Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-10-11

| |.sNH = 4 U I -.
We gave brief account in our tele
graphic columns yesterday of the arriva
and seizure of the Cuba in Wilmington
The Journal of yesterday gives the fol
lowiag details: ,,, .F. Ia. ,.,,ia,.-.-.s
Considerable sensation was created il
our city by the arrival Of a regularly
ommissioned Cuban man-ofwsr in oul
port last evening. This vessel sails un'
der the name of the Cuba, and arrived
in the harbor below Saturday afternoon
about FIVE o'clock. She put in for coal
having none but hard coal, almost en
tirely unfit for use, on board, and witt
oHs of her engines disabled. She had
also, encountered the late gale, and the
captain claims that be put in in distress
One Of the officers arrived in the city
Sunday morning, and chartered the tug
Alpha TO proceed to Smithville and
then. take q small vessel which had
been, chartered, in tow, bringing her 81
once to the city, and towing the boal
back after loading her with the desired
supply of coal. The oustomhouse au
thorities got wind Of the matter, and q
Government officer was dispatched on
the Alpha to reconnoiter and report the
true character of the vessel. The officer
who had engaged the coal, after returning
to the city on the Alpha, got wind of the
position of matters, and left on Sunday
night about two clock in a small boat
The Alpha was then chartered by the
Govern ment, the craft loading with Goa
was seized, and United States Deputy
Marshal Neff, supplied with the propsi
papers from the United States Commls-
sioner, went down yesterday morning
leaving quite early, for the purpose o.
seizing the armed vessel where she lay
under the guns Of Fort Caswell.
The Marshal found the vessel to be Of
represented, was politely invited on
board by the Commander, to whom he
exhibited his papers. The officer exhb-
tied his commission from the Cuban
Government, not pretending to deny who
he was; be objected to bsing seized and
brought up by the Government officials,
as he had put in here in distress. He
consented, however, to come up to the
city voluntarily, aad gave his personal
pledge to remain in port until the mat
Ter was settled by the Government, which
being agreed to by the Marshal, the YES
sci proceeded up as stated last evening.
The Collector of Customs then tele-
srenhed all the facts to the Government
at Washington, laying the whole case be-
fore it for action. Many dispatches
passed over the wires, but no disclo.
sures are made as to the disposition Of
the ship.
The vessel, as is stated above, is now
known as the Cuba, and was formerly
called the II ornet; aud during the war was
q blockade runner, which made one or
more trips into this port, and was finally
captured under the name of Lady Ster-
ling. She is fine craft, of great speed,
and o sister ship of the North Heath,
sunk, just previous to the evacuation Of
Wilmington by the Confederate forces,
about three miles below this city.
The Cuba, as reported by the Captain,
was fitted out at sea. The last port that
she is known to have sailed from is Hall
fax, N. g., where there are reports Of her
having been seized by the authorities and
being forced to pay . considerable sum
before released. L, tt-- -.
The Cuba has an armament of some
six guns, and is manned by about one
hundred men, with between twenty-five
and thirty officers. She is well fitted ont
10 every respect, and is quite formidable
craft.
The officers are all gentlemen, and q
Gne looking and handsome set as ever
walked quarter deck. Commodore
Higgins, the Commander, halls from
Norfolk, Va; several others are Virgin
ians, and nearly ell of them hail from
the South and were in the Confederate
service, Commodore Higgins was a
Lieutenant in the navy before the war,
entered the Southern army and was a
Brigadier General under Pemberton ct
Vicksburg, and new has full rank in the
Cul.an navy. he, DR. McNulty, Captain
Ingraham and Mr.. Phillips came ashore
last night and took quarters at the Pur.
cell House. They we're dressed in the
regular blue uniform Of the American
navy, and presented very fine appear
ance. tdi ESQ .7lialu ,.siif