The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-25
THE POLICE AMONG TAE sECEssloNlsTs.
Unsuccessful Attempt to Seize Another
Hatch OF Muskets.

Vnsuccessful Attempt to Seize Another
hatch OF Muskets.
The police distinguished themselves again yesterday
by ludcrous and unsuccessful attempt to seize npon
quantity Of muskets board the steamer Montgomery,
bound for Savannah, Georgia. The particulars Of the oc
currence are an follows
About quarter TO three O'Clock yesterday afternoon
Of the steamboat squad Of the Metropolitan police repair
ed TO the First precinct police station house. in Broad
street, and reported that lot Of muskes and other con
traband articles being shipped board the steam
ship Montgomery at pier IL North river. The oicer in
command Immediately telegraphed the facts to police
headquarters asking for instructions how to proceed.
In about five minutes afterwards despatch received
from General Superintendent Kennedy commanding the
police 10 seize upon the property forthwith
The receipt Of this decidedly unequivocal o.
der threw the police into great state OF
confusion The steamer was to start for Savannah at
three o'clock and then only lacked five minutes Of the
appointed time. Instantly summoning about dozen Of
his trustest men, Sergeant Wemyss started off for pier
L. and arrived board just the last lot Of musets
placed in the hold, and the captain giving or
ders 10 get ready for sea.
The appearance Of many uniformed policemen at
such moment somewhat disturbed the equanimity Of
the captain but quickly recovering his presence of mind
he inquired what the ntruders wanted The police who
breathless with excitement could only artculae
"muskets y ''treasop, "contraband goods and, with
out more ado, jumped into the hold and commenced
searching for the munitions Of war;
By this time the captain began TO understand what was
In the wind and approaching tho edge Of the hatchway
held the following conversation with the police,
CAprAN-what you doing down there, should like
to inquirer Pretty conduct this
Police sRRGnANT-We searching for contYaband
goods and cannot leave until we find them
,nch holI z ry,yl
soon you .'Ie go that line there, he continued,
addressing some men on the pier.
yhe idea Of being carried sea- and to secession State
too rather repugnant the feelings OF the police
If the captain had threatened 70 blow them to atoms
with grape and canister they would not have been half
so frightened Hastily emerging from the hold, they
carnbered upon the buwarks, ready to jump ashore at
moments warning.
Their fears of any immediate danger goundless,
however, for the the pier prevented from
executing the order Of the captain BY couple Of the
harbor police, so there danger Of their
being carried of in hurry. The captain was not TO be
nonphsecd easily Finding that his orders could not
he obeye shere he directed tho sailors to cut the
lines board couple Of blows from an axe in the
hands Of one OF the severed the cables and
IN moment the steamer freed from her moorings.
The engineer then received orders TO sart her ahead
and lust as the vessel began of the Meropoitans
bethcught Of moving too. The scene which ensued rs
described Mdcrous in the extreme The brave police
men were wild with fright, and preciptated themselves
over the side Of the in anything but orderly
or graceful manner.
The crowd on the pier cheered at the dscomdture OF
the police and the Montgomery elded out into the
river similar manifestations were observed board
among the officers and passengers. Among the
spectators on the wharf was Mr.. II. B. Cromwell,
proprietor of the Savannah line of propeers, who
considerably annoyed at what he deemed the impert
nent intrusion OF the police. SERGEANT Wemyss, too
felt somewhat sore at the escape Of the Montgomery
and an alteration between him and Mr. Cromwell
followed. The dialogue between them somewhat
latter the follow ing style
Mr.. CRoswmI-rhis is pretty conduct, indeed:
should ike to know by what authority the police search
my stea,ncrsl
srrGrAsr wnsyss-By tho authority of john A. Ken
nedy sir We only obeyipg orders, and You should
| not blame us too hard.
| Mr. cRoswEII--oh, don't blame you, but do blame
| your master, or General Superintendent or whatever
| you call him.
SFReEAsT WEsyss--Yes; but you know he IL justified In
] ordering us 10 seize sl contraband goods.
Mr. CRoMwHJ-Contraband 1ddlesticks sir. He has
authority TO delay the departure Of any vessel in
this way unless there has been actual declaration
Of war. He has authority at all, not even tho
shadow of authority, sir.
Thus ended The interesting dialogue. The police skunk
back TO the station house, feeling that they had been
badly sod and that successful they the
case Of the Monticello few days previously tho captain
Of the Montgomery, at least, one too many for them
THE POLICE MAKE ANOTHER MIsrAKE.
Captain Raymond Porter Of the schooner Caspian, In
company with his first officer, called upon Superintend
ent Kennedy yesterday in relation to the seizure Of
\ tly made on
Captain Huchngs Of the Second precinct police Captain
Porter showed most conclusivey that the muskeis
destined for the city OF savana He stated that the fire.
arms had been purchased in this city, and that the mark
ing clerk in the store where they bought was the
cause Of all the trouble The clerk appears, told
mark the cases Saw. which stands for savana. Think
ing the contraction intended for Savannah Geor
ga be exceeded his orders and marked the Ia that
way.
Mr. Kennedy felt compelled TO render apology for
what had happened, and said the department would pay
the expense of cartng the goods back from the arsenal
and making good any ohor just demand that might be
made. At yesterday the muskets we're reshippe
on board Caspian much to the satisfaction of cap
1 tain and owner OF the vessel.
THE MONTICELLO MrsKETs.
The following facts IN relation the lot Of muskets
seized on board the Monticello few days ago
were communicated TO our reporter yesterday Those
weapons IL appears manufactured for the British
government, at Windsor, verment but rejected
| Eervceabie Subsequently they shipped 10 Vera
Cruz, 10 be used by Of the Mexican factions but
they again rejected and thrown the hands Of
the manufacturers. They then fell into the possession
Of Of leading banking concerns and finally after
year So purchased by the Adjutant General Of
the state Of Georgia, and while they being
shipped pursuant to HE order that they seized by
Metropolitan police.
THE SEIZURE OF ARMS IN NEW YORK.
The following despatch has been received by IL d.
Cromwell Co., owners Of the steamship Monticello,
from their Savannah agents.
sAvASyAH, Jan. "a, 1901.
The seizure Of arms from the Monticello causes ex.
element here Can you get them back9 We fear re
talaboD.