Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1852-10-16
1be DoiIp l1irpinian.
The scIzmre Oftne Cormcsia.
rage upon Captain Ward, and Violation

her captain, aud the seizure of the Mail bags:
On the 22d September the Cornela was
cleared at the Custom House, hauled from the
wharf, and the letter bag having hecndcivered
by Messrs Drake & Co, the consgnees for
transmission to tho United States. the ship got
under weigh. Size arrived without molesta
ton, at the guard ship lying at the mouth oil The
harhor, " hen she vas boarded by the anthorl-
ties. accompanied by some Spanish soldiers,
who ordered the ship To be anchored. This
order was Instantly obeyed, but from the posi-
ton Of The vessel at the time, and the narrow
ness of the mouth ofthe harbor-having scarce.
" sufficient water To turn in-she ran great
hazard of, being lost. The officials then inqur.
ed Of Captain Ward If he had man concealed
on board his ship of the name of II lenlkness
which he denied. They Immediately com
menccd searching the ship and found Hearls
ness concealed in the after cabin. Captain
Ward denied all knowledge Of the transaction
and IIcnrkness, when confronted with him,
assured the Spanish officers that he alone was
in fault, and that the captuin Of the Corhelia,
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 unne.
rous spies, that Mr.. Guzman had taken his pass
sage for New York in the CorncIia. aud that
certain letters had been given him to deliver TO
persons on his arrival in that city. G'uzmon
bad applied for n passport, which had been
granted him; but at the moment of his depar-
urc, when the Captain General made sure the
letters would be board, he took this method
ofnpprehcnding him.
The authorities dsregarded the protestarions
OF innocence made by Captain Ward, aud CON
Quoted him, in company with llcnrkness, as
prisoner, 10 the guard ship. Hearknoss, they
left in the guard ship; and the American cap
tam, guarded by two soldiers, with mnskets
aud bayonrts, was conducted on shore, To un
dergo an examination by tho Captain oi the
Port who on his arrival, III n most brutal man
ner told him that ho was liable IN he fined ST.,
600 for having concealed persons untavorublc
TO the Spanish Government on board his YES
sell but that if he would deliver up tho letters
which Mr.. Guzman, anotherpasscnger, had de.
livered 10 him, the fine would 10 RENTED,
and the Coraclio allowed To proceed on her
voyage. In reply 10 this, Captain Ward III
formed the Captain of the Port that he MAS en-
trcly ignorant Of Ileorkncss, having concealed
himself Oh board his vessel, and lhat no pock-
age Of letters had been entrustedto hs care by
Guznan. At this unctnre the Captain of the
Port became furoasly inccnsed, and told Cap.
tain Ward, TINT he was GihbHstrr0 and a l1ar
and thatuuless thepackage Wasimmediately dc.
lvcred up. fine of s. 900 would he imposed
He rhtn ordered tIrceptaln lo bc conveyed to
tie ship. y hich order was carried into effect
tie soldiers accompanying hifn. He was how
ever, not permitted to remain any length OF tune
on the Ship, but re.cOnvcyed ON shore TO The
Captain General, to undergo Il second eXamna
ton This second examination was one Of the
same character as the first, and he Was again or
dcrcd on board ship. the Captain Of the Port
informing him that he was "A scoundrel and
that unless toe package was forthcoming, he
should he sent TO prison as an enemy 10 the
Queen ofSpain. Shortly alfer,lhe captain oitho
pert accompanied bv the captain OF police. ar.
rived on board, aud demanded the letters IN.
his possession. There were several packages
of lcuers in Coptaia Wnrd's desk which was IN
his cabin, which, together with letter hng,
the Captain of The Port and the captain of po-
lice conveyed on shore
fer opening the box and examining the
letters. giving. at the same time, strict lnjunc
tons TO the soldiers on duty that he should not
be allowed an insfant's communication with
any person. under any circumstances, Guz
man was arrested. Some time after this,
The captain accompanied by Guzman and his
luggage. was rowed on shore in launch, and
marched, guarded as before, TO the govern
ment house, where, after long examination
before the secretary ofthe Cover nor and 9th
er officials. he wns called upon To give securl-
ty.C Capt Ward obstlnateiy refused to entcrta n
such proposition, stating that as The Spanish
authorities had thonght proper 10 capture his
vessel, and deal 50 uucercmouiously with his
person, for no cause Whatever they must take
The responsibility Of these acts upon themseIv-
es The officials, after somo delberaiion a
mong themselves, finally concluded that Cap
tain Ward should be allowed to proceed on
his voyage, and offered to return him the letter
bag considerably lightened of It's contents, bul
he replied, that as they thought fit to board his
ship and take away the letters entrusted to 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 a vessel had
no right TO receive letter until he had first
examined it; and he, in reply, informed them
that thew must hold themselves resnonsiblo 10