The republic., 1851-09-09
[IfansIated By he Nsto York Herald from Spanish
Official Pubications.
sketch OF the Lopez Expedition, by One OF
l2 mcuolera.


Translated By The Nsw York Herald from Spanish
Official PtbIicGtions.I
Sketch OF the Lopez Expedition, by ono OF
its Members.
His excelency the Captain General has permit
ted the insertion, IN the official gazette, of the fol-
lowing account oil ID. Francisco Alexander Lame,
one Of those who comprised the piratcal exped-
toni
In the Plaza of Havana, August 80, 1851, the Ser.
Fiscal, accompanied by my secretary, proceeded
TO the castle of the Presdio, where was confined d.
Francisco A. Laine, who. being, sworn offered to
testify to the truth, as follows:
Being asked his name, religion, &c, he said-l
am named II. A. Laine, aged 20 years, a native of
Alquizas G. A. r., executor OF my mothers pro-
perty
passports had been verified, and TO what port, he
said that he sailed on the 4th OF February, lS49,
with passports for San Francisco, going hrst TO New
Orleans.
Being asked if he went to California, or
mained in the United States he said that, not hav
ing received, in New Orleans, the letters which he
expected, and falling short Of money, he had
given lessons in Spanish and mathematics for
livelihood.
Being asked if subsequent to this time he had re-
turned to Cuba, he said he had not.
Being asked If he knew Narciso Lopez, and what
was the nature of his relations with him, he said
that, when Lopez returned from Cardenas In 1850,
he had some conversation with him respecting
some Cubans whose names he did not remember,
but whom he believes are all dead excepting one
Sr. Loao, and that he had no employment with Lo-
pez, relations with him, except IN the course oi
friendly correspondence, which was lost with his
letter. book at Las Posas, and which was after
wards found by one of tho Galecian officers
Being asked to tell what he knew of the designs
OF Lopez in this expedition, what was his force,
who were his officers, aud whaxs happened after
leaving New Orleans, until the landing on this
island he said that the expedition which started in
the steamer Pampero numbered GOO men, exclu-
sive of some who joined the steamer in the Mssis-
haxff
that it was impossible to carry ALL portion re-
turned. leaving on board 460 men, who were all
who disembarked at Morillo; that the object was
to go first TO the river st. john there to effect
junction with force of artillery which wait
ing there, and then to land at some point in the
| central department; but, having touched at Key
West for STORES, Lopez received Information that
Pinar del Rey and almost all OF the Vuelta de Aba
10 had revoted that it was then resolved to land
somewhere in Vuelta de Abajo that by mistake
| Of the pilot they taken before Matanzas, and
were obliged to return by Havana in search OF the
port Of Ortigosa, where they proposed to land but
were prevented by the frigate Esperanza; that the
officers were Narcso Lopez, a Hungarian, MIR.
Pragay, Colonel Crttenden, and two others named
Llinds and Clinton; that the captain OF the Cuban
company, to which deponent belonged, was llde-
fenso Oberto, who was killed at Las Posas that
the design of Lopez to establish Cuban re-
public, counting insurrection in the coun-
try and the good will of the troops.
Being asked what occurred after his landing un-
til brought here, he said that they disembarked on
the shore Of Morillo at ii O'Clock at night on the
/ lth instant,wthou any opposition beyond four or
five discharges, which dispersed some countrymen
Of Morilo; that they found the shore deserted the
store open and forsaken and having left something
less than two hundred men under Colonel Critten-
den in charge OF the unnecessary arms and provl-
sions, the remainder OF the expedition under Lopez
advanced to Las Posas, without meeting any thing
except ia few countrymen, who fled when they saw
the advance; and that upon arriving at Las Posas
they found the town abandoned, nor were they able
taofa nj
the offers made to them; that the day following
they attacked by the troops of the Queen, who
in the end were forced to retire, leaving them in
possession OF the place, with the loss OF Col Pragay
colonel whose name he had forgotten, Captain
Oberto, and some fifty killed and wounded; that
finding they did not encounter the expected sympa-
thy amongst the people, and were attacked by the
very troops whom they expected to join them,
they resolved to resort to the mountains, and
with this object started for Pinar del Rio, but by
the error or treachery of the guide were conducted
to the coffee estate of Frias, where they had ano
ther encounter with the troops, which resulted in
the loss of four or five men, which, with what
before lost, reduced the force at Frias to two hun
dred and twenty men, including twelve or four
teen wounded that with these they passed to Brujo,
and spending the night in union, went to Marti-
torenea Candelaria where, on the 2lBt. in num-
ber not exceeding two hundred men, when break
fasting, they were surprised, attacked, and dis
persed by the troops OF the Queen. hundred or
more hid themselves in the forest, ne-third with
out arms, where they remained four days without
any food except horse some corn, and wild plan
tains; that then arriving at q road the deponent
left the rest in order to write TO his mother, and
that for this purpose he went to hacienda, where
were officers of Galicia, who told him that it
was not necessary to write at the moment, as they
were ordered to give quarter; that he was deliv
cred to Brigadier General Rozaes sent to Bahia
Honda, and thence to this city.
Being asked what resources the expedition
lied upon, both in the United States and in this
island, who were their principal agents and CORE
spondents there and here, he said that almost all
the resources were from MIR. Segur, who, accord
ing to Lopez, had given $4,000 to purchase the
Pampero; that sundry cannons and arms were pur-
chased at a sale of Government remnants; that the
cartouches, &c, &c, purchased through
merchants in New Orleans, whose names he had
forgotten, under a receipt from Lopez that he had
heard money had been sent from the island, and
many valuable Jewels, which various young per-
had to the island to receive; and that al
though they had believed that, in this island there
were other resources, yet after their landing they
had received none; that the agents in the United
States Segur, Couchins, s. CO.. that these
were the only promoters of this expedition; that
Lopez had constantly said that they could count
on metallic aid in the island, without the co-opera
ton of the junta in New York. which had disagreed
with Betancourt and Aguero, in respect to the
mode of oforganizng the expedition; that the junta
referred to is composed of various other Cubans be-
sides those mentioned, of whose names he was ig-
norant; that all which he has said is true, Sc, &C.
FRANCISCO A. LAME.
Signed before me--BLAs VILLALBA.