No. 689.
Mr. Fish to Admiral Polo de
Bernabé.
Washington , November 12, 1873.
Admiral This Department has received a telegram from an official source, representing that the captain of the Virginius, so called, thirty-six of the crew, and sixteen other persons, were shot on the 7th and 8th instants. This information relates to an act apparently too shocking and cruel to be credible. I am in hopes that more authentic intelligence may have reached you, which would tend to discredit the statement referred to. I will consequently thank you to relieve, as soon as you conveniently can, our natural anxiety upon the subject.
I avail, &c,