The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-01-25
SPAIN AND CHILL.


From ne NeU York Evening Poet, IAN.
There is much excitement to-day among the
Spanish and Chllian authorities and merchants
in this city, and their sympathizers, respec-
lively, concerning the steamship Meteor, whose
seizure, on suspicion that she was to enter the
Chilian service against Spain, was reported
yesterday.
The vessel lies at her wharf in South Brook
lyn, with steam up, and at an early hour this
afternoon her engines we're working. She was,
however, in charge of Deputy United States
Marshal Davis, and cannot go to sea, though
she was regularly cleared at the Custom House
yesterday, after q iull examination, which
showed that she had nothing OF suspicious
character on board.
Size is, as already reported, very fine vessel
perfectly adapted not merely for use as priva.
teer, but as q man-ol-war. Having been built to
catch and capture the pirate Alabama, she does
not lack any Of the qualities of good war
vessel; and she is In all respects perfect ship.
She was launched in May, 1864, at Portsmouth,
New Hampshire, where she was constructed tor
X. b. and j. M. Forbes (who are now her own
ers), and other men of Boston for the object
already stated. Her machinery was made in
GIeenock Scotland, but arrived here 80 late
that when the vessel was completed she was noe
wanted tor the service for which her builders
intended her.
Afterwards she became merchant vessel, and
ran between this city and New Orleans. During
that time she had on board two Parrott navy
guns, which we're originally to have been part
of her armament; but these we're recently taken
Oft, ana she has now no arms.
The size OF the vessel is as follows:-Length,
26l feet; width, 81 feet inches; depth, l6 feet
inches; and her measurement Is 1880 tons. All
her machinery is below the water line.
The agents of the vessel, Messrs. William Cary
& Co., have acted with extreme care; and they
assert that the present contemplated voyage was
q strictly legal one; that the vessel was in good
faith to be taken to Panama upon purely com.
mercial business.
The owners the Messrs. Forbes, make the
same allegations, so far as any knowledge OF
theirs extends; and Captain Kemble insists that
the suspicious that have been expressed that he
would transfer the vessel at sea to some other
man, are totally untounded He declares that
his agreement was to take the vessel to Panama;
and that he will do this if permitted unless
washed into the sea, or the vessel should sink
under him.
The owners of the vessel and the agents intend
to prosecute the Government officers who de-
tanned the Meteor. They claim tnat having COM
piled in all respects with the law, any action
against them, founded on suspicion, must be
taken at the peril OF the persons concerned
The drst legal proceedings in this case were
taken yesterday morning, whNe the customs
authorities wsre holding Cne SesseFs papers Dy
request OF the Spanish authorities. AZ" tVA's"
ing ID
THE FORMAL COMPLAINT
TReceved January 23 1866
CoNsULADo DE EsPANA EN- NUEvA YORK
To the Honorable Samuel r. Belts Judge of the Dis
District of Ne,p York and the Hon. DanteJ s. Dick
inson Usiited States District Attorney:-
The undersigned, Acting Consul at the port of
New York, of her Majesty the Queen of Spain, being
duly sworn, doth depose and complain before your
Honor that certain steam vessel called the Meteor,
now in the harbor of New YORK, has been and Is
being fitted out the port of New york, with intent
that the said steamship shall, in violation Q the pro-
visions of an act the Congress C. te United States
in such case madS and provided be employed in the
service 1i The Government OF Chilli TO cruise and
commit hosthties against the subjects and property
W with fe whom the un,,ed States are at peace.
And this deponent further complains that the said
Meteor is Of build to especially adapt her TO be used
as bel gerent cruiser aforesald, ano that she
tends forthwith to depart from the jurisdiction OF
your honor to commit hostiltes as aforesaid
Wherefore, the undersigned respectfully prays
that your honors will be Rraclousy pleased to issue
mandate to the Marshal of the United States to
said steam vessel and restrain her departure and do
such other things in respect thereto, as to your
hOnOrs may appear just and proper.
Dated New YORK. January 49, 1856.
LUZ LOPEZ DE AYRE NOEL,
Acting Spanish Consul
Sworn to before me. this 29d day of January, 1856
JOHN A. OSBORN, United States Commissioner
On this complaint blank ''libel of informa-
tonn was filled out at the District Attorneys
Office with these words:-
''That the steamship Meteor has been fitted out
to commit hostilities against the Government Of
Spain, in violation of the neutrality act OF Con-
gress of 1915"
Judge Belts, of the United States District
Court, on this complaint, issued q 'monition"
to United States Marshal Murray to seize the
Meteor. This monition was simple order.
There are other proofs in this case besides the
complaint, which cannot be made public,
AMENDED LIBEL OF INFORMATION.
The libel OF information was deemed insuti-
cient and was amended to-day and filed in the
United States District Court. 1t is as follows:-
"To the Hon. Samuel r. Bets Judge of the District
Court Of the United States for the Southern Dis
IIhe libel of informetion of Daniel S. Dickinson,
attorney OF the United States tor tue Southern Dis.
trct of New York, who prosecutes for the United
STATES in this behalf and being present in court in
his own proper person in the name and in behalf OF
the said United States, against che steamship Meteor
her tackle aforesaid and furniture together with all
material, arms, ammunition and stores which may
have been procured for the building and equipment
thereof in cause OF seizure and forfeiture alleged
"FIrst. That the said steamship or vessel Meteor
is now lying in the port of New York, on waters
navgable from the sea by vessels Of the burden OF
ten tons and upwards within the SoutneIn Oistrlct
of New York, and within the jurisdiction OF this
court, and is ready to sail for certain places to the
Attorney OF the UDited States unknown, with intent
to cruise and commit hosties in the service OF the
Government of Chill against the subjects, citizens
and property of her Majesty, the Queen OF Spain,
with whom the United States are at peace.
Second. That the said steamship or vessel Meteor
ms IN the 2Ss S:v of January within the limits o.
the United States, TO wit at the southern DlstTicl
of New York aforesaid, been fitted out NV ei'yn Y
certain persons, 10 the said attorney UNKNOWN wiz
intent that such steamship or vessel snould %
employed in the service OF the agents OF the HoVern
ment OF Chill, to commit hostities against the suO
jects citizens and property of the aforesaid Govern
ment OF SPAN, with which the United States theI
were and now are at peace, as Aforesaid"
The third, fourth, and fifth paragraphs are II
similar form. They charge that persons wert
knowingly concerned" in fitting out the vessel
as already alleged. The sixth paragraph is:-
"Sixth, That all and singular the matters herein
dlv fOurtllV.