The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-29
THE HORNET.
A Regular Cuban Man-Of-War After Spanish
yessels-Hcr Armament, Crew, Speed, and
History.

A Regular Cuban Man-of-Wnr After SpanisI,
History.
The New York Sun of this morning publishes
the following
When the Ryan expedition was about ready to
leave this port several reporters representing the
leading city papers invited by the Cuban Junta
to accompany it until it arrived at safe distance
from our coast. These reporters were escorted on
board a small steamer by a member OF the Junta
Cubana, who showed them every courtesy. They
were, however, hardly away from the pier before
enterprsing reporters who did not go were engaged
writing up the expedition, which was not safe be-
fore morning came, and the whole undertaking was
exposed, and in consequence the expedition was
captured. At about the same time negotiations for
the purchase of the Hornet then lying at League
and Americans, without any assistance of the Junta
and preparations were Immediately made for con-
verting her into Cuban man-of-war. She was over
hauled and repaired at Messrs Neafe 4 Levy's at
The First Ruse.
An American was placed IN command, who was TO
remain in charge until her armament and compile
ment of her crew were on board. She was cleared
for Liverpool via Havana on Friday the 18th nit
and Saturday following She dropped down the river sI
to point opposite the city, small tug was en-
poyed to take commissary stores on board the HOr-
net One of the men on that tug suspected that the
Hornet was to go into Cuban service. He talked
about it until United States Marshal Gregory heard
the report, and determined to seize the suspicious
vessel.
The Seizure of the Hornet.
Accordingly Marshal Gregory, accompanied h
Captain Wright, went on board the revenue cutter
Miami, and gave orders to the captain to take the
Hornet When the Miami came in view OF the Hor-
net the latter steamed on up the river. The Miami
her TO. She was taken to the Navy Yard and held
until the 23d ultimo, when she was released.
on for Halifax.
The programme for her departure having thus
been broken, she was sent to Halifax for coal where
she arrived on the Sd instant and on the following
day was seized on complaint Of the Spanish Consul
Meantime she continued to take in coal until on the
5th one OF her crew made affidavit that she was a
Cuban priVateer and had arms on board The
Spanish Consul then gave $4,000 bonds for damages
in case his charges were untrue, and she was 1R-
loaded. No arms were found on her. She was re-
leased, and again taking In full supply OF coal and
thirty more men, she hurredly steamed out of Hall
fax the night OF the 10 inst this time bound for
an appointed place on the coast of Massachusetts,
where her armament had been sent
AHeavy Armament on Board.
For certain good reasons we do not give the point
from which the Hornet received her guns and sup
plies, but on the morning OF the 2lst all were on
board and with a crew OF seventy men, Cubas first
man-of-war, with the word Hornet erased and Cuba
her new name inscribed on the stern and pennant
weighed anchor for point Off Gardeners Island.
BEFORE leaving HalfaX her captain had received his
commission
The Commander of the Hornet.
Captain Eloy Comacho is her commander. It will
be remembered that he surprised the crew of the
Spanish steamer Comanditarlo Off the Cuban coast
last April, and had to abandon her on account of
want OF coal and close pursuit by the Spanish man
of-war. He is bold, dashing middle-aged Cuban
gentleman of wealth and education.
Her Armament and Crew.
Ine Hornet was a blockade runner, and was can.
tured by the United States war steamship SUNNY
early in 1865, with cargo valued at S26O60O She
has been confused with the Lillian also blockade
runner. The latter was converted into man-of-WaI
while the Hornet v las sent TO League Island where
she had remained until last June. She is $50 tons
| burden and pierced for eight guns. She is a side
| wheel, and ranked third-class She is Clyde built
and can, under heavy pressure, make fifteen knots
an hour She has seven guns three on each side and
pivot bow gun, loO,pounder Parrot OF long range
The side guns are 82-pOunders, two 6S-p0unders
TWO grape and canister pieces, also 6s-pounders. He
crew, the last of whom went on board OF her nigh
| before last, numbers 1853 men, sixty OF whom ar,
| Americans, who saw service during our war. Sh,
has TWENTY-FIVE experienced gunners, and all thu
| munitions boarding hooks, and complete parapher
MALTA OF corsair She is no priyateer but regu
| larry commissioned man-of-war, commanded by
| Cuban, with commission from Cespedes.
Her Mission
| is TO capture Spanish merchantmen and take then
into Mexican ports for adjudication; she is also Il
| capture and destroy Spanish transports, and al
| passenger steamers engaged on the Cuban coast
| and, when prudent, attack Spanish armed steam
ships sailing vessels She viii not he used as
! transport, as reported Whenever ~ " unsafe fo