VIRGINIUS MASSACRE. On October 31, 1S73, the irgin i us, a vessel flying the United States (lag, owned by an American, and com manded by Captain Fry, an American citizen, which was carrying arms and men to the aid of the Cuban insurgents, \VB-a captured on the high seas off Jamaica by the Spanish man-of-war Tornado. and was taken into the port of Santiago de Cuba, where on November 4th four leaders of the Cuban patriots, Cespedes, _Ryan, Varona, and Del Sal, who had been captured on board, were executed in pursuance, it was claimed, of prior sentences. The remainder of the passengers and the crew were then hastily tried on a charge of piracy, and on November 7th and 8th Captain Fry, 36 of the crew, and 16 of the passengers were summarily executed, some of the victims being American citizens. Further executions were prevented by the timely arrival of the British sloop N lobe, whose commander, Sir Lamp ton Lorraine, forced the Spanish officer, General Buried, to reprieve the remainder of the prisoners.
The affair caused widespread excitement in the United States, where the feeling against Spain was already strong by reason of the latter's course in Cuba, and for a time war seemed im minent; but, after protracted negotiations, a peaceful settlement was agreed upon, and Spain surrendered to the United States, conditionally, the Virginins and the survivors of her passen gers and crew. The vessel was overtaken by a storm on its voyage to York, was abandoned by her crew, and sank oil Cape Fear. England exacted and received pecuniary reparation for those of her subjects who were executed. Con sult .11 essage of the President Bela?' ing to the Steamer 'Virginias,' Irith ecom pa nying ments (Washington, 1874).