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                       SPAIN-STEAMER         VIRGINIUS.                 
  1023

not exactly recollect what he did say, but I know he made some remarks with
refer-
ence to getting rid of the ship; he, said he did not know what to do about
it hardly;
he said he had hoped he had got rid offthe ship.
  71. Q. After this did Alfaro, at Puerto Cabello, suggest to you that you
go on a
trial-trip with the Virginius ?-A. Yes, sir.
  72. Q. Did you apply to the American consul at Puerto Cabello for the ship's
papers
to go on this trial-trip; and, if so, what did he say to you ?-A. Yes, sir;
I applied, but
he refused to give them to me.
  73. Q. Did he assign any reason ?-A. I said to him, &quot;It is only for
a trial-trip,&quot; and
then he made use of the expression, &quot;Yes, the Alabama went on a trial-trip.&quot;
  74, Q. Do you know whether, at that time, he consulted with Captain Renshaw,
in
command of the American war-vessel Canandaigua, which was lying then in Puerto
Cabello ?-A. Yes, sir; I know he consulted with Captain Renshaw, for it was
done in
my presence.
  75. Q. Did you bear the advice which he gave to the consul; if so, what
was it ?-
A. Not to let her go on a trial-trip. Then Captain Renshaw turned around
to me, and
said, &quot;You shan't go out on a trial-trip; but if you want to go to Key
West, I will take
you to Key West; if you go out you will excite these Spanish people &quot;-meaning
the
Spanish man-of-war lying there. Captain Renshaw also made the remark, &quot;1
know
the ship is not entitled to American protection, but I will protect you if
you go out to
Key West, but you shan't go out on a trial-trip.&quot;'
  76. Q. All this happened after the auction of which you have just spoken
?-A. Yes,
sir ; that was after the auction, I am confident.
  77. Q. About what date was this, as near as you can give it ?-A. I think
it was
somewhere between the 20th and 26th of July, 1872.
  78. Q. About what date did you leave Puerto Cabello for Maracaibo ?-A.
August 7,
1872.
  79. Q. After leaving Puerto Cabello, and you got clear of the Spanish man-of-war,
did
Alfaro make any statements to you in respect to what might be done with the
Vir-
ginius?--A. Yes, sir; he made the statement, as coming from General Quesada,
that
they would like to arm the ship-put guns on board of her.
  80. Q. Did he say anything about having comniissions on board?-A. Hle also
told
me that he had blank commissions on board to be filled up. and offered me
a com-
mander's position in the Cuban navy.
  81. Q. I understand you that Chamberlain was on board the Virginius as
chief engi-
neer?-A. Yes, sir.
  82. Q. Did he wear any uniform; and, if so, what was it --A. He wore what
they
call a Cuban uniform generally in port, and when he was off duty out at sea.
  83. Q. On the voyage from Puerto Cabello to Maracaibo, how many flags did
you
have on board, and of what nationalityf-A. We had six Cuban flags, one American
flag, and one Venezuelan.
  84. Q. When you speak of a Cuban flag, do you mean the Spanish flag, or
the flag of
the insurrection? -A. What they call the Cuban flag-I mean the Cuban flag,
the one
of the insurgents; it was their flag; it is a flag composed of one star with
a blue
ground, and red and white stripes on it; I forget how many.
  85. Q. On the voyage did you fly the Venezuelan flagf-A. No, sir; flew
the Vene-
zuelan flag at the fore when going into or out of port.
  86. Q. Did you fly the American flag with it ?-A. Yes, sir.
  87. Q. Where did you fly that?-A. At the flag-staff ovei the stern.
  8S. Q. Then the Venezuelan flag was at the fore, and the American flag
on the flag-
staff over the stern ?-A. Yes, sir.
  89. Q. Was this the condition of the flags when she left Puerto Cabello?-A.
Yes, sir.
  90. Q. And when you entered at Maracaibo I-A. Yes, sir. Come to recollect
now',
we had another flag aboard that I knew nothing about. It was a private signal
between Qaesada and General Pulgar, and when that flag was hoisted at the
fore, it
meant that General Quesada was on board the Virginius. It was a large white
flag
with a black ball in it; it was a very large flag, and that I hoisted at
the fore when
going past the fort at San Carlos.
  91. Q. Where was the Virginius lying on the 10th of October, 1872 f-A.
She was
lying in the harbor of Maracaibo.
  92. Q. What flags did you hoist on the Virginius that day f-A. During the
day we
hoisted the American flag at the flag-staff, the Venezuelan flag forward,
and a burgee
at the main, and at night. ý There was a party on board that day and
aFband of music.
Por a little while they hoisted the Cuban flag at the flag-staff; it was
presented to
General Quesada by the ladies of Caracas.
  93. Q. Was this the anniversary of the insurrection at Yara f-A. I was
given to
suppose so.
  94. Q. On the voya_e from Puerto Cabello to Maracaibo, did you have conversations
with Quesada and Alf'aro in respect to arming the Virginius, or making captures;
and
if so, what was the conversation f--A. Quesada, through Alfaro, told me that
if we

 
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