The New York Herald Newspaper, November 25, 1873, Page 3

THE HUMILIATION, Work on the Iron-Clads Suspended by Order of the Seere- tary of the Navy. Minister Sickles’ Anxiety to Report the Friendliness of His Relations. Wot Even an Opinion Given by Him on the Na- tional Question. BRITISH WAR VESSELS AT SANTIAGO, he Butcher Burrie! Embarks on Board the Trinidad for Havana, NEWS FROM MADRID. epee TELEGRAMS TO THE NEW YORK KERALD. Minister Sickles’ Attitade—Denial of the Truth of Recent Reports—A Complaint by the Spanish Press. Loxpon, Nov. 24, 1873, The agent of the Associated Press here is autho- rived by Minister Sickles to say that there is no foundation for the report published in New York, on the 2ist, to the effect that he (Mr. Sickles) had broken off social relations with the Foreign Minis- ter, and that he expressed the opinion that war was inevitable. The agent is authorized to state there is no foundation whatever for the despatch ; that the official and personal relations between Minister Sickles and the Spanish officials are un- changed, and that Mr. Sickles has not expressed any opinion as to the result of the pending gues- thon. The Spanish press complain that the enemies of Spain telegraph false news to the United States, Captain General Jovellar Promises Pres- ident Castelar the Obedience of Cuba, MaDniIp, Nov. 24, 1873. President Castelar has received a despatch from Captain General Jovellar assuring the home goy- ernment that the authority of the Republic will be obcyed in the island of Cuba, NEWS FROM CUBA, TELEGRAM TO THE NEW YORK HERALD, British Vessels at Santingo de Cuba— General Burriel] Embarks for Havana Without Receiving the British Com- modore De Horsey. HAVANA, Nov. 24, 1873, The British gunboat Woodlark arrived at Sant. fago de Cuba on the 18th, and on the following day the ship-of/war Danae, with Commodore De Horsey, senior officer at Jamaica, on board, arrived from Port Royal. General Burriel embarked on the steamer Trinidad for Havana before Commo- Gore De Horsey came ashore, IMPORTANT FROM WASHINGTON. The Secretary of the Navy Department Countermands Previous Orders. WASHINGTON, Nov. 24, 1873. The Secretary of the Navy to-day directed that orders be issued to suspend work on the iron-clads, and to detach from the large vessels recently or- dered into commission aj] officers, to await fur- ther orders, Transportation of ordnance stores to Key West will also be stopped. There is no possibility, it is sald, of settling the diplomatic controversy between Spain and the United States for many months to come, which ac- counts for the orders for retrenchment. Lieutenant Colonel! James Forney, of the Marine corps, while the Spanish war fever was at its height, applied for permission to take command of a battalion of marines, The war cloud having blown over, the order for the formation of the battalion has been counter- manded. Had there been occasion for the services of the battalion, it is understood that Lieutenant Colonel Forney would have been assigned to the command, a Marshal Serrano Said Te Be the Coming Man in Spain—The War Feeling De- clining, but the Naval Preparptiois Go On—Speculations as to Where the Spaniards Would Attack Us and Their Poor Chances Against Us—Naval Con- tacts, . WASHINGTON, Nov. 24, 1873, There ig nothing realiy new to-day in regard to Spanish affairs except the intimation, merely through British sources, of a proba- bility of Marsha! Serrano being declared military dictator. It will be recollected that Marshal Serrano was, in the summer of 1872, charged with the formation of a Cabinet. At that time he was in the Pyrenees, at the head of the forces operating against the Carligts. An uniorseen phase in the witnation was suddenly caused by an order issued by him granting extremely liberal terms to the Carlists in Navarre, in which it was stipulated they should immediately cease hostilities and give up their arms. THIS ACT OF CLEMENCY, assumed to be the result of an understanding with the Carlist chiefs in the Basque provinces, was at once characterized and denounced as the conven- tion of a muviger vieja (old woman), and 80 violent and universal were the expressions of disapproval it encountered that even the President of the Council ad interim, Admiral Topete, yielded to the pressure ¥0 far as to admit, in his place ‘in the Chamber of Deputies, that public opinion had found just occasion for alarm in the reported terms tn the transaction. This declaration was immediately followed by the resignation of Marshal Serrano, not only of his military command, but ‘wiso Of tne Presidency of the Council of Ministers, The return of the Marshal to the capital at once re- stored his prestige. His late colleagues heard his explanation and assured him of their support. The Cabinet of Marshal Serrano left oMce after the very brief tenure, even in Spain, of seven days. With this Cabinet the United States succeeded im adjust- ing several of the questions then pending between the two countries, ABATEMENT OF THE WAR FRELING—OUR NAVAL DE- FENCES IN CASE OF NEED, ‘The war feeling in Washington seems to be npon the decline, although naval preparations are as active as ever and large numbers of officers are being detatied for duty daily. Three iron-clads will be ready for sea in ten days and four or five more ‘will be ready in six weeks. Much has been said about the formidable Spanish iron-clads entering our porte in case of a war with Spain; but old and experienced naval oficers here express the opinion that no one of the Spanish iron-clads or any armored ship of the foreign Powers could enter New York “Marden except in case of an extraordinary tide, and then great care would have to be exer- cised, Evey i they phoUld get in they Would be NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1873—TRIPLE SHEET. lke a stranded whale and fall an easy prey. The great draught of these vessels—none of them drawing less than 26 feet—renders them of no use, except in very deep water. About the only port on our coast which they could enter without trouble would be Newport, R. I. It has been argued that, in case of a war with Spain, the policy of the Spaniards would be to attack our ports along the | Coast, but this is not believed by our naval officers, ‘They express the opinion that TEE SPANISH NAVY WOULD QONCENTRATE ABOUT CUBA with a view to prevent an attack by the American forces on that island, Should they attempt to come on our coast they would be used up very soon, The Spaniards would no doubt make every attempt to break up our commerce on the high seas; but our wooden vessels would not be en- Urely