The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-07-27
TIE oRIVATEERS.
Commiftn' of the Five rivaiccrsmen of
the Sumter for Trial on a Charge Of
UNITED STATES coMMiss ioEER'S COURT.
Before Commissioner Osborne.

y
psrnoy.
UNITED STATES coMMiss ioNERs COURT
Before COMMISSIONER Osborne.
july 20 Tho Ef,td States rs. 4. q. Iitiains p
OBl1en, DcnrNNy, Dapiso' and Spa'oc Of ne su,nt,
These prisoners who brought in,o this porL---two
y the Costa RIGA and three by the Cubawcrc brought
up for exam nati,n charge Of piracy
The examination was conducted by Mr. Andrews on the
part OF the government
Daniel j. strout captain OF the C,ba deposed that he
resides at Mlbrdgo Maine and captain of the brig
Cuba her last voyage sho owned by eight persons,
and belongs to Nlbridgo am part owner all the owners
citizens Of Tho United States our last voyage was
from New York to Trinidad, whore took in cargo of
Sugar aud mosses the Of the cargo are Germans,
and reside IA Trinidad; left Trinidad on The % of
July; the morning OF the fth 1 was cal,cd by tho
chief mate, who notified me that steamer was in
sight we were thon on the high seas about seven
O'Clock the steamer fired gun and ordered
to beavc TO- hove to- We had an American lig flying;
boat with four and officer armed with cutisses
and re"oVer9 came along ald" the officer said he
United States officer and ordered mo aboard his sh D with
all my paper; went on board and my papers cx-
aminod aud vas asked number OF question told
that we had been ntrdng thor rights and that was
prisoner OF war this said by te captain &C tho ship
the captain concluded to tow into Cenucgcs aud took
about ten O'Clock seven = NJ the pri2c crew
board taken of and this crew (thc prsoncrs)
were put Oh board, mono of them were among tho Grst
boats crew that came on board told the captain of the
Sumter that should not think much Of it II they had
sailed under their own flag; after was.on board they
hosed the Confederate dag; on The 5tl July, about
a. NJ, the Maobias, which WAS towed astegp or W.
parted her hawscr and the steamer left and went
ms 10 make sail for Cuha and stand into land
about seven A. NJ. the Sumter caIno up u.s.
hut owrg 70 The heavy seas could not set hawser
AFTER c found he could get hawsr to he ordered
the midshpman to sail for land and Tie last of tho
Sumter. which waa about fifteen miles on she bear
ing cast with the Mechas in tow; va worked eastward
unit! The night Of the 9th inst the m sh,pman hen as
e mo and tho mato If would not h5lp him get the
Caba into Fornandina. Florida neither myself nor NV
had done snytg previously about navigating the
vessel Hudsus asked il had charts so ha, be COLD sail
10 Vora Cruz, ana tod him no. he then kept west
and for Capo Cornthe the Of Cuba: we
made Cape Corinte about ian O'Clock the 9Th and
about three in the afternoon made Cape Antoine; about
three O'Clock wa got possession Of arms, and when
they found that armed they all rushed mp
Spence and Davidson had sheath knives aud Donnev an
axe hi. spence with beaver and my mate attempted
to shoot him. put Hudgns and Davidson in
iron. and / tied the reat; / then proceeded
my course until the 1911, Of july; the 9Th fell
with tho Costa Rica, and put Davidson and Spence on
board OF her 30 take them 10 New York the N2h the
| misbipn'an managed TO get pistol from one Of the
chests While was asleep, and when came on deck he
was IN The main top and haloed at me- he said be wished
To speak 10 and allvhe crew he then asked if ii
was my intention to take him to New York, and replied
IT was, no then said that should not bring h,in there
alive told him that II would bring hm there dead IL
alive; The mate and attempted to go into the cabin, and
h" CHE midshpman) said he would shoot us: how
| fred two bal. one of Which struck him
him The he could S ays 'G rae m a% down. o telling
lie wanted promise to carry hn Virginia but we
%on,9 n9t a. 80 sply p-9m.:1 70 CRY bl %ceMc
N sa E ESed. s saa fIas c S1 IN" g n The ar
cabin ali the prisoners had reyovers aud cuasses when
they came gu my vessel and ali took share in working the
ship
cross exsminedThe Captain did say that hc seized my
Vessel because She United states vessel and at
he did not make any reference TO the fact that there was
awar tho ,suhltr did not fly amy ias moro than an