The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-04-07
New Question i'm Information
al Law.
The Stonewan Not Disposed ia
Come Out.
THE PROSPECT OF A FIGHT,
RUMoRs ABOUT THE sTONEwALL,
&c., Ac.,



CoRUNNA, Spain, March 10, 1855.
Wrote you at the close Of my last letter that the
Niagara about leaving port for cruise and that the
Sacramento had sailed that morning. Tho people Of Co
runns seeng these two vessels which they knew
here solely for the purpose Of watching the Stonewa
standing out to sea- supposed that all the arrangements
had been made for fight, and during the day this dull
miserable little town exhibited considerable amount Of
life and excitement The two United States vessels did
not however, 60 out for Tight although their cruise az
forded the Stonewal most ample opportunity for hav
ing one she desired IT, The object Of the cruise
this: Geographic despatch received by Commodore
Craven days since, to the effect that English
steamer was TO leave Calais the 10th, with forty
three men for the Stonswall. The Commodore deter
mined, if possible, to intercept her; and, am in
formed upon reliable authority, he did intercept to
seize her. transfer her men to the Niagara and send her
case an opportunity occurred to perform righteous act
oven the risk Of raising question in international
law. The Commodore considers that seamen for an
enemys vessel just much contraband Of war as
ammunition or provisions for an enemy, and that the
vessel carrying them is just liable TO seizure and con-
fscation. believe this question has never yet been
raised and although her late cruise the Nagaras
commander not able 10 raise IT, perhaps It will be
before he leaves port
Tho Niagara got under weigh ABOUT four O'Clock the
afternoon Of the 18TH and proceeded about nifty miles TO
the norhward Every precautioh was taken and every
provision made for attack defence in the rebel
ram made her appearance The Stonewa Hes at Ferrol
port about nine miles 10 tho westward Of Corunna and
In passing by the entrance TO the harbor from her deck
the Niagara might have been easily seen, and glimpse
Of her caught from the Niagara The latter vessel
returned the afternoon Of the 14h without having
seen the steamer she had been in search and anchored
for the night just of the harbor Of Fero and in full
sight Of the stonewa Here she lay all night; and the
fact that the redoubabe did out and attack
her proves either that she intends strictly to respect the
neutrality laws else that she does not intend to nght
q least TO attack At all events she did not make her
appearance the following morning the Niagara and
Sacramento returned to their old anchorage at Corunna
whore they now No.
Regarding the vessels themselves matters remain In
precisely the condition that they did whom last
wrote you The Niagara and Sacramento keep up
steam continually, ready at moments warning TO put
out AFTER the Stonewa in she should leave She
cannot without the knowledge Of the feet being i'm
medately conveyed to Commander Craven The stonewa
is not permitted to keep up steam and still processes to
be leaky and indeed, generally believed 10 be So
Captain Page has not yet returned but known to have
left Paris and is expected Feo either tonight TO-
morrow Tho officers Of the stonewan say that
he returns they shall to sea- and people generally
arc anticipating . fight. Some, however shake their
heads and say that the Sonewa stays At Fero not be-
she is leaky but because the Spanish government
will not let her 60 out, and that this fact
is due 70 the intmation Of the French
government Indeed, I have just been In
formed by reliable gentleman" that the French Con-
sui here yesterday informed him that In few days tho
vessel would be seized by the Spanish and transferred TO
the French government the latter having come TO the
conclusion that IL responsible for the Stonewa get
ting to sea- and that she had been Danish ship.
Amid all these It 10 impossible TO what Is true
and what false The only plan is to wait few days and
learn Within wock after the return Of Captain Page
the whole matter will doubtless DO decided.
Captain Page, whom the command Of the Stonewall
has made famous Thomas Jefferson Page formerly
officer in the United States Navy. He was In the La
Plata expedition and in command Of the Water Witch
In the Paraguay affair, when that vessel was fired upon
Il Ia q singular coincidence that, In the case Of
the Kearsarge and Alabama, Captain Winslow and
Semmes personal friends in that OF the Niagara
and Stonewa WERE In former times Commodore Craven
and Captain Page. Among the other officers Of the
Stonewall Robert Garter, George g. shyrock and
Thomas Armstrong shall send you complete list In
O day or two neglected, believe, TO state In my de-
scrpon of the Stonewa that among her other pccuar
ties she has two keels and two rudders by means OF
which she turn like man on his heel almost with
out changing ground.