Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-05-21
Another Shot from the British.

The brig Wirgold, of Boston, Capt.
Loring, which arrived at this port Sun
day from Sierra Morena via Cardenas,
was fired into by British cruiser, under
the following circumstances. as related
by the mate, Mr.. n. DOyly:
The vessel cleared at Havana in bal
last for Sierra Moreno, to load, and on
the 10Th ult., when running along under
a three knot breeze, being only about
one mile from the anchorage of the town
and in two fathoms water, an open boat
was seen standing towards the brig, in
which were party Of men, and soon
after heard the firing Of gun twice IN
succession, but took no notice Of the
noise, supposing the men in the boat might
be on a sporting excursion and further
more, being in short hailing distance,
Capt. Loring very naturally concluded
that if they had wanted TO communicate
with him, they could easily have done so
without the warlike preliminary of fir
ing gun. The boat was not more than
half a cables length from the vessel. A
third musket ball, however, was soon
fired, which whizzed by the captains
head, and struck in the rigging, falling
upon the deck, where it was afterwards
found, and proved to be a Minnie ball.
The ca ,tain's escape was very narrow.
lie Immediately hoisted the American
ensign, and hailed the boat, to know
what they wanted. The reply was
Heaye too, or by Cd will let you
know what l WANT The vessel was
accordingly hove too, and the boat ranged
alongside, when six or eight men, with
cutlasses in hand and revolvers by their
side, sprang upon deck. Captain Loring
asked what they wanted. A man, ap-
parently the officer of the party, although
he bore no badge denoting himself as
such, except small English coat OF
arms on his greasy cap, said he belonged
to an English man-oi-war, and accom-
panied the remark with an oath. The
captain inquired the name of the man.
of-war, but the officer Replied it is
none Of your business" and asked Capt
Loring why he didn't heave to. The
captain replied that he did not know they
wished TO speak with him, and concluded
if they did, they could have done SC
without firing gun, the boat being
within hailing distance. The officer sale
the English flag at his Peak ought t.
have explained his position. The cap
tain replied that the flag in question wa
so small that it was not discovered from
the brig before their attention was callet
to it.
The officer finally demanded q sigh
of the ships papers, which were readil,
shown to him, and after examining them
he expressed himself satisfied and LEI
the --ooa>l Car,s~:.- To 49, rlo
ceeded on his course, and shortly afte
dropped his anchor at Sierra Moreno.
1t was afterwards learned what til
officer refused to tell, that the boat b.
longed to the British war steamer Bui
card, which was cruising on the coas
and had sent this boat in near the shor
where shallow water prevented her frol
going. The mate describes the men
the boat, who numbered about twent
as the dirtiest set of fellows he evt
saw, and he at once took them for +
rates. In the bottom of the boat W
slowed away a twelve FOUNDER. whit
the men were just bringing up into POI
sition when the brig hove to.
The general appearance of the m,
and the insolent bearing of the ofic
after coming on deck, if they did L
confirm any previous apprehension
pirates, certainly did not raise the usu.
iy good opinion entertained Of the ma
ly bearing of the men composing t
Royal Navy and the gentlemanly qua
ties Of their oficers.-BoSt1n Journal