Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-05-13
The Late Cuban Farce.


absurdity and lays all former efforts in that line in the
shade it must render hopeless all competition the
future 1t would be an extreme stretch of courtesy to
dignity it by the name of madness. 1t could spring
from nothing short of sheer native and inherent folly
and stupidity. Thirtyfve men, with two hundred and
fifty muskets and some ammunition left New York on
the Oath March, 1859, board the American brigan-
tine African, on which, with their maerle they went
as passengers paying 81 900 for their passage to point
off the coast of Cuba, opposite the harbor of Nuevas
Grandes port on the North side of the island There
they with their equipments etc, were to be put ashore
in boats, but when the landing attempted the sea
was so rough and the boats so leaky that the exped
tonists refused to make the effort in them alleging the
probable risk of being swamped and the certain fact
that the munitions and so much wet as to be
incapable of being used. They therefore got Captain
Briton the commander of the African to take them to
Hayt where they landed at PortauPrnce, Oh the 18th
of April miserable SET without money, means, or, 1t
must be confessed character Their arms were depos-
tied in the public store at Portau-Prlnce how they
themselves to get remains to be seem The uni
ted States Consul refuses to have anything to do with
Them as their do not appear as passengers on the
manifest of the African and there is evidence docu
mentary Otherwise to prove that they are citizens OF
! the United States.
1t would appear that they belong to secret society
or brotherhood known as Ell AUe Mar,a,' of which
there would appear to be Junta in the city of New
York The cxpcdonists styled themselves the Sover-
cign Convention Of New York; and held meetings On
board the African and set forth their grievances at the
hands of the captain and crew of the African. One
minute of the proceedings is so perfectly original that
F,l f tho oil
the members Of the expedition or Convention among
which it would be difficult to find single American
NAME for which we arc thankful Our own ilibusterng
is bad enough in all conscience but we should be sorry
indeed to find any American citizen iCiotc to be
connected with such thing this last invasion -
OK BOARD BR1GANrINE AFRICAN,
AT SEA- April I, 1859.
The New York Convention assembled in order to
discuss what occurred at two O'clock A NJ, this day.
1t arises from the fact that the expedition could not dis
embark on account OF the great distance were from land
and because the three boats Of the African INSULT
Gent to hold the cargo and the thiryve passengers
as it was, number remained on board, besides thou
sand pounds Of balls The boats in such bad con-
diton that all the munitions and got wet and the
boats made much water that they nearly sank, that
should we have acceded to the repeated mperOus aud
insulting requests OF the captain, who desired to leave
his vessel in any manner both and effects would have
been lost within snort distance OF Inc vessel ana
as the state of the men, boats and munitions would
der it impossible to disembark in Cuba the Convention
determined to continue the voyage, in the direction of
Hayti in order to repair the injuries and collect
ces to carry out its purpose and to fulfill the engage
mens entered into with brothers. 1t too well
remembered that the injuries the Convention has suffer
ed and will have to suffer for cause too serious
on account of the confusion brought about by the pre-
ceding event. in order that should not strive to find
out the most direct and indirect which have to
answer for these injuries personally morally and pecunar
ily For the present the blame must be cast upon the
captain of the African for the noncompliance of his OBJ
gations-thc bad state Of the boats the distance from
the Shore and the uncertain place where he wished to
land u.s. instead of the port of Moves Grandes, where
he should have taken u.s. for the sum of 81 900 received
by him in New York. We defer the finding out of the
other cupabc parties until it shall be possible and
; convenient. The Convention determined to formally
protest. once twice. thrice, many times may be
requisite against the captain the other causes direct
or indirect OF misfortune in manner. 1t was
determined to hold general Juna with all the brothers
of " Ell Ave Maria " who in this expedition, to give
them an account of the resoutiL and if they approve
of them to authorize them by their signatures for the
for the CONSEQUENCES In virtue this the thirty broth
ers who came with us were called together and NANTES
ted unanimously that all that is comprehended in this
act is certain and unquesionabe also the ounda
lions upon which it is based therefore they approve
ratifyng them asking that the Convention may have
copy and the thirty brothers another, to be deposited
in the hands Of the person who has the confidence of the