useless, a8 many suppose would be the case. Armed, as many of them are, with 11 and 15-inch guns, they would be eMicient to a great extent in protecting our commerce against Span- ish vessels of similar construction which would be used to prey upon American commerce. It must be borne in mind, too, that several of THE BEST IRON-CLADS WHICH SPAIN HAD ARE ‘NOW IN THE HANDS OF THE INTRANSIGENTES at Cartagena, and before they could be used against us some arrangement would have to be made by the Spanish government to reconcile this dis- orderly element at home and regain possession of the vessels, which is not at all probable. Every Spanish ship captured or disabled by one of our vessels wonld be out Of the way entirely, as their places could not be supplied, the “Spanish Republic being very poor and heavily in debt, Hence it is believed their navy would soon be destroyed, Most of the vessels they now have were built in either England or France, and as the means for furnishing iron alone suitable for a ship’s armor are very limited in Spain, they could not carry on the building of vessels of war to any extent, while we could easily send out new and powerlul ones frequentiy. The wooden frigates of Spain are inferior to ours and would not be able to wage a successful ight with American vessels of this class. CONTRACTS AWARDED BY THE NAVY DEPARTMENT. John Roach was at at the Navy Department to- day and received a contract for building engines and machinery for the new sloop-of-war at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. He was the lowest bidder at $630,000, The Navy Department has lately given a contract to Mr, Cramps, of Philadelphia, to re- pair the iron-clad Nantucket, Also to the Harlan | & Hollingworth Company, of Wilmington, Del., for the repair of the Lehigh, and to Jonn Roach for the repair of the Passaic and the Jason. John Roach has contracts for two new sloops-of-war at $580,000; engines and machinery for the Teunes- see, $300,000; repair of four monitors (Passaic, Jason, Wyandotte and Nahant) at $720,000; engine lor a torpedo boat at $200,000 or $300,000; two en- gines at 1,000. He has out of the $3,200,000 ap- propriated for the new sloops-of-war contracts to the amount of $895,000, NAVAL PREPARATIONS, The Peacefal Turn in the Tide of Affairs Not Apparent at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Notwithstanding the change in the tone of the administration organs from a warlike air to that of piping peace, there is no falling off in the order of preparations at the Navy Yard of this station, The business of each department is being prose- cuted with unwonted vigor, and when the daylight fades the gas burners are lit, and the profits of the gas company are increased a hundred@fold, The mechanics are doing well, and are earning consid. erable mouey in making over time. The yard yes- terday wae in @ shockingly muddy condition, as is always the case during rainy weather, This state of affairs could be readily remedied at the trifling expenditure of the amount requisite to pave the streets. It is not creditable to the government to permit such a neglect to exist so long on such an important station, Plenty of lavorers and pavers are now out of employment: who would gladly serve Uncle sam by laying a proper pavement and Cleaning the yard thoroughly were the opportynity afforded them. Owing to | the storm and the lull in the war excitement there were not many visitors to the yard yesterday other than prominent ward politicians, adherents of the administration, who came to urge the em- ployment of certain party workers “here, there or elsewhere’ in the Navy Yard, All these men are indignant with the Secretary of State for weaken- ing in the attitude taken upon the Cuban ques- tion. There were all sorts of rumors circulated to the effect that work would be aiscontinued upon the Cdlorado, Minnesota, hes Roanoke and Dictator, as there was no longer any danger of war. Inquiry made by the writer of Captain Ransom, however, showed that, as above stated, the work of preparation wouid be pushed forward with all possible vigor, and ae hoped to have the Colorado ready to go into com- mission in the early part of next week. The only delay will be to obtainacrew. She will require 600 men to make Up her complement. Recruit- ing is progressing slowly, seamen being scarce. Of landsmen any number can be shipped, but green hands require so much drilling that they are of little use on @ man-ol-war for other than laboring purposes, It was eabpoved that the moni- tor Dictator, which was brought on here from New London, was nearly ready for service, but upon a careful examination it bas been found that the bolts are drawn irom her boilers, and it will re- quire three weeks’ labor to fit her out, THE ARAPILES Spanish fron-clad, remains on the dry dock at the yard. Yesterday a mechanic who was at work on the vessel enlived the monotony of the occasion by what is termed in common parlance “taking a fall out” of one of the officers of the iron vessel. he i Don who was subjected to the ind! a closely inspecting the work upon which the me- chani¢ was engaged, when he suddenly exclaimed, with an al? of con t and disgust, “No id; tee work 3a flees ee sade 3 “what {SMe you Say} ately Yetorted th Wornian. “No good, no good!” repeated the officer. “Take that, then, you Spanish —— and see if it’s any good,” said the pugilistic mechanic as he dealt the Spanish officer a telling blow on the jaw, knocking him down. Of course the workman Jost his job, but he claims THE FIRST KNOCKDOWN, The work on the Arapiles is being done by men from the Delamater Iron Works, of New York. In the spar shop, of which Mr. Dodge 1s master, there are 40 men engaged in turning Out the mastg and yards required for the bap and Swatara. In the blockmakeré’ snop, OF which W. H. Gleavy is master, work 1s pushed forward night and da; turning out blocks of the most modern and roved pattern, together with panelling, railin; c. It will be no fault of the 40 skilled men in this shop if the Spanish game of “injury and insuit” is not blocked. They are willing to contribute their share to the success of the navy. The tron-clad shop, boat house, oakum mill and other workshops are in juli blast. Naval Assignments. WASHINGTON, Nov. 24, 1873, Commander Edward P. Lull has been ordered to temporary duty in command of the torpedo station at Newport, R. 1. Master Joseph R. Hobson to the Despatch. Pay Director ©. J. Emery, to duty as inspector of provisions, &c., at the Boston Navy Yard, Paymaster W. N. Watmough to the Brooklyn. Chiet Engineer E. B. Latch, to duty as mechanic