The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1851-09-18
sPanI.h omelal publlea,Ion
Sketch Of the Lopez Expedition By one oj
iks Members. g..

MS ExcelleDey the Captain General
has pernniIted the Insertion, in the nfIic.
iai gazette. Of the following account Of
u. Francisco Alexander Lame, bne Of
those who comprised the pivstieal expe.
ditinH; ,....' . 4.' .,......
In the Plea Of Havana, August 30.
1851. the Ser. Fiscal, accompanies hy
my secretary, proceeded To the Castle Of
the Presidio. where was confined d.
francisco A. Laine, who. being swoin.
otter ed In testify to the truth. as fDllows:
Being asked his name, religion. &c.,
he said; | am named F. A. Lame, aged
80 years. native Of hiquizer, C. A. r.,
executor Of my mothers prapety.
Being asked when he went from the
Island. if his passports had been verified,
and Ia what pO1. he said that he sailed
on the 4th Of February. Is49, with pass.
ports for San Francisco, going first to
New Orleans. MI
Being asked if he went 10 California
or remained in the United States, he said
that mot having received in New Orleans,
the letters which he expected, and feel.
ing short nf money. be had given lessons
IN Spanish aud mathematics for a Ii iyeIi
hood.
Being asked II subsequent 10 this time
he had returned 70 Cuba, he said he had
not. .,..
Being asked if he knew .Nsrcisco 10
pez. and what was Tie nature ot his rela
tions with him. he said that, when Lopez
returned from Cardenss, in 1850, he had
some conversation with him respecting
some Cubans, whose rames he did not
remember, but who he believes are all
dead. excepting one, Sir Lnnu, and that
he had no employment with Lopez. or
relations with him, except iu the caUrse
of friendly correspondence, which was
lost with his letter book. at Las Posas
aud which was afterwards found by one
lof the Galeciau officers.
Being asked Ia tell xhat he knew Of tb,
designs Of Lopez in this ex pediliou. wha
was his furce. and who were his officers
and what happened after leaving New
Orleans. until the landing on this Island
he said. that the expedition which start
ed in the steamer Pampero Numbered
500 men. exclusive Of some who joined
} the steamer in.tbe Mississippi river; bu
the Captain having made known that il
was impossibleto carry ell. aportion re.
turned. leaving on board 459 men. who
were all who disembarked at Mutillo;
Ithat the object was first TO go to the river
St. John. there TO effect junction with q
force of artillery which was waiting there
and then 10 land at some point in the
central department.; but having touched
at Key West for stores. Lopez received
information that Pinar Del Ray, and al
most all Of the Vuelta de Abajo had re
volted; that il was then resolved To lant
some where in Vuelta de Abajo; that, b,
a mistake Of the pilot, they were takel
before Matanzas, and were obliged to re
turn by Havana, in search of the port O
Otligosu. where they proposed to land
but were prevented by the frigate Espsr
anza; that the officers were NarciscO Lo
pez, u Hungarian, Mr.. Prsgay, Co... Crit
tenden, ,aud two others named Linds anc
Clinton; that the Captain Of the Cubal
company. TO which deponent belonged
was lldefenso Oberto who was killed a
Las Posas; that the design Of Lopez wa
to establish a Cuban republic, countin!
on an insurnec,ion in the country, and tn
good will of the trogps. .. 5.-f
Being asked what occurred after hi
landing until brought here, he said ths
|. they disembarked on the shore of Mori
n 10 at IL o'clock at night ou the lth inst
without any opposition beyond four
n FIVE discharges. which dispersed SON
i countrymen of Morrillo; that they fDun
h the shore deserted. the, store open au
o forsaSen, and having left something le.
D than two hundred men under Col. Cri
3 Ftenden in charge of the unnecessary arm
!. and provisions. the remainder of the eS
petition. under Lopez, advanced to La
; Posos without meeting anything exceI
few countrymen who fed when the
saw the advance; and that when arrive
at Las Posas they found the town aban
: doned, nor were they alb g to make III
: inhabitants return, Notwithstanding th
I offers made tothem; that the day follow
ing they were attacked by the troops {
the Queen. who, in the end. were force
To retire, leaving them in possession I
n the place, with the loss of Col. Pragal
u c0lonel whose name he had forgotten
j Capt. Oberto, and some fly killed an
J. wounded; that finding they did not Ell
t counter the expected sympathy among:
j the people. and were aitacted by III
! very troops whom they expected to jon
y them, they resolved 10 resort to the moul
a tains. and with this objec, started f
!. Pinar del Rio, but by the error or treacl
: cry Of the guide we're conducted toll
e coffee estate of Frias, where they ha
2 another encounter with the troops. whiC
!. resulted in the loss of four or five me
i which with what were befbre lost, r
!, duced the force at Frias To 220 men, i
o, Guiding IL or Is wounded; that wi
f these they passed 10 Brujo, and spen
lug the night ip union, went to Marti,
renea or Candelaria. where, on the 2lt
! in number not exceeding 200 men. wht
. breakfastng. they were surprised. attac
3 ed, and dispersed by the Troops of Il
], Queen. A hundred nr more hid, then
" selves in the furest. one lhird witho,
: arms. where they remained four day
= !, without any food except horse, s"m
y corn. and wild pIantaiDs; that then al