The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-11-25
NEW REBEL PIRArIOAL SCHEME
an Extensive Plot and Its FrustratIor

We nave Deen IN possession Tor some
time past, of highly interesting anc
important information derived from
Havana, in regard to q proposed rebe
plan for capturing American passenger
steamers upon the Pacific ocean. Hnh
erto we have RETAINED from giving the
facts publicity, lest premature an
nouncement should tend to defeat
measures that had been taken to frus
trste the plot, and arrest the parties
thereto Now, that any danger of that
sort is over, we are ST liberty to shog7
how narrowly we have escaped the ne
eessity of recording another R0anOk.
affair, only on larger scale, upon the
waters of the Pacific
The details of the plot in question
were contaminated at Havana some
time since, under the approval of S r
Mallory, the Confederate Secretary OF
tAe Navy. Its leader and manager was
Thomas A Hogg, holding a commission
in the rebel navy as Master who, with
party of from sixteen to twenty men,
left Havana for Panama, New Grenade,
the last of September or early in 0cto-
Der, for the purpose Of getting on board
the Panama r. r Co s fine steamer
Gustemala, seizing her at sea, and then
using her as a pirate vessel to capture
steamers Of the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company, plying between Panama and
San francisco The party were all well
armed, and abundantly supplied with
ammunition concealed in their baggage
They were TO take passage on the eau.
I oil n Am -,
| ports, so as not to excite suspicion.
Hogg was to 60 on board first, carrying
his baggage, which was to contain moth
ing suspicious. If it wes not searched,
his followers were to convey on board
their trunks subsequently, with the
arms and ammunition concealed in
| them. e3.a
The seizure of the vessel was not to
be attempted until she had got to a
point upon the Cental American coast,
some two hundred miles from Panama,
where there was no danger of falling il
with cruiser, or with any craft that
could give notice Of the change of
command of the Guatemala, when it
had been effected. No serious difficulty
was apprehended in taking possession
of the Guatemala, as her officers were
not likely to anticipate any danger, and
were expected to be found entirely OF
their guard and without the means OF
resistance in their hands.
The Guatemala carries two guns for
her own protection from privateers.
Relying upon these for offensive pur-
poses, the pirates then proposed TO
cruise for the passenger and specie-car-
rying steamers of the California trade,
until they had captured al least one 81
them, with which, probably, they would
have essayed q trip across the Pacific TO
East India waters, provided they could
obtain the necessary coal by capture of
some one of the golfers constantly en-
gagged IN carrying steameT-suppiies of
fuel to Central American ports, Panama,
Acapulco, San Juan del Sur and San
Francisco Ultimately the conspiratols
hoped TO follow up their success by pro-
Of Northern California, and there maxi
ing raid against Ben Halloday's line
of steamers, between San Francisco,
Oregon and British Columbia
Fortunately, the scheme was discov-
cred by some means, and we presume
information must have been sent direct
from Havana TO the lsthmus, in time to
Illustrate the execution, IS we hear, on
private authority from Panama, that
the parties known to be implicated
were all there and at Aspinwall, as
late as the 4th of this month, and were
known to the United States consuls at
both places, to the Commanders OF the
Panama Railroad Company's steamers,
and to the United States Naval Com
mander in the port of Panama Ii ap-
pears that the despSradOes arrived too
late for the Guatemala--s portion Of
them having gone to Aspinwall via St
Thomas. The Guatemala sailed on the
25th of October The next Panama
Railroad steamer for Central American
ports, was the Salvador, 10 sail on the
10Th inst, and it was understood al
Panama that the piratical party were
10 take passage in her. If they did so,
they were promptly arrested after their
arrival on board--every arrangement
having been made for that purpose
Nothing can have prevented their cap
ture, probably, unless the fact shall
have leaked out at Panama that they
were suspected; in which event, OF
course, they would not be likely to
place themselves under the American I
Gag. where their seizure would be free
from international embarrassment
Master Hogg, (sometimes called Hger-
toni we understand, is native Vi Bal /
timore, who has lived some time in
New Orleans. His chief fficer is a man |
named BRADSHAW, who claims 10 have |
once been commander Of the Guatem-
ala Edward j. Norville a native Of |
Baltimore, but now Of Mobile, is Hogs /
Master; William Black, of New Or /
leans, is Purser; Edward Swain, of New |
Orleans, AIidsbipman; Thomas Rey- |
nolds, of New Orleans, Masters Mate /
John Hiddle, (alias Smith is Eagj- |
neer; Timothy 0 Grady and George I
March, of New York, are Quartermas- |
tiers and among the crew are Robert /
Lyons, and men by the name Of Hig |
gins, Stoddard and Sullivan. We hope |
70 hear, by the next arrival from the |
Isthmus. that all the above named par
ties, and some whose names We have |
not given, are safe on board an Am ri
can cruiser at PSnama-unless indeed, /
they arrive here In charge Of Cnited !
States officers, simultaneously NTH the I
announcement OF their capture Nee /
VorL Ttvaae 1874