Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-12-17


4 Panama letter of the 10th ult -
eeiTed By the North Star, gives account of
the following important proceedings, which
caused much excitement at Panama:
On the 25th of October the Amer;o..
Consul in Panama received dispatch fror-
Consul Shufeldt, at Havana, stating thar ~
same steamer bringing the dispatch wonIS
also take to Aspinwall a party of rebel pirs,ol
intending TO seize the steamer Gla1fsn,oj-'
The agent of the company was notified -
the plot and sent the Guatemala to sea hss,o.
the arrival of the pirates across the istbmn,
Consequently they were obliged to remain :
Panama till the 10th of November, tie d.
of sailing of the next steamer, the iSalrqSo:
Meantime further information was Obtains
and plan for the capture of the whole gsn-
was matured. Whilst waiting the reheIs
purchased 800 pounds of powder, out II =
tin cans and shipped it on the same steqmsr
they intended to take passage in.
- On the 10th the passengers embarked on
the Salvador as u. ual with their baggage
immediately on going on board they xara
taken into the main saloon, ostensibly To bavo
their tickets examined. Previously to This
the windows, state-rooms and doors had been
closed, in order that no opportunity could ba
presented for skedaddling, or for hiding pur.
poses, &c. As soon as they were collected
preeoncerted signal was made, when Com.
mander Davenport, of the United States
frigate Lancaster, sprang on board with seye
raj full-armed boats crews and announced n
the astonished passengers that he had taken
possession of the steamer. Sufficient evidence
was at once discovered, proving the reality
of the plot, when the Salvador was taken to
seaover three marine miles accompanied by the
Lancaster Papers revealing the whole affair.
with instructions from the rebel Secretary Of
the Navy, Mallory, small arms of all kinds,
handouts, &c, were found in the possession
of the pirates, who were then transferred to
the Lancaster, and the Salvador proceeded On
her voyage. The Lancaster returned to Pan
ANA with the prisoners
Before reaching Panama the leaders of the
pirates made full confession. The names
of the pirates are 7. Z. Hogg, of Baltimore
Captain E. A. Swain, executive officer; ]
L. Black, paymaster; r. B. Lyon, sailing
master; John Hoddle, chief engineer; 7. j
Grady, assistant engineer; Joseph Higgins.
paymaster's clerk. Hogg was recently can.
ilred in the Tristan Ssandy while running
the blockade off Wilmington. His instrue,
tons from Mallory show that he has a rebel
commission and sailed from Wilmington for
Havana, where he made up his gang They
have confederates all along. the coast Who
were to join them.
Hogs instructions we're, after getting pos
sion of the steamer, to capture a California
steamer with its treasure, and if not able to
| get the treasure across the Isthmus, to deposit
! it with some reliable English house in Valpa.
. raise, or send it to Europe by French man.
| of war. The steamer Guatemala, which arriy-
| ga back at Panama the 18th, reports seeing
many suspicious looking persons anxiousy
| awaiting the arrival of the same steamer, at
La Libertad and Acapulco, undoubtedl,
accomplices Of the pirates. These latter had
| come across the country Via 0mona, from
| Havana. They have probably been arrested
ere this, as the Government of San Salvador
| has been notified that they were pirates.
| OnI2th Admiral Pearson, commanding the
| American squadron in the Pacific, accompa-
MED by Consul Mckee, of Panama, and Con
| sui Rice of Aspinwall, waited on the President
| of Grenada, in Panama, to ask permission to
| pass the prisoners across the Isthmus in order
TO send them to New York. The President
refused on the ground that he is not empow-
cred to do so, but it is presumed they will be
taken on the responsibility Of the American
officials.