Trouble with Cuba

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 18, 1873

Trouble with Cuba.

The following is from the Detroit Post of Nov. 14. The action on the part of the Cuban authorities has caused some stir in the United States navy yards, orders being given to fit up some vessels for immediate service. Spain has promised Minister Sickles to take proper steps to repudiate the action of Cuba, and a rupture will thus probably be avoided:—

“The ‘Cuban Junta,’ which sits in safety and ease in New York, and plots violations of international laws, sent the only men under its rule who have pluck enough to fight upon their dangerous mission without proper supplies for the vessel. It risked and lost their lives in order to save a little money. The Virginius was caught by the Spanish steamer Tornado without coal, and under sail only. On being chased, the Virginius burned her provisions, oil, and furniture; but, though she is a fast boat when properly coaled—having been built expressly for blockade-running—she could not keep up steam, and was overhauled and captured. It appears that, when first seen, she was on the high seas, not being then within the jurisdiction of Spain, but being more than one marine league from the coast of Cuba. The entire chase was upon the high seas. The capture was either upon the high seas, according to the Spanish account, or else in British waters, near the Jamaica coast, according to the account first received. The capture under these circumstances, was, probably, illegal. The ship is said to have had the United States flag flying, which a Spanish officer hauled down, and to have had regular papers. The capture was followed by plainly illegal proceedings. The Spanish commandant detained a telegraph dispatch sent by the United States Consul to our Consul General. He also detained dispatches sent to the Captain General of Cuba. He also ordered an immediate trial and execution, for the purpose of forestalling any interference by either the Spanish government or foreign nations.”

The crew, and some reports say, the passengers also, were executed on short notice, the authorities even preventing the telegraph from sending information of their proceedings lest they should be interfered with by the Spanish government or by other nations. The excitement produced is very great.