of the Board for the Inspection of Ships, Lieutenant N. R. Smith has been detached from ordnance duty at the Boston Navy Yard and ordered to Key West for duty as inspector of ordnance. Lieutenant H. E. Nichols, from the Idaho, of the Asiatic squadron, and ordered to return home and report arrival. Lieutenant Jefferson F. Moser has been detached from special duty at Washington and ordered to the Despatch as executive officer. Lieutenant Seaton Schroeder from the Canan- daigua and ordered to the Pinta, Pay Director George Davis trom duty as inspec. tor of provisions, &c., at the Boston Navy Yard and ordered to the flagship of the North Atlantic station and also as fleet paymaster of that station. Assistant Paymaster Z. J, Brown from the Navy Yard at Portsmouth and ordered to the Pinta, First Assistant Engineer H, H, Clive from the Canandaigua and placed on sick leave, Philadelphia Navy Yard—A Force of 1,300 Men at Work—Progress on Mon tors=Vessels Chartered for Carryin, Stores—Clothing Ordered by the War Department. PHivapenrata, Pa,, Nov, 24, 1873, There are 1,300 men now employed at the Navy Laiarw. Rue mgnitor Algx was Haken off she Op. uly Sous oF Ave Would obtain absolute liber iy. | dock yesterday, and the Terror takes her place to- day. The monitors Nantasket and Jason have been sent to private yards for repairs, It is re- ported that all the monitors at League Island wil be put in order at once, VESSELS CHARTERED TO CARRY STORES. The Navy Department this afternoon chartered from Stephen Flanagan & Co., one of our largest vessel owners, their largest tug. It will be lagen with naval stores and start to-morrow for Fernan- dina, Fla, It is then to be used ag @ despatch boat. Agents of the Navy Department also chartered this aiternoon three of the largest and best schooners they could find here to load with naval stores to take to Key West. These schooners will carry 4,800 tons, ORDERS FOR CAVALRY AND INFANTRY CLOTHING. Orders were received at the Arsenal to-night to make up an additional stock of cavalry and in- fantry clothing. The Arsenal is now filled with clothing left over after the end of the rebellion, but the War Department evidently thinks there is not enough stock on hand, ‘The Philadelphia Arsenal has the largest stock of clothing of any similar im- stitution in this country. Charlestown Navy Yard—A Force of 2,105 Men Employ Boston, Nov. 2%, 1873. ‘The following is a list of the workmen employed in the Charlestown Navy Yara:—In the Uonstruc- tion Department, 1,078 men ; in the Civil Engineers’ Department, 272 men; in the Steam Engineers’ De- partment, 361 men; in the Equipment Depart- Ment, 208 men; ip the Ordnance Department, 87 men; in the Provisions and Clothes Department, 9 men. Total, 2,105. On Saturday 100 new employés in the dry dock were discharged, while an equal force Was added to the Steam Engineers’ Depart- ment. Itis expected that the Franklin will be ready for sea in two weeks. Torpedoes tor the Saco, at the Phila- delphia Navy Yard. Newrorr, Nov. 24, 1973. A large number of torpedoes for the Saco, at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, are being sent from the torpedo station, via New York. The Ossipee and Mahopac Lying OF Fortress Monroe. FORTRESS MONROE, Nov. 24, 1873. The United States steamer Osstpee, convoying the monitor Mahopac, has arrived from the Nor- folk Navy Yard, and both are anchored off the fort. A WITNESS OF THE MURDERS, een ante eee A New Yorker Telis the Story—Imprison- ment of G. W. Sherman, a United States Citizen, for Making a Sketch of the First Execution—Cavairy Horses Ridden Over the Corpses of the Mur- dered Men, Among the passengers from Havana, on the last voyage of the mail steamer City of New York was Mr. George W. Sherman, an American citizen who Was present at Santiago de Cuba upon the occasion of the recent frightful massacre or the crew and passengers Of the American steamship Virginius. Yesterday afternoon a HERALD reporter paid a visit to the National Hotel, in Corflandt street, and alter scanning the numerous visitors seated in the reception room saw among them a dark com- plexioned gentleman, wearing @ ‘“chalico” vest, with “‘vecerro birado” shoes and a large pith hat, or sombrero. In answer to @ question from the reporter Mr, Sherman, for such he proved to be, replied that he had arrived from Santiago de Cuba, where he had been imprisoned by the Span- ish authorities for taking sketches of the butchery of the first victims—viz., José Jesus del Sol, Pedro Cespedes, General W. A. C. Ryan and General Bérnabé Varona, The following is the story given by Mr. Sher- man:— A GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION. “7 have been residing for some time back in San- tiago de Cuba, and saw several of the wholesale executions or butcheries, Iwill give you the fol- lowing details of the first four men killed, pre- facing it with the remark that I saw the Virginius brought into the port of Santiago de Cuba, on the evening of the 1st inst,, the time being five o'clock as nearly asI can remember, with the Spanish colors flying. Of course you know all about the hasty trial and Burriel’s excuse for not replying to the urgent letters of Vice Consul Smith, on account of his religious observance of All Saints day. The slaughter house where the first butchery took place is about 1,600 feet square, which gives a lineal frontage to each side of about 400 feet. The men in question were placed tn front of this place, which isan adobe builaing of about 13 or 14 feet in height (in which are imbedded thousanas of bullets), with an over- hanging roof, while on the ground @ gutter has been constructed to receive the rain which may trickle from off the roof. Ryan refused to kneel, although repeated eftorts were made to make him do so. I knew it was Ryan, because he had no beard or mustache. The men were all bound and placed near the gutter just described. After many rounds had been fired the men were considered dead, but it was found that Ryan was not dead, and a sword was plunged into his body—but not into his heart as stated. The first blows given were into his abdomen. The soldiers who had been detailed to do this work by General Burriel were wretched marksmen, After this a number of cavalrymen came on to the spot and RODE THEIR HORSES OVER THE BLEEDING CORPSES till they were in an almost unrecognized state. The four heads were cut off and placed on poles, and carried round by the people in triumph. The bodiés” were theft, br, rather what remained of them, placed in a cart and taken out toa aa ey, spot, about a mile from the place of executio and’ dumped