Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-06-15
From the Republic of Thursday
THE CONTOY PRISONERS.

Dispatches were yesterday received at the. Navy De
parment from Capt Tatna, OF the u s. steam frigatt
"Saranac which were written OFT Key lest, on the &c
ofJune.
We learn that Captain t. on his arrival at Havana
the 25th ultmo, found that the Spanish General o
Marine his return to that place, IN the war steamer
Pzarro from his pursuit OF the Creole, after the atta
at Cardenas brought with him, prisoners. the crews
and other persons found on board OF two captured
American merchant vessels; that Commander Ran
doph, oil the United States sloop- ofwar Albany -
which, with the Germantown" Commander Lowndes
was then ofthe harbor-and the United States Consul
had called the Spanish authorities Tor information In
regard the prisoners but could learn nothing further
than that they had captured two vessels with Ameri
can papers. from New Orleans, part OF the invading
force, and that they held proofs OF their crminaty
that they had refused to comply with the demand OF
Commander Randolph to be permitted to see the prs-
oners and the evidence, and referred him, in due
season, to the court before which they would be ar
"a gned.
or information, in relation to the captures, had been
filed in the consuls office, and that nothing more was
known than what had been gathered from the Spanish
authorities.
At the close of an interview which he had with the
captain geneal, Captain T. informed the latter, that
he had refused to permit Commander Randolph and
Consul 10 examine the evidence against the vessels
he should be bound, if he fell in with the convoy, to
demand and enforce satisfactory explanation He
did not, however, fall in with the convoy, did the
captured vessels go TO Havana-they having, in all
ptobab lily, been ordered elsewhere to avoid collision
with men-of war.
The captured vessels afterwards ascertained to
be the barque Georgana," and the brig Susan
Louds' which, in concert with the Creole, had rem
of men and then transferred from the for
mer to the latter, which she subsequently landed at
Card.aas, the captain OF the brig accompanying the
expedition, pilot, leaving his vessel under the charge
OF his mate. lie subsequently testified that he was
compelled to serve.
Contoy is barren and uninhabited island beong-
ing 10 Yucatan situated off Cape Cartouch, directly
opposite and near to Cape st. Antonio, in Cuba, aud
IN post On from which invading force could, with
equal facility, make descent on the north the south
side OF that land.
Captain atnall lett Havana the night of the 26th
nit, and the coast OF Cuba the 9th ult., taking
win nm tue Albany" and the Germantown" and
proceeded to hey West, where he arrived the 29th
ult, Tor me purpose OF looking after the invaders, and
to aid the authorizes there, If it were necessary On
his arrival he found all quiet, the greater part of the
invaders having, IN various ways, left the island He
there learned from the judicial authorities that from
DISPOSITIONS made before them no doubt whatever exist
Ell of the colneXlon OF the Georglana' and the
Susan Loa5s" with the expedition, but that part of
the men found on board had seeded from the main
body, cit ef tlom change OF purpose or from having
ben lmpo ed unon in regard 10 their destination
Leaving the" AlJeny and Germantown at Key
West, Captain Tia u.tll returned in the Sareuac" to
Havana on the 29th ult having on board ia &c
Marvin oil the Federal court at Key West, and Mr..
Douglas, the Collector OF the Port, who accompanied
him with view to acquant the United States Consul
at Havana fully with all the facts favorable TO the
prisoners
10 interview which Captain T. had with the
Spanish authorities, in company with Judge Marvin
the latter unofeally informed them that the adavits
made in his had established the facts that the
referred TO had refused to accompany the expedition
TO Cadenas, and had therefore, committed aggression
against Cuba The authorities replied, that they were
themselves somewhat of that opinion, and that their
treatment OF the prisoners correspondent with that belief
That the latter well housed and taken care
OIL ana nat alter certain preliminary forms, which the
laws rendered imperative, and which applied equallg to
Spaniards, the United States Consul and their friends
could have access to them
Under these crcum stances. and, above all, as the
Spanish authorities III Cuba have been promptly notified
by the United States Consul acting under instructions
from the State Department that the President intends
TO claim that the American prisoners taken at Contoy
have not been guilty OF any crime for which, BY
he laws OF civilized nations, they should suffer death