The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-02

Tho Cuban Flag Hoisted-Ier Armament,
Omcers and Crew-Hcr Designs Against
spain.
From the Philadelphia Bulletin, Oct. l..
The steamship Hornet Is at last fairly at sea- flying
the Cuban nag, with full crew and q heavy arma-
ment, prepared TO wage war against such Spanish
The history Of this smart Dlockade-runner during
TIE e ne M e o Ro 6
at KensingIon, until she completed her equip.
ment as an armed privateer, during the
present week. She has slipped successfully through
the fingers OF the customs and revenue officers OF
this port, the authorities Of Halifax and OF the port
OF New York, has shipped men, provisions, coal,
arms and ammunition, within short distance OF
tie latter port and Is now ut sea and likely to do
little damage among the Spanish steam and sailing
Many erroneous statements are being published
in the New York papers as to the movements OF the
Hornet and wo therefore propose to lay before our
readers correct account OF her movements since
she escaped from the hands OF the Halifax authori
ties.
shipped twenty 1.-TWO men at Halfax, principally
from the lnmau sea City OF Baltimore AT that
tam Esing, and remained under his command until
the present week. when she changed captains as
We shall presently explain.
Hornet took 9 Southern course, and sighted Gay
Head light en- the 18th. she cruised in that
thea Joined BY small schooner, from which she
took twenty-five men, who have since appeared as
marines.
Bedford, arrived with arms and ammunition. Seye-
raj days were lost in transferring her cargo, in
sequence OF rough weather, the steamer standing on
captain of the latter threatened to go home II he was
not unloaded. The Hornet finally ran In, ana on
Friday night, the 18th ult., the whole cargo was
transferred to the Hornet.
The following is the armament thus obtained by the
privateer:-Three sixty-pound PARROTS, two thirty
pound PARROTS two twenty -four pound brass howIt
zers, forty or fifty copper torpedoes. ten tons OF
powder, and large quantity Of shot and she'll be-
on Saturday morning, 18th ult., a tug arrived with
the Information that schooner was lying OF Fire
Island with cargo OF coal, and the Hornet at once
got under way and steamed down to that place, ~
ing OH and ON for several days. During this time
the sldewheel sieamtug Martha Washington made
two trips from New York to Fire Island, bringing
fifteen men on the first aud twenty-five men on the
second trip.
On Tuesday 2sth ut. the prlvateer took the coal
schooner in tow aud towed ner to Montauk Point,
where she anchored and took In about one hundred
pnd fifty tons OF coal. The schooner afterwards
broke away from the steamer, went ashore and was
totally wrecked
On Wednesday last the Martha washington made
O third trip, bringing seventeen men. with stores
ana provisions. THIS appears to have completed the
crew. which now numbers about one hundred and
nifty men, OF various nationaties including forty or
On this day the character Of the prvateer was
openly avowed. The permanent otncers donned
tneir uniforms and took command, the Cuban nag
was hoised and the general design oil the cruise was
The following is partial list OF the Hornets ON
cers:-
Captain, Higgins formerly of the United
States Navy.
First Lieutenant, D. A. Telfair formerly Of the
United states Navy.
Colonel OF Marines, Monroe; Paymaster, Coming;
Purser Brown; Pursers steward, MCKAY; SaI!lng
Master Esling; Masters Mate, Faherty; Ensign
Cook; Gunner Robert Watson; Gunner's Mate Dan
lei Fitzgerald; Chief Engineer French; Assistant
Engineers, Granam, Robinson, Lynch, Dennison
and kearney.
Much trouble was experienced among the men,
especially the nremen, who demanded an advance
OF wages when the character OF the ship became
known. Their demands were finally acceded to-
aud The frst months wages were paid down IN gold
at the following ratcs:-tnemen, 500; petty officers
$40; seamen and marines, $50.
While taking her armament Captain Higgins
lainented that the delay had lost him the Havana
aud Cadz mail steamer, which he had expected TO
capture and nt out as his consort with part OF his
armament.
During tho Hornets sojourn on the Long Island
coast she has been frequently hailed by the New
York pilot boats, and invariably answered their hail
with the reply that she was the steamer Queen,
bound for Bermuda, and engaged IN patching boilers
and repairing machinery.
we have thus brought up the doings OF this mis-
chevous privaeer TO within the last few days She
will probably next be heard from among the Span
ism merchantmen, unless she should nrst be over
hauled by some OF our naval vessels, which IL not
very probable. The Hornet Ia very fast, and her
only immediate trouble il likely TO arise from short
supply OF coal. Should her arrangements for fuel be
successful she Will be able 10 snow her heels 70
almost any naval vessel an0at