Troubles with the
Spanish authorities in
Cuba and menaces of war with
Spain existed since filibustering movements from the
United States to that island began, in 1850.
Finally, a Cuban junta, composed of native Cubans and American sympathizers, was formed in New York City.
An insurrection had broken out in
Cuba, and assumed formidable proportions, carrying on civil war for several years.
When the junta began to fit out vessels to carry men and war materials to the insurgent camps, the United States government, determined to observe the strictest neutrality and impartiality, took measures to suppress the hostile movements; but irritations on the part of the
Spanish authorities continued, and, finally, late in 1873, war between
Spain and the
United States seemed inevitable.
The steamship
Virginius, flying the
United States flag, suspected of carrying men and supplies to the insurgent
Cubans, was captured by a Spanish cruiser off the coast of
Cuba, taken into port, and many of her passengers, her captain, and some of the crew were publicly shot by the local military authorities.
The affair produced intense excitement in the
United States.
There was, for a while, a hot war-spirit all over the
Union; but wise men in control of the governments of the
United States and
Spain calmly considered the international questions involved, and settled the matter by diplomacy.
There were rights to be acknowledged by both parties.
the
Virginius was surrendered to the
United States authorities, and ample reparation for the outrage was offered, excepting the impossible restoration of the lives taken by the Spaniards.
While the vessel was on its way to New York, under an escort, it sprang aleak off
Cape Fear, at the close of December (1873), and went to the bottom of the sea. See
Cuba;
Spain, War with.