out like a load bi dirt iow open ever, endeavored to make some sketches of the harrowing scence, and for this I was arrested and thrown into jail, until I was released after I had been kept for three and @ half days in that noisome pen. It made me terribly ill and brought on a relapse of a fever attack from which 1 had been suffering for some time. 1, however, obtained my Waite through the mediation of our a Consul Gener: vana. I saw likewise the second and third ¢: ions Or butchertes. I belieye that v rear e interruption to the telegraph wires was a Spanish ruse of Burriol to allow no commu- Nication with the Captain General till the majori of the Virginius people had een shot ani he had accomplished his wholesale slaughter yunout receiving waiting orders from Havana or fadrid. AN INTERVIEW WITH CAPTAIN FRY. 4 “1 saw Captain Fry, the commander of the Vir- ginius, while in prison, and I thought a good deal of him on account of his fortitude. He leaves eight children, I believe, but the chief engineer of the Virgunius leaves nine, lam told. It was impossible for me to say more than a word or two of sympathy to Fry. There isno doubt that the survivors of the Virginius will be condemned to long periods of im- prisonment, including also the mere boys who had | the misfortune to be on the ill-fated craft. We Americans, living abroad, say that our govern- ment invariably fails to protect its citizens when in trouble ae the British government does, and I am of the belief that nothing will be done jor an indefinite time about the Virginius matter. Perhaps reams of correspondence will be exchanged between the so-called Spanish Re- public and the United States, or perhaps the mat- ter may be handed over to Kaiser Wilhelm to adjudicate upon. What a mockery of retributive Justice, continued Mr. Sherman, with bitterness! ‘As long as they have coal at Washington to warm their toes from a good big stove our rulers don’t care & snap What happens to outsiaers. “Cuba is in a complete state of anarchy, and from my recent expertence I can give you the following sample :—I was twice fired at for refusing to give the password of ‘Spain,’ when challenged, while travelling, as to ‘Who goes there ?’? In conclusion, all I have to say is that if ever the United States was called upon to act with energy it 1s at the pres- ent moment, for the national honor is at stake,” HOW Is THIS? - Consul General Hall, in his oficial despatches to the State Department, dated Aavana, November 18, says that no executions had taken place subse- quently to those reported on the sth, amounting in all—according to our official reports—to 53 per sons, The £co de Cuba, under date of November 13, has the following: THE LATEST NEWS, At going to press With this number we have re- ceived papers from Santiago de Cuba. According: to them 57 more of the pirates apprehended on tue Virginius were shot on the 10th. ‘The trials were being prosecuted with activity, and well informed persons have given us to under- stand that only about 18 persons will oe the extreme penalty ot the law; some—as_ Cpe minors of age and others Who were forci M em. barked—will be apared, because they did not know where they were going. Jt was considered that ditch where @ hes oth arth were, Tiel; or, perhaps, Wot. I felt quite ill oyer the sight of this bloodthirsty Work-~ OW? THE TORNADO’S BOARDING PARTY. Shen. — Report of Midshipman Don Ange? Ortiz Mawasterio—How He Found Things on the Virgintus—Haals Down the Ameri- can Flag and Hoists the Standard of Spain. {From the Echo de Caba, of Havana, Nov. 15.) Mr. Ortiz gives the following account of the boarding of the Virginius:— ON BOARD THE TORNADO, Sanv1aGO DE CUBA, NOY. 2, 1875, In conseqnence Of instructions receivea from gone proceed and capture the ship which you jad chased during the afternoon and at night of the Slat, 1 embarked tn the quarter boat 0! this corvette, accompanied by the first engineer and jour firemen, besides the boat’s crew, Wich was indiscriminately made up of persons trom all classes of the gutlors and troops on board this ship. Ip those moments of enthusiasm it was impossible to prevent those who wished from embarking in the boat, Having pushed of from this ship I directed my course towards the steamer chased. Atnearing and finding her full of people 1 remarked that any aggression on their part would be energetically chastised by our forces, Alter this the boat came alongside of the steamer ‘and Was, With wy assistance, made fast to her. At the same ume | ordered all the people on the boat to board the chase, which was [penta efiected aiter Lhad boarded. As soon as [ lound myself on deck | inquired for the captain. As soon as he presented humseli he said that the ship was the American merchant steamer Virginius, whose pers 1 demanded, and they were delivered to me. I notified him that irom that moment the ship was captured and he and ali the crew and passengers were prisoners at my orders, AU the same moment I ordered our people to take possession of the helm and ship, commissioning the first engineer to take charge of the engine, teling all of them that our presence there would be no obstacle in the way of the corvette’s sinking the ship as soon a8 any aggression might be noted, and that every attempt to disable the machimery, boiler or ship would be immediately and energetl. cally punished by the forces under my orders, In possession of the ship, | learned from the first engineer that the engine was in jorge | order, although it suffered from defects which I shall mention furtuer on, Midshipman Don Enrique Pardo having opportunely arrived with reinforce- menis in another boat 1 ordered him to remain on board with half of the crew, and proceeded to embark the prisoners, in coniormity with the or- ders which you had given me. Having completed this task with the aid of the boats that success ively arrived, with the exception of the captain and 16 persons, the people on the Vir- ‘inius were transferred onboard the corvette. fhe Midshipman of the Navy Don Enrique vardo, from the first moment of Wis presence on board, accompanied by some of our sailors, made a scru- pulous search of the ship, finding in the forecastie @ considerable number of people, whom i ordered to retire Loward the quarterdeck to send them to the corvette underyour command, I must observe that even after | was on board, goods belonging to the cargo were thrown into the sea irom the prow. After finishing the disembarkation of the’ pris- oners and securing the disembarkation of those who remained, | had time to examine tae gtate of the ship, wuich was in a very lamentaple