant himself, let me suggest that such action, if adopted, should not be of a dilatory character, which is customary in diplomatic trans- actions, but should have a summary aod rapid execution, When England took such a step in the Carlist war she lost no time. In the latter part of March, 1844, the execution of two Curlists seize from an English vessel took place, and on the 10th of June, very few weeks bbs the treaty was signed by both contending parties— Carhsts and Isabellists. It should also be borne in Mind that when England acted in such @ manner in favor of the Cariists, obraiate in their behalf the conducting of the war on civilized principles, she was nevertheless the allied iriend of tne Isa- bellists; so much so that she assisted them with 10,000 soldiers and $20,000,000, through which aid the latter were able at last to conquer. For my, part t Can scarcely hope for the media- tion of the American government in the Cuban question in favor of humanity and civilization, Cuba, under the power of the Spanish slave trad- ers, under the rule of ay sustains a com- hoo, 000 Feary, and the American merchants interes: in this jimmense business, either established in the isiand. or resident in this country, will always have more. influence in Washington, atded py the Spanish Con- sul, the son-in-law Of Secretary Fish, to preserve, with every kind of pretext, the Queen of the An- tilles under the dominion of the Slave power than those in favor of independence can hope to have with nothing to aid them except the heroism of the struggling Cubans and the justice of their noble An Letter from Gener cause, Cuba at last will be free by its own efforts, ont pee ret ad to Ww York, and ye: da '. el on ev Caban cause, Was emphatic in | probably not until the island has been ruinea, M: nished a HERALD reporter with the Tat 4 ‘Ot the Ms. deuanorations oe what considered the | only hope of ascstance from the United States vies following persons, all of whom, he is confident, | truculent and cowardly foreign policy of Secretary | in an ardent appes: to the nation by the united were ou the Virginius at the time she was | Fish. Through the weakness and | press. Yours vespectiaty, pa Selagdi—Saivador Penede. Alejandro Caloo, Indy J gemtiomay’s course lowards Boab 1a his 1, DE SRMAS CESPEDER,