The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-05-07
The Cuban Expedition az the xo-,h.


NO sIoss OF PREPARATION Ar JACKSONVILLE
fLoRiDA-THE VESSEL DESPATCHED FROM sAyAN
NAH, RErU RNBD.
From the Savannah News May 81
The sudden departure of the steamer Welaka, on
sunday night, under orders Of the general govern.
ment, and carrying south the u ). Marshal,
caused considerable excitement during her absence,
and induced the belief among our citizens tn Mt tbe
government was in possession Of information re-
iatng to the Cuban expedition which had not been
made public She returned early on Thursday
morning, and We give below the information that
we gathered at the various points at which she
stopped during her trip.
At st. Mary's, there were rumors that bodies of
men had passed through the interior, destined
south, and that in the vicinity Of Jacksonville,
Florida, there were encamped considerable
force. As the steamer Weaka passed up the st.
Johns river, she was met by the st. Mathews, a
boat from which placed passenger on board the
Welaka. This individual was armed with pistols,
and stated that he thought the Welaka was another
steamer, the object Of which to take the Cuban
invaders on board, and land them at another point
below, on the coast
At Jacksonville similar rumors Of armed men be-
ing encamped at different points on the coast exist
CD but from reliable information, obtained from
respectable sources 1t was ascertained that ut the
present time there was no organization Of men in
the immediate neighborhoOd, and had not been.
There were probably SEINE twenty or thirty men at
jacksonville, who expressed themselves willing to
JOIN tho expedition, and who, no doubt, would join
II an opportunity offered. NO principal officer Of
vile lately. II is asserted by persons who ire
believed To be in the movement, that great disap-
poiniment lad been eaperienced from the nonarri-
val Il steamer to transport those engaged in the
expedition. such vessel had been expected for
some time; but her explained delay had dumped
the ardor CT some, and caused others engaged to
abandon the project and had induced the belief that
the whole affair, rs far as Jacksonville is cd
would prove failure
At this place there are but few persons who do
not sympathis, with, and would aid the expedition
as far as possible.
On the arrival Of the Welaka at Jcffersonton. it
ascertaincd that there were no bodies Of men
encamped, as reported, at Burnt Fort. Some small
parties, il WAS said had passed this point but their
estimation was not ascertancd, aud but little re-
lance could be placed on the rumors.
On reaching Brunswick, it WAS ascertaned that
some Of the coast pilots had gone SOUTH with the
intention Of plotting the 81. Johns bar certain
vessels expected at that point. A gentleman, on
whose word every reliance could be placed, stated
that the day before, he had passed an abandoned
encamIment, some twenty miles above where
large body of men had but short time before
been encamped. We also passed some fifty or sixty
men who had baggage wagon they we're proceed
ing south, in the direction Of Burnt Fort They
not armed to any extent, and passed on in
squads Of from eight to ten in number
At Daricn no particular information was obtained
A body Of men connected with the expedition had
come down fIon the interior and gone south. Some
ten or twelve left the main body and were making
their way to Savannah. Here il was ascertaned
that an express connected with the expedition had
passed south through Darien to procure such infor
nation. He had passed very rapidly, and had pro-
cured relays OF horses on his way.
There can be no doubt tina. movement of con-
siderable ma gntudc has been foot in relation to
an expedition destined to Cuba But il is also be-
lieved that, from causes uhknO wn to the public,
the main body Of the men connected with Il have
dispersed, and that between this city and Jackson
Vile, Florida, there is no organization at present
But, one thing is certain-that ut all the points
between this city and Jacksonville, the people, with
but few exceptions, sympathise with the Cubans,
and willing and ready to lend them aid, aud to
assist any expedition which may be fitted cut.
From all that we could gather it not the in
tenton of the leaders to actually organize the expo
dition in this county, but to sail unorganzed to
some point hey ond the boundaries Of the United
states, and there make such arrangements should
be deemed cxpedicnt.