condi- uon. ‘The furnaces were not only dirty because of the considerable quantity of grease and hams with which they had been fed, but also the ma chinery and the packing were in bad condition; for they bad suffered much during the chase, The vessel was making a@ considerable quantity of water in a badly caiked point that there is towards the prow, under the water line generally, on account of the bad condition of the bottom; for she has labored much during the chase. It not being possivie to reach the forward section of the ship, for want of means of communication, the rest of ber and the machinery were attended to. Her aspect was truly repugnant. not only iuil of grease and broken boxes, that served as packing to the rest of the cargo, but also in a notably abandoned condition. The dead angie of the port hole was very much damaged, because from this place the cargo of arms and ammunition Was thrown into tue water, todo which they had mounted a block and pulley, that as yet remain in the same place, The cavin Was in disorder, trunks open, clothes thrown about, portmanteaus en- urely destroyed, andin all parts of the ship un- mistakable signs that everything of any value had been thrown into the water, Not only were there open arms boxes there, but even cartridges of rifle and revolver, boxes of leather, belts, machetes and insurgent cockades. Under the coal there are barrels, but 1t has not been possible for me to divert the people’s attention to examine them, because [ couid not neglect guard duty, which has been strictly attended to without intermission. Sad- dies, insurgent buttons and a portion of papers and effects that were scattered about in all direc- tions have been gathered up by my orders. Alter finishing the work of transferring the people, the ofticer, Don Henrique Pardo, returned to the cor- Captain had delivered to me, so that he should place them in‘Vour hands, and by him I intormed you verbally of all that had happened; the state in which the ship was found; the measures that had been executed, as also of having taken down the American flag, which, as a pirate, the ship should not be permitted to use, and raising Instantly our standard. After finishing the capture, transferring the people and dictating the measures which at each moment I thought argent, and finding, apon | one that the engines were in working oe ti second officer of the corvette came om, board to take command. I made formal delivery him, reporting the services of the individu: had accompanied me. Their zeal, activity, intel- ligence and devotedness had shown me what degree each one had engraved on his heart the dis- tinctive characters of an honorable and brave man. ‘The ofMicer, Pardo, was present everywhere; the first engineer, Don Santiago 3, the sail- ing master, Duque; the corporal of the marines, Torres, whose knowledge of English helped me greatly, and in general all, eacn in tis place, I may say With satisiaction, exceeded his duty, not only before, but also in the moment of and alter ca; ture. An instant of rest has not been indulged in until alter the ship anchored in this port. il the goods found remain where they were, waiting for the parser to make an inventory of them. The. Captain and prisoners have been treated with all sorts of considerations due to men in misfortune, compatible with the security of the ship; and of this treatment Lhave the satisfaction to say that they are all thank/ul. This is everything thatI can say to you as the the boarding and capture, and officer chi d wit as commander of the ship up till the moment or starting home; it remaining only to say that the engineers of the Virginius have, while coming here, lent estimabie Pgh on worthy of eulogy. I profit by this occasion to congratulate you for the very signal service which you, with the shi under your COREE, have Tent to the gountry, due to your intelligence, energy and éninusiasm. Tam aed Foaiaested by the individuals who are at my command to compliment you for the well dipected. orders Which you gay¢ Me. at jod guard you many yéata! — = ANGEL ORTIZ MONASTERIO, —— OPINION ABOUT TOWN. People Becoming Disgusted with Gov- ernmental Lily-Livered Dilatoriness— What a Merchant Thinks—A Cuban Voice for Cuba—Startling Suspictons— Have All the Prisoners Been Murdered t There can be no doubt that the extremely cautious movements of the government are gradu- ally impressing the puolic mind that there will be no war with Spain, and that the people are com- posing themselves, with illy-concealed chagrin, to learn, in the course of events, that the government will be “dickered” by Spain until the nation is cheated out of the reparation which is its due. The intimations thrown out by despatches from Madrid and Washington, published yesterday, fell like a wet blanket upon the people at large, and had a visible effect. Among all classes of people these despatches were construed as mere avant couriers of the policy of the administration. A HERALD reporter conversed yesterday with scores of people in vari- ous classes of society—merchants, importers, law- yers, clerks and tradesmen, and every one of them frankly conceded the belief that the government did not mean to push things resolutely, A conver- sation with @ merchant in Beaver street led to the expression of his views to the effect that the gov- ernment intended the present naval demonstration only as an auxiliary to diplomatic action. ‘Don’t you observe,” he inquired, ‘that there is nothing being done in the way of preparing any military demonstration ? I look upon that fact as extremely significant. If we are even likely to go to war it 1s but reasonable to assume that the government would at least RECRUIT THE REGULAR ARMY to its fullest possible strength. That might be done in the course of a month; but the raising, organizing and equipping of volunteer troors would take every day of three months, with all the venefits of our past experience, before they would be in condition to embark, Our navy has been sadly out of order, and the vesseis must be put in trim to keep them from rotting, and the govern- ment is simply killing two birds with one stone, It takes advantage of this opportunity to put the vesseis in order, well Lott | that there will be no outcry made against it by the old fogy econo- mists on account of the emergency of the situa. tion, and, at the same time, as I said before, it will be inl to back up the diplomacy, Depend upon it, Mr. Reporter, you will have a warfare of quills and red tape that will last two years out of this Virginius outrage, but our navy will not be called on to fire a singie shot.’ This conversation fairly illustrates the general opinion, and there is no doubt of the fact that tre PUBLIC AMONG THE CUBANS ere Was & KOMEWLAL depressed Jeeling iM conse pubite disgust is also very general on the subject. She was | vette, and I confided to him the papers which the | quence o; the prevailing sentiment. They, of course, are desirous of some direct iorm of inter- ference by the government ofthe United States, so that it may lead to at least g recognition of the struggling Cubans as belligérents. With this much conceded to them they claim that they could unquestionably achieve their independence, though in general terms their most prominent Jeaders in this city express their complete indit- ference as to Whether the island is to be indepen- dent or vo be annexed to the United States. e terday ee ROMINENT OURAN said yes jay:—'We desire only to wrest the isiand from Spanish domination, Tod are willing to do all we can to-morrow to ‘bring it into the Union of American States if this government will recognize our belligerency. The Cubans, as @ peo- ple, do not ask that the American people shall fight for us a war which we inaugurated, but ir circumstances should enablé them to furnish us arms coequally with the rights which Spain enjoys in that regard we can conquer the island, in tact | overran it, oursetves, Put 46,000 stand of arms in ‘Cuba to-morrow and we will guarantee that 40,000 Cubans will rise and grasp them—Cubans who at present re- main passive solely because they have no arms with which to become aggressive. Spain recog- nized the beliigerency of the Southern Confederacy | within less thaa three months after Fort Sumter was firedon. We have maintained for five years a rebellion which, however desultory Americans may consider it, Spain has been powerless to sub- due, and it would be not at all ungrateful of the United States to recognize us now, considering THE COURSE WHICH SPAIN ADOPTED toward this country. Spain maintains iting’ 6 in the island, but the Congress of the Cuban Pro- visional Republic has passed a law abolishing slavery wherever they dominate any part of the island, Americans claim to be opncned to slave: they can help the cause in Cuba if tuey will, Then, sir, let me call your attention to the sympathy which many prominent men ask fur Spain as ‘a sister republic.’ Now, sir,! can assert that our little struggling Republic of Cuba, and which your people have not yet chesen to call ‘a sister re- public,’ will be a republic when the present sham Republic of Spain is wiped out, which I think you will Gud to be the case before another six months, Or, at most a year, hag passed. If those men have such strong yearnings for young republics, why did they never express it toward our little Republic When it was battling against the monarchies of Igavella and Amadeus *” At this point the geutleman excused himself, as he nad to Keep an engagement, and wok bis de- parcure, THE GREATEST EXCITEMENT prevailed in Cuban circles yesterday on the strength of the information contained in a paper receivea from Havana, dated the 15th of November, in which it was stated “We nave received Santiago de Cuba newspapers announcing that on the 10th instant 57 more of the Virginius pirates were shot.”? It will be remembered that on the 4th Ryan, Del Soi, Cespedes and Verona were executed; that on the 7th Captain Fry and 36 of his crew were put to geath, and that on the §th Pedro Allaro and 11 companions were shot, making 53 in all. Subsequently came the report 0. the shooting of 57 additional, put this latter report was contra- dicted by Consul General Hall on the 13th, who stated that no prisoners had been executed after the 8th inst. Cubans in New York have continually since that time expressed to the writer their belief that NEARLY ALL HAD BEEN EXECUTED, and now they openly yield to the belief that the first report was trae. The despatches referred to will be found in another column, and when it 1s considered that newspapers of Santiago de Cuba had been received in Havana announcing the exe- cutions of the 10th inst., it will be seen that they | have just cause for anxiety. It 13 impossible to conceive that in so smali a town as Santiago a newspaper could make such an error as to report 57 executions, which had never taken place, It is still less comprehensible to believe that such an error could occur in a country where everything that is printed in the newspapers is required to pass through | the hands of @ government Censor, as the reports published in the Santiago papers must have done, | Thisis the case as it stands, on the evidence of the Havana paper, which states, ‘“‘We have re- ceived,” &c., “Santiago papers.”’ It is not merely that they have heard that Santiago papers have published certain facts. THE DIAMOND JEWELRY presented to the Amigos de Cuba, and which was lately exhibited at their headquarters, No. 50 Ex- change place, is to be disposed o/ by lot on the 1th of December. Three thousand tickets have been issued at $leach. The jewels have been ap- praised at a valuation of $2,500, and there are over 100 brilliants in the set. It is the gift of a Cuban lady, for the benefit of the sick and wounded of the Cuban patriot forces. Views of Ex-Governor Fenton. The news received in this city last evening of farther outrages committed on German vessels by Spanish men-ol-war in Chinese waters caused a fresh burst of indignation in the minds of the residents of this city, who are already exasperated beyond endurance over the recent massacre of the American citizens and others in the Virginius affair. A HERALD reporter paid a visit last evening to the Filth Avenue Hotel to learn from ex-Governor Reuben E. Fenton his views on the subject of the dampending war between this Cayntry and Spain. The following is the statement of Mr, Fenton :— “Tam too busy to-night to go into the question ath, but I will say that I wrote a letter to the ba. Ihave myself much sympathy ig race. Ido not say that I am in favor of war at the present moment, as tne Vir- ginius Outrage may yet be settled, in my opinion, without resorting to further bloodshed, The honor of our fag must be maintained, however, at all costs, We all feel, as Americans, that our na- tional dignity has been lessened by these repeated insults and outrages which we had to suffer at the hands of Spain, e' United States would have been C4 ut pemening had been done ere this to stop treatment 0: American subjects from the commencement, in- Stead Oi waiting till the last hour, when it is im- possible to do otherwise than take the matter up in sober earnest. 