No. 718.
Mr. Sail to Mr. Davis.
United States Consulate-General,
Havana, November 5, 1873. (Received-November
11.)
No. 294.]
Sir: I have time only to transmit herewith
by this steamer the inclosed official bulletin, just published,
announcing the capture of the steamer Virginius, on the 31st
October, ultimo, near the coast of Jamaica, and that a competent
tribunal is now trying the prisoners, one hundred and sixty-five in
number, whom it styles pirates.
I have just transmitted the Department the substance of the foregoing
in a telegram, it appearing to me that the vessel must have been
captured, if not in British at least in neutral waters, and that
important international questions may arise therefrom.
I am, &c,
HENRY C. HALL,
Vice-Consul-General.
[Inclosure.]
[Gazette extra.
Havana, November 5,
1873.]
According to a telegram received from the general commanding the
first division the steamer Tornado got sight of the steamer
Virginius at half past 2 o’clock in the afternoon of the 31st of
October last, and came up with her at 10 o’clock at night, near
the coast of Jamaica. The following persons, who were on board
of her, were taken prisoners: Bembeta, a brother of Cespedes, a
son of Quesada, Jesus del Sol, and others, making a total of one
hundred and sixty-five persons, some of them being prominent
characters. In their flight they threw the horses overboard, and
used a portion of their cargo as fuel for the steamer’s
furnaces.
The proper tribunal is trying the piratical prisoners.
The above is published by order of his excellency for general
information.
PEDRO DE ZEA,
Brigadier-General of E. M.
