Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-05-26
STANTON SPECTATOR AND GENERAL ADVERTISER.
prooeedinCs in the Gulf of Mexico.

=. Proceedings in the Gulf of Mexico. 8
{ Capt. Loring, of the brig Wingold, arrived al
Boston or the 10th from Sierra Moreno, Cuba
and gives the following account of his being
boarded by boats crew from British wal
vessel but short distance from the harbor Of
Sierra Morena, on the 10Th OF last month. The
narrative is taken from the Boston Traveller Of
the 18th inst:
Captain Loring states that on the 10Th he was
running before two or two and half knot
breeze, for Sierra Moreno, whence he intend.
ed to load for Boston. He was in ballast
and was about mile distant from the an
chorage of the harbor.. The place was new
to Captain Loriug, and his attention was prin-
cipally engaged in looking after his vessel, but
as he swung his glass around he noticed q
boat coming in the direction of the brig; this
he supposed might be fishing boat, and he did
not paw much attention to it, as he thought they
might be coming to offer their services as pi-
lots; little later upon looking at the boat he
saw that it was full, or nearly so, of men, per.
haps some twelve or fifteen, who had q rather
hard look, and the thought suggested itself that
they might possibly be deserters out OF food,
and who were about to levy upon him for sup
ply; or perhaps even worse, that they were
pirates; it was not until they had got within
half cables length of the vessel that he noticed
the English flag "a small pattern,) flying in the
stern of the approaching boat
It was then little forward of the beam of the
Wingold and within easy talking distance; there
was no hail from them but they passed along
by, and when they were cables length astern
they fired three muskets from the boat to the
Wingod. One of these muskets was apparently
aimed at him, but he supposed that it was load
ed with blank cartridge only. The third mus
ket fired contained ball, for Capt. Loring dis
tincty heard it whiz by his head and strike the
mast. 1t was afterwards picked up from the
deck and found to be Minnie ball. (This ball
is now in the possession of Messrs. Blanchard,
Sherman & Co., of this city, who chartered the
vesseD at this Captain Loring hailed the boat
and inquired "what they wanted, what they
were firing at him for" at the same time he no.
ticed that they were at work mounting swivel
in the forward part of the boat The reply was,
1--WE have a swivel here, and if you do not heave
to we'll sink you"
He then hove 10 and they came alongside;
Captain Loring asked who and what they were,
and they replied, "We'll let you know when we
get on board" The British officer then came
on board, attended by ten or twelve of his men,
all fully armed with revolvers and cutlasses,
which they had taken from an arm chest on
board the boat as they neared the vessel. The
officer asked Capt Loring why he did not heave
to, inquiring if he did not know it was an Eng
fish war vessel. Capt Loring replied that he
did not know the fact nor see the flag until a.
bout the time the muskets were fired, and in
CURED to what vessel they belonged this question
Capt. Loring asked three times without obtain
ing satisfactory answer; at one time he said
he belonged to the steamer out there, pointing
to vessel in the distance; the second time, he
replied that it was none of Capt. LIS business,
and the third time never mind ;with the politest
language that had been used, the officer then
asked the captain to 'please let him see his pa
pers."
With dozen armed men around him, Gap
tain L., of course, at once assented, and led his
way to the cabin. The officer followed, accom-
panied by one of his men with q loaded revolt
YER in one hand and drawn cutlass in the other.
At the cabin door was placed another man armed
with cutlass and revolver. The other men
from the boat were ranged about the deck
Having examined the papers of the brig and
found them all right, he mustered his men and
soon after left the vessel. Captain Loring de-
scribes them a. q curious looking set. The Of
fcer had on pair of pantaloons, apparently
made out of an old blanket; his cap, however,
had faint insignia of the English coat of arms.
The men were dressed in slovenly style
some in ganza frocks, and some in other mate
rails. Captain L. could hardly believe that they
were attached to an English man-of-war, were
it not for their flag, arms, chest, &c
He learned on shore that they belonged to the
sloop of-war Buzzard. engaged in connection
with the Styx, in searching all vessels on the
coast in accordance with orders received, as
they said, from the Admiral upon the Jamaica
station. At Sierra Morena the American Con-
sui, upon being informed of what had occurred,
took down the statement of Capt Loring, which
was sent to Havana, and thence ere this has been
placed in the hands of the authorities at Wash
ington. Capt Loring is positive that he was
not hailed to hesve to before the last musket
was fred, and though quietly disposed gentle
man, who has been for some time in the West
India trade, is, of course, highly indignant al
what had occurred, not only considering the
search of his vessel illegal, but that the way il
was conducted, and the carelessness exhibited
in regard to human life, to be of highly outra-
geous character.
Captain Loring also states that the American
bark, V. T. Martin, Charles A. French comman-
der, while lying at anchor in the harbor of Car
denas, was boarded by an English naval officer
who requested to see his bill of lading and his
charter-p party but was finally satisfied with an
inspection of his register. LII
In addition we learn from Captain Loring
that fore-and-aft American schooner, hailiDg
from New York, whose name he does not recol-
lect was seized by British war.steamer of
Stone Key. This schooner, Captain L. says, he
laid near by while in the port of Havana, and
noticed that she took on board lumber and 6
large quantity of water, but her papers were al
regular, and the passports of her Spanish pas
sengers were signed by the Captain General
The passengers of this vessel, after her capture
were landed at Stone Key, and the vessel sent
20 Iamainn in order to have the case Examined