1 am pleased to see the firm stana taken by the HeRaLp ior the sake of our national honor. What I said to you before I now repeat— Isincerely hope the matter can be settled without war. Iam sorry J cannot discuss is further with you, as my time is limited.” General John Cochrane, who was present during the interview, cordially endorsed the views of the ex-Governor. Views of ha 2: yy: H. Stone, of A reporter of the HeRatp called at Barnum's Hotel to learn the views of Congressman W. H. Stone, of the Third district of Missouri. Unfor- tunately he was out, but the reporter met inthe hotel his friend, Mr. Geo Bain, one of the repre- sentative men of St. Lous, who made the follow- ing statement :— “Congressman Stone 1s. Ican guarantee you, a warm enthusiast for Cuban annexation, and has been connected with our Cuban meetings in St. Louis. The excitement im St. Louis is intense on the subject. All the papers there are for annexa- tion, except Carl Schurz’s organ, the Westliche Post, which advocates the estaDlisnment of an indepen- dent Cuban Republic. We can raise 10,000 volun- teers there in a fortnight to figatin Cuba. We are raising a subscription fund for the widow and chil- dren of the gallant Captain Fry.” The Republican Central Committee and the Cuban Imbroglio—Resolutions De- nouncing Spanish Barbarity. The Republican Central Committee met in Re- publican Hall, Twenty-third street and Broadway, last evening. The attendance was very large, and included almost all the prominent republicans in the committee—Hon, Thomas Murphy, Collector arthur, United States District Attorney Bliss, Police Commissioner Join R. Rusgell, Hon. Charles 8, Spencerand many others, Mr. Hugh Gardner presided. United States District Attorney Bliss moved that the election for primaries be ordered for the 9th of December. Adopted. William A. Darling, chairman of the Committee on Resolutioas, submitted the following :— Whereas the seizure of the Virginius upon the high seas, while sailing under the protecion of the American flag, and the inhuman ty inflicted upon the unre- sisting crew, have aroused a feeling of universal indigna- tion among’ the people, and whereas the Kepublican Central Committee, in common with other citize called upon to express its abhorrence of such atr thererore be Resolved, That the recent acts of outrage upon a vessel carrying the national flag and the brutal and summary execution of the persons seized on board the Virginitis demand speedy redress and such indemnity for the future as will prevent a repetition of such acts. Resolved, That we extend our deepest sympathy and encouragement to all peoples of all countries that are struggling for treedom and for release trem the power of tyranny and despotism. Resolved, That it the people of Spain are sincerely de- sirous of establishing @ republican form of government their first act marking the consistency and justice of their professions will ve to release irom subjection any eriion of their territory, give berry tp the slave and to Bie people of Cuba government of their own choice. Resolved, That we rely with entire confidence upon the wisdom and patriotism of the adininistration and the war making power of the country to take such, ac- tion as may be necessary to vindicaie the honor of the nation, consistent with ‘the obligations of the govern- mentand the best interests of the whole people, (Ap- plause.) The resolutions were adopted unanimously and with great applauge, It was also resolved to send copies Of the resolutions to the President and mem- bers of the Cabinet. District Attorpey Bliss, from the Committee on Contested Seats, submitted a report on certain contested seats in Qie Assembly district organiza. tions, The gist ot this report was that the charges preferred against the regular organization were ite unfounded, and there was no occasion, there- fore, to interfere with the regular district associa- tion, ‘The report was adopted with applause, and it was resvived to pay the expenses of the commit- wu ho had taken testimony. “tne meeting then adjourned, atter a remarkably short sexsion, It lasted only balf an hour, 3 JERSEY IMPATIENT FOR FIGHT. The war feeling m Trenton and vicinity contin« tues in the same feverish state as when the news was first spread of the inhuman butcheries perpe- trated by Burriel and his horde of Spanish cut- throats, In military circles as well as in all other places where citizens are wont to assemble for the discussion of the current toples of the hour, the Cuban question monopolizes attention, The way-scarred veterans of many @ battle-fleld and the young and rising generation are eager for the fray toa man, Judging from the free and open manner im which they all express their mdigna- tion 3,000 stalwart boys in blue could be mustered into active service within a few days from this section of New Jersey, without aby promise being made them of bounty or compensation of any other kind beyond the -deirayin: of the ordinary expenses by the government 0! their transportation to the “Gem ol the Antilles.’7 ‘The Adjutant General of the State is in receipt of communications every day from the different mill- tary organizations of the State proffering their Services in case of the commencement of hostili~ ties, The colored troops are not behind time in this movement. The chances for the manumission of 400,000 of their ensiaved brethren in Cuba are now so manifest that but little impetus is needed to develop their martial spirit ia such a glorious cause. Captain E. J. Jordan, Company G, Eighth regiment (colored), Jersey City, has already of fered the services of his company. The Third, Seventh and Sixth regiments of New Jersey, through their respective colonels, tendered thelf services @ week ago, The whole cry ts, “Revenge for the insult given to the Stars and Stripes aud the annexation of Cuba to our great Republic.” BUICHERED PATERSONIANS. Among those captured on the Virginins and mur« derea by the Spaniards were three residents of Paterson, N. J., Viz. :— José Hernandez, aged 21, had been in this couns try one year previous to his leaving to join the Virginius, and made Paterson his home up to tug night before sailing. ndreas Acosta, a young man, was employed in one of the Paterson machine shops up to the day before he left on the Virginius. Henry Castellano had been im this country about nine years. He was formerly @ captain in the insurgent army in Cuba, hut losing his health, he came back*and went to Paterson, where he ha: been living for the past two Bote He went om the Atlas and again on, the Virginius, on which; vessel he was captured, His rank was