Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-12-29
The Ftiiibusters and their Captain.

The FiiIibusters and their Captain.
Lieut.. White, commander Of the L. 5.
Cutter thai unfortunately run aground in it's
chase after the flibuster schooner Susan,
vas as everybody knows, carried off to sea
by the rasoally illibustcrs, as the shortest
way Of getting rid Of him. lie was subse
queD,ly put on to,rd vessel they spoke in
the Golf, aud carried into port again. He
gives the lolosiog account Of tho fllibus-
tiers and their wide-awako Captain, Maury,
which we tiud in the New Orleans Delta:
"Mr. White states that be was treated 10
the kindest manner possible, aud was offered
pruning hook and plow, if be would join
his fortunes with theirs, but that be politely
declined, though he was OF opinion that a
more resolute and determined Sc. of officers
aud men could not have been picked out to be
sent upon an expedition to Nicaragua. They
all stated that they should resist to the death
sIy attempt made by any foreign vessel TO
take them. Maury, BrunCau, Anderson and
Mr.. White occupied the cabin, while the other
officers occupied the ward room.
The officers spent the time reading and in
dulging in champaign; number Of baskets
of the latter being slowed away uader the
berths. And while sitting around the social
board, many good yarns were spun. Maury
always coming 10 with the best--presenting
a striking appearance, with bis blue hanoel
pants, red shirt, cap, and high topped boots.
Upon being asked by Lieut. White, what
was the latitude, he hunted up bis quadrant,
but said that what with reading law, acting
Marshal, and keeping store, he had become
little rusty in the science of navigation,
but expected to rub up in q day or two
They, however, soon ascertained the latitude
and, having a thermometer en- board, are all
right in their reckoning.
Maury, who is IS thorough sailor as ever
placed his foot on the deck of vessel, related
an anecdUte illustrative of bis dead-reckOning
sailing, which many OF his friends will 10
doubt recognize. Daring the Cuban exci'e
ment and just at the time that Crittenden and
others had been shot at Havana, a crew Of o
shipwreeked Spanish orig were taken to Mo
bile, and the Spanish Consul fearing for
their lives, engaged Maury to take them to
Havana. Starting with his little schooner,
he ran down and made the hesdlands, Of
Cuba, and went into Havana by guess. Go.
ing aboard of one of our met -of-war, which
was lying in the port, the ommander asked
him if his chronometer was al! right. Maui
~ laughed, and said he bad no! a single IL
s,rumeot on beard. "llow did you come
down, Capt. Marry" inquired the Comman-
der.
"Steered for it, Sir, and made it," replied
Maury. "Ab, but" replied his questiOner,
chow do you expect to return?" well, the
fact is," said Maury, in his peculiar way,
"wc laid in pretty good stock of champagne
before we started, and as each bottle was fla
ished, land it was not long between drinks, |
assure you Sir threw it over the stern aud
am going to sail back by the bottles" The
Commander eyed hin, pretty closely, and set
him down for fast boy. Some weeks after
ward, it is told Of the commander, that When
out 10 the gulf be spied something floating on
the water, end calling his quarter master,
took the spy glass and bore down on it. See
Ing that it was bottle be said to the Lieu
tenant on watch, There is some Of Captain
Maury's longitude"