The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-11-18
CONCENTRATION OF REBEL
ROBBERS AT HAVANA.
Their Proposed Operations on
the Pacific Coast.
PROBABLE ARREST OF the
PIRATES.
Marrow Escape of the California and
Pacific Steamers.

we nave been in possession, for some time
past Of highly interesting and important intorma-
tion derived from Havana, in regard to a proposed
Rebel plan for capturing American passenger
steamers upon the Pacific Ocean. Hitherto we
have retrained from giving the facts publicity,
lest premature announcement should tend TO
defeat measures that had been taken to frustratc
the plot, and arrest the parties thereto. Now that
any danger OF that sort is over, we are at liberty
to show how narrowly we have escaped the neces-
sity ofrecording another Roanoke atf ir, only on
Il larger scale, upon the waters Of the Pacific.
The details Of the plot in question were con
summated at Havana some time since, under the
approval of 5; r. Mallory, the Confederate Sec
relary Of the Navy. Its leader and manager was
Thomas A. Hogg, holding commission in the
keOeI Navy as Master, who, with party offr)n
sixteen to twenty men, Lett Hlyana Tor Panama,
New Grenada, the last Of September or early in
October for the purpose of getting on board the
Panama Railroad Company's fine steamer G,tqie-
no'a, seIzing her at sea, aud then using her as
pirate vessel to capture steamers Of the Pacific
Mail Steamship Company, plying between
Panama and san Francisco.
The party were all well armed, and abuudantly
supplied with ammunition concealed in their
baggage. They were TO take passage in the
Guatemala for different Central American ports
so as MOTTO excite suspicion. He was TO go on
board first, carrying his baggage, which was to
contain nothing suspicious Ii II was not
searched, his followers were 10 convey on board
their trunks subsequently, with the arms and
ammunition concealed in them.
The seizure of the vessel was not 10 be at
tempted until she had got to point upon the
Central American coast, some two hundred miles
from Panama, whore there was no danger of fall
ing in with any craft that could give notice of
the change of command OF the GpGten1Ll when
it had been effected. No serious dinlculty was
apprchended in taking possession of the GU1te-
mdiG, as her officers were not likely TO aaticDa,e
any danger, and were expected to be found
entirely off their guard and without the meaRs
of resistance In their hands.
The GUatCmaia carries two guns for her own
protection from Rivaieers. Relying upon these
for offensive purposes, the pirates then proposed
TO cruise for the passenger and specie-clrrying
steamers of the California trade, until they had
captured a. least one Of them, with which, proba-
bly,, they would have e,Saycd a trip across the
Pacific 20 East Indian waters, provided they
could obtain the necessary coal by capture
OF some OF the COlliers constantly en-
gagged in carrying steamer supplies of fuel 70
Central American ports, Panama, Acapulco San
Juan del Sur, and San Francisco Ultimately the
conspirators hoped 20 follow up their success by
proceeding in the Guatemala, 10 the coast of
Northern California, and there making raid
against Ben. Hallodly's line of steamers, be-
tween san Francisco, Oregon, and British Co
lumtia.
Fortunately, the scheme was discovered by
some means, and we presume information must
have b, en- sent direct from Havana TO tle ls;h-
mus, in time TO illustrate the execution as we
hear on private authority from Panama, that the
parties known 10 be implicated were all there and
at Aspinwall, rs late as the i,h of this month,
At d were known to the United States Clnsus nc
both places, to the Commanders Of the Panama
Railroad COmpany's steamers, and TO the United
States Naval Commander in the port of Panama.
II appears that the dusperadoes arrived too late
for the Guatemala, portion Of them having gone
to Aspinwall, via st. Thomas The Guatemala
sailed on the 10Th Of October. The next Panama
railroad steamer for Central American ports was
the Salradoy, to sail on the l0th instant, and it
was understood a. Panama that the piraticll
party were to 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 capture, pro-
badly, 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 flag, where their
seizure would be free from international en-.
bamasSment
Master Hogg (sometimes cllled Egerton), we
understand, Is a native of Baltimore, who has
lived some time nNew Orleans. His chief officer
is man named Bradshaw, who claims 70 have
once been commander of the Guqtesqla;
but now Of Mobile, is HOgg's Master; Will
liam Black, of New Orleans, is Parser;
Edward Swain, Of New Orleans, Midshipman;
Thomas Reynolds Of New Orleans, Mas'ers
Mate John Hddle (alias Smith, is Engineer;
Timothy O'Grady and George March, Of New
are Robert Lyons, and men Dy the name Of Hig-
gins, Stoddard, and Sullivan. We hope 10 hear,
by the next arrival from the lsthmus, that all the
above named parties and some whose names we
have not given, are safe on board an American
cruiser at Panama, unless, indeed, they arrive
here in charge of United States officers stimuli
taneously with the announcement Of their cap
ture.-N J. Timer.