The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-12-10
IMPORTANT FROM VENEZUELA
Seizure and Detention Of A American Vessel
and Cargo IN MaraeaIbe.
OUR mARAcAIBo CORRESPONDENCE.
MARACAIno Oct 27 1851,

aDu Nos ~ ~ m8A o0oDOs
OUR MARAcAIBo CORRESPONDENCE.
MARAcAIBo, Oct. "a, 1851.
re THE EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK HERALD.
An occurrence has lately taken place here, which
will interest many American merchants and ship
pers-esPecislly those whose trade is with this
republic-and you are respectfully requested to
give it publicity;
The American brig Horstio, Capt Morrill,, Of
New York, left this city Sunday, 9Th inst, with
full cargo of coffee board, value frsm $55, 900 to
100000, bound 10 Philadelphia. The cargo was
entirely for account of American merchants, and it
and the vessel ase insured in the United States.
At the time CT leaving here, she was regularly
cleared from the Custom House, all port charges
&c, paid-in fact she had been duly despatched,
and had her fort pass on board. She left the city
ut ii A. M, and arrived of San Carlos fort
Estimated at the entrance Of the lake, and COM
manding the barr at 30 P. M, and came to
anchor at Bsjo Seco. The captain then sent his
fort pass ashore, and the second mate, who took it,
was requested to ask TOT a bar pilot. We may here
observe that, in this port, there are two sets of
pilots-one set who bring vessels over the bar, and
another set who navigate them up the lake to the
city.
The second mate went ashore, saw the command
ant, delivered hs fort pass, and asked for pilot.
AL was found correct, and the head pile. accom-
panied him to the wharf for the purpose of going
board in the briggs BOAT, which was awaiting them.
The mate got in and waiteda considerable time for
the pilot to follow; he, hoSever, seemed to evince
no desire 10 go, and, finally, the mate conceiving
b meant to go on DO ard bis own boat, showed off
ald left him 30 follow when ne chose. The pilot
spoke no English, nor al the mate speak Spanish,
11t imme oiateiy the bost showed off the pilot be-
came much irrtateo, sadcaled out in a most rude,
ensulting manner, and using many Spanish oaths,
3or the mate TO pat hSek The mate, notwithstand-
sng the very natural anger IL aroused in him to be
fhus abused by c9ioreG man. did put back to take
him in, when Immediately the pilot jumped into the
boat, with an GA "a, ar struck the mate severe
blow. OF course, this admitted Of bat answer,
and the mate gave il, that is ne gave the pilot
good thrashipg. snd flung him ashore, to find his
way on board in bis own boat, as taking him on
board in the briggs vas mere matter Of favor
The pilot began Go howl and yell in a most remarka-
ble manner ana called the soldiers Of thefort to
protect him. lmme dietely a file Of soldiers was
marched 20 the wharf, but the boat, by this time,
Was cut OF reach Of sm all arms, and Though the COM
msnoant Of the fort mer aeed her with the artillery
nothing more was done, and she reached the Ho-
ratio st Bajo oeco without further molestation.
On getting on board, the Captain was not in
formed OF what had happened on shore, nor did he
pilot came on board that p. M though wind and
tide both served for crossing the bar Next morn
arg the head pilot came on board with an interpre
ter, and, without detailing any reason, informed
She captain shat h would not take the vessel to
sea unless the second mate was put ashore" The
captain, rs We before remarked, was not aware of
the difficulty that had taken place shore, nor did
he make very minute inquiries now IS he presumed
nothing serious bad hs opened. Consequently he
answered the pilot, that as for leaving his ,ond
mate ashore, IT was OUT Of the question, and that
ne considered IL very hard that his vessel and
valuable cargo should be detained on account of
trunpery difficulty between one OF mis- men and the
pilot, difficulty with which he personally had had
nothing whatever to do; and that If he the head
pilot deliberately shd be would not take the vessel
60 sea, that he, the captain would then be obliged
to sound the bar himself and take her over with
out them. The head pilot then left, without making
any further remark. leaving. however, second pr
the vessel under way The wind, however, fell
light; they could not ge. out, and forced
again TO come to anc nor This vas the 9th October
From that day up 20 the lith, there were no
less than tCuf good opportunities to cross;
but no pilots csae near her, except when
the wind was ahead When il was fair,
not one was TO be ssen. To partcularire, on
Tuesday, the fourteenth Of October, at day
break, there was strong breeze from ESQ
q most favourable one. BY daylight the anchor
hove short, all ssiis set, and colors wing for
pilot still not one would 90 during the whole day.
On Wednesday the 18th the % ne breeze continued,
and still no pilot. The captain finding all his en-
deaTors TO get one useless, concluded on this day
to ascertain the the bar, and the following
day run out himself accordingly, at 2 ? M after
thc tide bad run cut, be went out 10 his boat on
the bar and souh0ed - The next morning, the
10th, however. al tnlte pilots came on board, and
got the vessel under ~ey the wind died away,
however, ard they sga.n came TO anchor about
mile below Bsjo Seco.
Tha, Afternoon, ore Of the officers Of the fort
appeared or board. with order from the command
All Of the castle. recting the captain TO 20 on
shore, and present baiself at the fort. He imme-
diAtely obeyed this order. add ~as put through an
exsninstion-lst, II Re had sounded the bar He
answered he bad What water had he found
Twelve feet After variety of questions, the CON-
mandant then asked him II be knew that sounding
the bar was agsiustthelsw oftho country Answer,
that he was Tot aware u was He was then told
he ought 70 have been aware Of II to which
Captain NJ. replied. that this his third
voyage here; that be had never, on any occa-
sion been furnished nth harbor regulations, con.
sequenty be could not De offs any regulations,
or a they bad airy at all and, furthermore, the
captain detailed % MN the conduct Of the pilots,
IN wilfully detanUg his vessel 90 many days and
told him that wa nis reason for having sounded
ale bar. The csnmsndaut took note OF the cap
tsihs answer, and then informed him that his vessel
vas uDccr arrest until he communicated ~ith the 60
vernon OF the province, at Maracaibo, on the sub.
iect. The captain informed him that be protested
against such oetentsn
On SUNDAY, the 1871 inst the commandint Of
the fort received from Maracaibo an order aud
warrant TO examine the briggs letter bag, and take
list Of the letter. sniSb was done on board By an
acside ana b., secretary and the letters returned
They then proceeded 70 take the brig by the same
warrant; bui Captain NJ declined giving her up
20 them under such warrant Captain M was then
Informed tina taere q warrant on shore to place
him and hv crew IN the fort. and carry the vessel
back to Mataeaibs captain NJ. requested the N
to shOv hin THE warrant, aud went on shore
9th the slcaide 70 H. He there saw
The eommsndsn,, aud told him that he
ttbe captain would 90 personally bsek 10
Marscaioo, eu .tbat the vessel was deep laden, the
winds light, and the cor ent strong, and the brig
would probsbiy be three four da ,s going up; that
they had better consider well before they took such
important sep AZ sitering the Of the YES
sefs voyage But NJ; the cOmmandant was deter
mined bis orders, he said we're to send the vessel
20 Maracaibo ana back she should 90; aud that il
was only through ercesiOn Of the interpreter,
MIR Beluche, that b. did not fulfil them literally by
lodging the captain ami crew in the fort that they
however might 20 n the vessel % the city. Capt.
Morrill, then protested sgainst all such proceeding
and Informed them that n anybody was sent on