The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-09-13
THE MYs CERI0us EXPEDITION.

ScsenisAaP Bsrt<snlm Franklia. w aero arc
GrVrse Laws Muskets GSaast lie Msxlco,
Vsucsuel- or O~sa DO Revsiution'x cd!
scs days AGO the Catherine augusta bark OF sbsut
four hundrc tons sailed from this port for the island Of
81. Thomas "snd msrset" She he'd for her cargo .
large number Of Gcesge Laws mu Acts. ooasdsraSls
supply Of ammunition. aud three hunde t,ns Of
coal Al there appcsrci to be eomsthnz vsry myster
cus about the movements Of al connected With her and
- there wce variety OF conflicting runners In regard to
hee destination. we determined II psuible to end out
tho object o( hcr mission some sad she vas going to
any por. where sao could duposs Of those m askets
whe Others wcrc Of the opinion that she bound to
Cuba With munitions Of war for the patriots among
hese reports there is thu8 srtan-tbat she hes
most beeerert aspect aod strongly inclined to
beHevc that her int.ntons OF most warxc oharao
ter But our readers viii bs bettsr able Judge Of tho
cofrec'ness Of our surnites from piaiu unvarnihed
nsrratevs Of our Investigations
On Saturday last We embarked upon small boat near
Casc Garcs and proceeded Ia search Of the Catherine
Augusta, ieepng sharp look out for ell ssioag, 10
bAck' v ssels After rowing about for consdsrsbls
ume without GudiDe any Of that description, OF an
svsng TO any that bore the least to
that of the bark in search Of coucldisd
give and rcturn. There three OF
lying opposite the Battery the French steam Acherc
the United States razee Inde eyeudeace, and the Santa
Anna, suaan steamer built in this port for the
Mexican but there nothing aIisa
albusering In tho appearance Of any Of these. Fail
ing in search in thus quar.er Ve inqpred at the
Barge CAfce, where ", were informed the Catherine
Aueua.a bad satlec the day befors (Friday) for It
Thonsa and for further particulars In relation thereto
were directed to her 70 owners Ia South street
In due time reached the establ,shment of these
gentlemen, and we're fortunate In du:ing Of them
IN his Office. We explained Ia the mos, con,iss term.
the object Of ist aud told him the reports had
heard in relation to tue bark sut found that he
bound to sec cay In regard to her mission.
The vessel" eaid he. "was formerly owned by me;
but sslosei Of her eh rt time ago to certain parties
whose names am not permitted I, disclose"
'Hss she any arms and ammunition on boArdp We
inquired.
''Yes, considerable number of George La vs. mus
kets, and some ammunition
'Do you think abe will 10 jiaet by any We ,sels from
southe n ports before she steers for Cubar'
s'we cannot say what viii be done with her; but
iz,ow she has number Of passengers for st. ,mas,
who will be usnsfercd board steamer Beojami.
FranAltn after sre leaves this port"
eyes; undsrstood tast the two were bound ON the
same expeoitoO but do you think, without the assist.
Of additional force they will be able to lani
on the Island Of Cuba +"
"I DON'T know; there about sixty nsu ON board
OF her, and these, added to the srex ON the Fr4uk
In, vii make pretty good foroe. am
not authorss0. however, to say any,hiog further
about either Of the vessels but have you viii
obtain il the iafor nation you want sle~h-re, for
know ,h once the HERALD goes 70 work, It is always
auocessful In getting All sAy about her IL,
TINT NH bought frvm ns; vusa 49, Nens as4s
ammunition board, that she vii wait outside for
the Becsmin Franklin You had better ho ~evor, SO,
Captain Byron, her commander who IL thorough post
ed on the snbeot and who may give you al the psriu
lars Meantime, II I see him will lot him knox that
you have been hero and ask him hes any obiect "a
TO fu-oish you with the Information you desire He
engagement this evening with number Of gentlemen
WHO sie interested in the undertakingn
ssThey hold msetipgs then, do thsy 2" ws asked.
''Yes, they hsye held several meetings already.n
"Whst gentlemen attead thens Has, Joha L. O'Sul-
livan anything 70 do with this expedisionW
81 DON'T know that he has bot belisve not cant
say an thing further about the matter"
We expressed obligations to him iu good Englhh
could command, and left tho oaos expressing the
hope that the expedition to CUBA wouli be
cessfol
Our next visit to Captain Byrom's, but We did
not succeed In 6nong him at horne went up to the
foot Of North Moore street, Nor River where we're
told we would 6ud bis steamer lying Ins'ead Of the
Berjamn Franklia however, we found another, whish
gentlemen have been talking abost purchasing Two Of
the hands informed that few days ago she had been
Inspected by visitors with spaaish OF couute
nance but that as the owners wabted than they
were wiling to give they co,d not agree the price.
They thought however, that they would eventually pur
chsse hsr. 81 wish, ssid one Of them "that como of
the Cubans would buy her. ard would have objection
to start in her myself Wouldn't we, said he, give
those Old Spsniards 6tsf'
They lad heard Of the Benjamin FRANKLIN entertained
very poor opinion Of her and thought that long pro
peller which lay the Jersey shore might be the
vessel in question We Of different opinion how
over and resolved to prosecute Inquiries ia another
direction Having heard that shs yug at Pier No A
Nor river went there and found In the dock pro-
pelsr Of about x hundred tons, bearing the Of
the old philosopher. Before gong beard took
survey Of her exterior and close inspection found
that che bored for ton guns bat tnst the ports
nailed up and caulked This, however, only tempo
rary and could bo removed with very little dculty a.
tor she got out Of perwhch may b tho intention Of
her owpor Besides the closed port holes there
thing to indicate the character Of the vessel <v
cept snail cannon her bow. Upon gong aboard We
the steward ard two tAree Of the hands, AL Of
whom appeared to bs entirely ignorant Of everything
about the vessel.
Addressing the steward We inquired Captain Byron
vaa in the cabin, and answered in the negative.
sThis ID the Benjamin FranAlin--bound for Cub,, Il
she not?" No asted
al don't know said the steward "whers she Il bouud
for; but you arc right about her name"
eHas she got ali her guns on board yeti"
eve don't know that abe is to have any"
sYou are all Know Nothings here"
eyes, sir, We are all Know No hings hers, and We
can't tell you anything about her."
'Thep, Of c,urse sou don't know how much ammuni
ton there Ia on bosrd do you?-
'sNo, sir; there is no on board.n
s'wer, you haven't any Of that you don't want for
provisional" resumed, sluding TO cooking ope
rasions that were going on, and 10 witch the whole
party appeared to be deeply interested.
"Never mind M for that wen look ont for the prov
sons, {" they replied.
sNothing moro necessary thsn provisions; you viii