Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-11-10
From the New York Times.
The Seizure of the CorneIia.

The Cornelia having arrived at Ne"
York from HAVANA, we have the Hollow
inc detailed account of the gross outrage
committed upon her captain, and the sell
zure of her Mail bag:
On the 22d September the Cornella
was cleared at the Custom House, hauled
from the wharf and the letter bag having
been delivered by Messrs. Drake & Co,
the consignees, for transmission to the U.
States, the ship. got under weigh. She
arrived without molestatiou, at The guard
shin lying at the mouth of the harbor,
when She was boarded by the authorities,
accompanied by some Spanish soldiers,
who ordered the ship to be anchored
This order was instantly obeyed, but IRON
the position of the vessel at the time, and
the narrowuess of the mouth of the har-
bor-having scarcely sufficient water to
turn in-she ran great hazard OF beng
lost The officials then inquired OF Capt:
Ward if he had a man concealed on board
his ship of the name of Hearkness, which
he denied They Immediately common
ced searching the ship and found Heark-
ness concealed in the after cabin. Capt
Ward denied all knowledge of the trans
action. and uearkueSs, when confronted
with him, assured the Spanish officers
that he alone was in fault, and that the
captain of the Cornelia, and every person
in the ship, were ignorant of his having
concealed himself.
1t appears that the Captain General of
Cuba had received information from one
of his numerous spies, that Mr.. Guzman
had taken passage for New York IN the
Cornelia, and that certain letters had
been given him to deliver to persons on
his arrival in that city. Guzman had ap-
piled for a passport, which had been grant
ed but at the moment of his departure,
when the Captain General made sure the
letters would be on board, he took this
method of experimenting him.
The authorities disregarded the pro-
testations of innocence by Capt. Ward,
and conducted him, in company with
Hearkner, as prisoncss, to the guard ship.
Hearkness, they left in the guard ship and
the American captain, guarded by two
soldiers, with muskets and bayonets was
conducted on shore, to undergo an exam
nation by the Captain of the Port, who
on his arrival, in a most brutal manner
told him that he was liable to be fined
81 900 for having concealed persons I'M
favorable to the Spanish Government on
board his vessel, but that if he would de-
liver up the letters which Mr.. Guzman,
another passenger, had delivered to him,
the fine would be remittcd, and the Cor
nelia allowed to proceed on her voyage.
In reply to this, Captain Ward informed
the Captain of the Port, that he was en-
tirelv ignorant of Hearkness having con-
ceaIed himself on board his vessel, and
that no package of letters had been en-
trusted to his care by Guzman. AT this
iuncture the Captain of the Port became
furiouslv incensed, and told Capt. Ward,
that he was a fZ2iJuSterO and liar, and
that unless the package was immediately
delivered up, a fine of 1000 would be
imposed. He then ordered the captain to
be conveyed to the ship, which order was
carried into effect, the soldiers accompa-
nying him. He was however, not permit
ted 10 remain any length of time on the
shin, but re conveyed on shore to the Cap
tain General, to undergo a second eXamI-
nation. This second examination was
one of the same character as the first, and
he was again ordered on board the ship,
the Captain of the Port informing him
that he was a scoundrel, and that unless
the package was forthcoming, he should
be sent to prison as an enemy to the Queen
of Spain. Shortly after, the Captain of
the port accompanied by the Captain of
the police arrived on board, and demand
ed the letters in his possession. There
were several packages of letters in Capt.
Wards desk which was in his cabin,
which, together with letter bag, the
captain of the port and the captain of po-
lice conveyed on shore.
After opening the box and examining
the letters, giving, at the same time, strict
injunctions to the soldiers on duty that he
should not be allowed an instant's COM
munication with any person, under any
Guzman was arrested
Some time after this, the Captain accom-
panied by Guzman and his luggage, was
rowed on shore in a launch, and march
ed, gurded as before, to the government
house, where, after long examination
| efore the secretary of the Governor and
other officials, he was called on to give
security. Capt Ward obstinately refu-
sed to entertain such proposition, sta
ting that as the Spanish authorities had
thought proper to capture his vessel, and
deal so unceremoniously with his person,
for no cause whatever, they must take the
responsibility of these acts upon them
selves. The officials, after some delibera
ton among themselves, finally concluded
that Capt. Ward should be allowed to
proceed on his voyage, and offered to re-
turn him the letter bag considerably light
ened of its contents, but he replied, that
as they thought fit to board his ship and
take away the letters entrusted HIS charge,
he would not receive them, but that they
might, if they thought proper, convey
them on board which was afterwards
done. They told him that the captain of
vessel had no right to receive a letter
until lie had first examined it +; and he, in