that of Meutenant, His brother is now a resident of Pat~ erson, ENGLISH INTERVENTION AT MADRID. To rug Epiror OF THE HERALD :—~ The object of Mr. Layard’s intervention at Mad~' rid in the present crisis ought to be made clear to the American public, It may be broadly asserted that every step he has taken, and will take, 1s made in the interest of the English holders of Spanish bonds. As a rule, these English bond- holders rant about the utter want of honor and patriotism in this country. Now, when it suits their interest, they call for arbitration, and if they succeed, as they desire, in adding another stigma to our flag they williaugh at us with @ broader grin than ever. Last year Spain was unable to pay the interest on her bonds to John Bull, There was immense trouble over the matter. However, by private: arrangement with the Rothschilds and Englisty merchant princes, the money was finally raised, these interested parties having taken other guarantees trom Spain for the interest paid. ‘These few facts explain the object and motive of English intervention at Madrid. John Bull’ breeches’ pockets are touched in this matter, an there 1s nothing so sacred. Yours, &c., DJ. QUARANTINE MATTERS. The season of rigid quarantine restriction whic terminated a few weeks since was a busy and anx- tous one, and but few persons in this section of the country were more delighted at the appear- ance of frost than were the officers attached to the station on Staten Island. On the 15th of October the Lower Bay quaran- tine was raised. At that time sickness had nearly ceased on board arriving vessels, though the port of New Orleans was more to be dreaded than any other, the change in the weather per- mitting inspections to ve made in the Upper Bay. On the ist instant the quarantine for all Sementis pores was raised, and now vessels from foreign ports are only subjected to the pre- cautionary measures which exist throughout the year, detentions being confined to those that are jound with sickness on board. Since the raising of the quarantine three or four cases of smallpox have been found on vessels from Engliah and Ger- man ports, and afew cases of ship fever divided ain the hundreds of arrivals. There. have also been ted several cases oven y fever amon; seamen belonging to the United States Navy, sen from New Orleans to the Brooklyn yard, and some of these have proved fatal, No cuses of cholera have appeared Within six weeks. The malignant type of yellow fever which has been prevalent on the South American coast for several years, during the season just passed and similar to many preceding it, reached places which have @ weekly commerce with New York, and this made the period of quarantine particularly active. As announced by the Health Uficer about a month since, over 60 cases Of yel~ tow fever reached this port during the season, and many of them, despite the care which they re- ceived, proved fatal It is easily proven by statis- tics that Havana has furnished one-third and the Cuban ports generally one-half the entire sickness that comes to our port. And it can also be prover: that if the port of Havana and others on that coast were made healthy, as ft capable of being done under proper sanitary regulations, the sickness reaching New York would be diminished nine- tenths, or the risk in that proportion. Everything is very quiet at Quarantine just now and no danger is apprehended from any quarter, but cholera, so long as it exists in Europe, might Make its appearance at any time. THE LABOR CRISIS IN PATERSON. Mass Meeting Last Night to Devise a Plan of Relief. There being considerable dissatisfaction about the plan of relief proposed by the Paterson city authorities, and the fact that there was a manifest lack of disposition on the part of the public to co” operate in the proposed plan by subscribing to the city bonds, Mayor Townsend acceded to a wide- spread sentiment, and called a public meeting, which was held last night in the wigwam in Broad- ‘way of that city. The building, though a large one, was crowded by an audience representing all classes of people, from the mechanic and laboring man out of work to the prominent, wealthy citizen. The object of the meeting was, of course, sup- posed to be the formation of a plan to aid the suf- fering poor, who now begin to become dependent for sustenance in Jarge numbers upon the benevo- lence of those more favored in worldly goods. ‘There was plenty of individual charity, but there was so much want of system that it did not extend to anything like the dimensions desired. To con-_ solidate the general ideas, which every one had to offer, into some practical whole, was the object which induced the cailing of the ee 9 The meeting was called to order by Mayor Townsend and organize by the selection of ex- Mayor John Ryle as Chairman, and the usual secre- taries, together with a list of vice presidents, com- posed entirely of ex. ‘ors. Among those who spoke were Rev. Messi lagie, Clarke and others, Father McNulty, Dr. Inglis, Socrates Tuttle, Mr. Ryle, Hon. G, A. Hobart, Adam Carr and numerous others, Numerous plans were suggested and the meeting voted to urge the Aldermen to proceed with the public work as proposed, and also asking them to establish a general relieving depot for the supply of provisions, A commitiee of five was also ap- pointed to appoint another committee of two from each ward, who will perfect the organization of a permanent relief organization, FAOTORY RESUMPTION, Garner & Co.'s Mills at Newburg and Cohoes in Operation Agi Newsune, N. Y,, Nov. 24, 1873, A partial resumption of work in the Newburg: cotton mills, owned by Garner & Co., of New York, took place to-day after & suspension of several! weeks, The establishment employs some 400 hands, Some days will elapse before the entire machinery can oe set at work, For the present the the mills will be rum on about four-fifths time. The pay per hour re-. mains as before the suspension, but the mills will! with a luction of probably run on full thie soon, ten per cent on the wages. The employés gener- ally seem willing to accept the latter terms, Garner & Co.'s extensive mills at Conoes als@ partially resumed operation to-day, Other Manufactories Resuming. ‘TROY, N. Y., Nov, 24, 1873, The Harmony Mills, at Cohoes, employing nearly 6,000 persons, resumed work on full time to-day. Gilbert Bush & Co., car manufacturers, on Green Island, employing 300 men, resumed work on three-quarter time to-day, POUGHKREPSIE, Nov. 24, The calico department of Garner & Co.'s print’ works, at Wappinger's Falla, resumed work to- day, giving 250 men employment