The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-02-03
SEIZURE OF A SUSPECTED PRIvATEER.


the United states Authorities-A schooner
Laden with Powder also Seized OF tho Bat
tcry-Cannon, Ammunition, small Arms
and Torpedoes On Board the Cuyler-The
Vessel Under tho Control of nm Ex-Rebei
Characterization Of the Vessel and Crow.
&C., Gc.
On Yesterday afternoon, between the hours OF two
and three O'Clock. the steamship R. r. Cuyier which
for some tine past has been undergoing extensive aera
TONS improve uents and repairs, taken possession
of by the United States authorities under the direction
OF Collector snyAhe The weasel has lately been pur
chased 1t is said ~ his Excellency General Salgar, the
Colombian Minister fss the service Of the government
which he representa- TIE following is sketch of the
previous history Of the r. Cuyer and may prove Of
interest at the present time:.-
sKKrCH OF Inn n n. cUrIKR
At the close Of tho late wa the steamer sold 10
Mr. r. Sturges Of this city and put In the New York
and New Orleans trade After tle safe she was altered
to full brig rugged steamer besides undergoing thor
ough renovation which gave her all the appearance Of
nne seagoing vessel. She originally built to run
between New York and Savannah, and was named
the R. R. Cuyler the fastest propeller steamship
that ever graced our merchant marina. At
the outbreak of the war she WIS purchased
by the United States government at . cost
Of s165 oo0 and fitted up gunboat for the blockade
servcein which capacity her great speed madeher tho
terror OF the leetest blockade She rated
third class in the United States Navy, armed with bat
terry OF twelve guns and stationed in the North Atlantic
squadron. Her first exploit the capture Of the
schooner J. w. Wilder, after exciting chase
fifteen miles west of Mobile bar, IN January 1862
In the Of her vigan patrolng of the Southern
coast in May, 1863 she pursued and overhaued by her
usual aeetness the schooner Eugenc, which was de-
clared prize and afterwards put in the In
the same month of the year 1868 she had her maiden
brush with an armed foe in which she signazed her.
self by the important triumph of destroying the rebel
schooner Isabel Fort Morgan and capturing three
othcr vessels belonging to the enemy. In length the
steamer uyler 23S feet breadth OF beam 80 feet and
depth of hold % feet Her tonnage Is 1902 TONS She
originally constructed with view OF obtaining great
speed-a character which recent improvements in her
machinery have rather contributed to preserve
GROUNDS
For some time past the authorities here have been
receiving information from various sources that the r.
K Cuyier being fitted out for the Peruvian
Chilean SERVICE and after clearing at this port according
to established take to the high raise the flag
OF prva,eer. ana commence predatory course upon
tween spain and the United States the testimony of
two of the which had been engaged to sail in the
vessel required that action be taken reference her
departure. For the past two days strict watch has
been kept upon the OF the vessel and those
connected with her. and in corroboraton Of the belief
and the facts obtained In this city her real character
. notification received from Washington that the
vessel required close watching, and the Custom House
authorities were instructed to be on the alert
According to the afiidavits Of two Of tho men
who shipped and signed papers, there were two
guse Of passengers to assume their positions
of seamen aud marines the vessel got
beyon the jurisdiction OF the United States, and
Spanish marine. The composing this portion Of
the crew wore located In various parts Of the city, and
70 go on board the vessel short time previous TO
her departure. The whole transaction seems to have
beon managed with the utmost secrecy and with the
exception OF those engaged ocers the real Intention
Of the business in which the Cuyer would be- engaged
was kept profound secret
SEIZURE \ Powder SCHOONER. /.
Shortly after the r. r Cuyicr had been placed in
charge Of the United States officers schooner OBJ
served OF the barge office acting IN somewhat sdsp
took possession Of her, and investigation she proved
to belong TO the Hazard Powder Manufacturing Com.
kegs OF powder for the steamship 1t seems that the
person in charge OF the schooner had kept his vessel
below awaiting The departure Of the Cuylsr when hs
by the officials, TO transfer his cargo on board the
steamer. He became impatient at the appearance
OF the suspected prvaee and underworld TO reach the
overhaued " the United States authorities and
schooner and cargo seized.
rHs DETENTION OF THE srsAxrx.
The seizurs Of the Cuyier affected about half past
street. East yss By Colonel Van Brnu assisted BY two
three Of the officers OF tho revenue cutter Uno. As
soon as the vessel was taken possession Of the utmost
offered and many OF those on board seemed TO have
keen appreciation for the best time Of the actual state Of
affairs
CAPTAIN AND CREW.
The vessel was under tho immediate and entire con-
troll Of Captain j. Read, formerly Of the Confederate
navy, who seems have been entrusted with tho
whole management Of the craft and the engagement OF
the hands Captain Read is graduate of the United
Virginia. and entered the service In the year 1885,
mdshipman and was shortly after ordered 70 duty
missed The service 1851 and entered The
rebel navy and served On board one OF the prvatecrs
during the late rebellion.
s1xo,x nlvn ..rnfov hto0c ohs
in Southern ports and had seen service a seamen and
marines In many Of the craft that had been
fitted prvateers and blockade during the
late rebellion They are q rough daring reckless look
ing lot Of fellows and 70 judge from Appearances amply
qualified for the desperate service Of pryaeerng Many
OF them considerably under the influence Of liquor
whom tho custom house officers went on beard the
ship
The Cuyler had cleared at the custom house for Aspn
wall, In the name Of Captain Brown The uniforms
Of the crow and marines had been on board for
week, and large quantity Of ammunition, small arms
hand grenades and topedoes besides several sections or
boats which, were 10 supposed, to he used torpedo
to be the lower bay by schooner laden with
munition, whose cargo TO be transferred TO the p
vateer before going to sea- This vessel has also been
seized
uKR ALtEGED coURsK
As soon as the Cuylcr put TO sea she was 70 sail
directly Tor Laguavra Venezuela and after arming there
would receive orders TO cruise search and capture
Spanish merchantmen trading between Havana and Bar
ceiona Armed opposition to be adopted only in
Cuyer 20 attack vessels
now TIE BALE r. curLRR SUPPOSED Rg
EypEcrRp
About month since, when the Colombian govern
sought TO OBTAIN possession OF the Cuyler there
question raised TO the legality Of sale under
the then existing circumstances. For the purpose Of
removing all doubt the owners Messrs Russell sturgis,
Robert 8. Taylor, Henry W. Hnbbeii and Samuel Dor
land through their agent communicated with the State
Department at washington In reference TO transfer Of
tho vessel TO the government desiring to purchase her.
and they Informed, IL Is said, that the sale Of
the vessel would not be interfcrcd with unless there
was q violation Of the neutrality laws With this
assurance the owners prepared tho steamer Tor
transfer to the Colombian authorities They claim
that the peutray laws have not been violated In any
particular and that the fitting mp Of the vessel with her
present armament only In accordance with the agree
rnent entered into between the representatives OF the
Colombian government and the owners. The r. X.
Cuyer IL IL further urged. has not been secretly
covery prepared for this transfer but fitted out In
broad daylight al Of the public piers The Of
the seized say that they had intention TO CON-
NIT an nacon Of the laws and that the sale OF the r
r. Cuyler not isolated trsnsaction, but OF Al
most daily occurrence.
WHAT THE cUyLR WAS INTENDED ron
The Colombian authorities, 90 soon as they obtained
- an. fe.vl~ tnsu .1~lts