The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-11-25

Seizure a. Baraooa.
We have been put in possession OF all the facts in
on TO the recent seizure at the schooners
Chas r smythe and John G. White the detention and
probable conscaton OF the latter vessel and the arrest
and imprisonment Of the two passengers, Mr. Lacoste
and Mr. John H. Felix. Our informants parties who
are friends Of the last named young man. and who have
conyersed with Messrs. Meacham L Stow No % South
street the Of the John G. White with Captain
Hawkins and mate Of the Charles smythe which has
been released and Is lying at the foot of Burng
slip and with Captain Dorr Of the schooner Mets just
returned from Baracoa and disclarging at pier No
East river
The circumstances are sucdncily these
II appears that Mr. Felix took passage in the Charles
smythe and Mr.. Iaeoste IN the John C. White that
the former vessel arrived out rst and discharged
her cargo when both vessels seized consequence
of letter brought by the Mets written in cypher by
hbustero in New York 10 at Baracoa, which
opened by the Spanish officials, the Cuban to whom
the letter was addressed was suspected party who
had been pardoned for having been engaged the Lo-
pea expedition lie it was and not reported either
OF the above named passengers, who when lodged in
prison. fred the jail and was shot in his attemp. to
cape, This letter stated that these schooners
freighted with munitions Of war, aud hence the
search and seizure. Upon the beach found
nothing VAS found on board the Charles I Smythe.
The vessel detained days in charge Of brutal
lance and finally permitted to depart upon the oath
OF every man bconng TO her, from the captain to the
cook, that the boxes in question were no, landed by
them, and that they knew nothing whatever of the mat
ter. The John 6. White next seized, her cargo
broken and several boxes of ammunition found in
her hold. Capt McCulloch was compelled to make de-
caration, in which he that these belonged to the
passenger Iacosie, and TO Felix and that he knew
thing oi their contents, which represented to him
20 b. owery and dry goods, but that his owners
all about it. The here declare, however, that
ney wtre entirely Ignorant of the whole Transaction
;. Iaco afa fhrns Mt
prison The schooner had guard placed board Of
her and has been taken together with the and all
await and abide the decree Of the Spanish tribunal Cap
tan for and Hawkins both give II their belief from
tons it'll Mr. Felix before and after the arrest that he
had completely whatever with the landing Of the
arms however i may have been with Iacoste. Capt.
Dotr, OF the Metis further states that Mr. Overman the
acting American Consul at Baracoa-a deputy Of the
Consul 81 st. Jago-was grossly derelict in duty and
that he did not even know that Felix American
citizen and had papers proving him to be SUCH until
informed by BIN Capt d. and that he assigned as
reason for not interesting himself in HE BEHALF that it
"woud be hazardous, account of the great excite
ment," &c.
We learn that they were incarcerated like the vilest
feons heavily ironed and that they bound with
cords, in the most cruel and painful manner, when
they were removed TO st. Jago. The Consul, when
who he was aud wha, he was, that he had highly in,
huenal friends in this city, in social, political and
to have cot besead sent to his CELL to take the place
OF the bare floor, which had been his only pallet Mr.
felX Is native OF brooklyn, and is brother in law to
the Rev Francis Peck, Episcopal clergyman Of that
city, and he was highly esteemed by all who knew him.
lie is All upright Christian young man, and tho
perintendent Of Sabbath school, and those who knew
him best that he had too much discretion and prn
cipe to he engaged in any flbustering expedition
ER has been engaged for the past eight years, with
one Of the heaviest importing firms Of this city, who
have frequently sent him Cuba legitimate business
because of his familiarity with the Spanish language
They bear cheerful testimony to his uniform good
duct and say that Ire took passage in the schooner
Their than by steamer that the voyage might benefit
his health, which bad What more natural than that
he should seek the company of fellow -countryman,
Mr., Lacoste, who arrived there few days efter hims
His only crime is that OF being caught in flbustero
company, admitting that Mr.. L.. is guilty Of the
charges alleged against him, which do not choose
TO do.
Here is that calls loudly for the prompt and
energetic action of Mr. Secretary Marcy Shall this limo
cent young man, in feeble heoh--an American citizen,
be consigned to all the horrors of Span sh prison. and
the tardy Justice of Spanish tribunals In the ancient
days Of the 'seven Killed City" to be Roman citizen
was greater than king and the mere knowledge of
this fact of citizenship protection enough in any
country where Roman power had been felt When shall
the mgs Of American citizenship be the only safeguard
that we shall need against foreign tyranny and unjust
expressions: Again say, here is opportunity for
our imbecle administration TO investigate the facts
and act With prcmptitude and vgor.