The New York herald., 1869-12-16
THE SCOURGE FOR CUBA.
THE FL0TILLA TO SAIL TO-DAY.
Exciting Scenes at Thirteenth
Street.
A sPANIARD THIRsTINa FOB BLOOD
Bold Plot to Destroy the
GunbOats.

Three other gunboats were yesterday afternoon
added to the fifteen already haunting the flag OF
Spain In the North river, and to-day eighteen Span
ish war vessels, built Of American material by
rican constructors, equipped with American can.
non and oficered by American engineers, Will steam
away to crush little republic almost IN sight OF the
shores OF the United states. /; will be an interest
Ing spectacle to see this American squadron leave
New York ON such MISSION. There will be a great
crowd on the wharves, and as the officers of the
vessels shove or from the pier there viii be
fearful farewells and sobbiIrg among women,
like those when the volunteers marched
away to the war eight years ago. But
there Will not be any cheering; there will be no
hearty shouts OF God speed y no exutant thrill Of
sympathy and hope for success 1t would be profit
able 10 interview that crowd. Its language will in-
terpret the sentiments Of the whole country, and
however much 1t ay endorse the impartial enforce
ment Of the laws by the President IL will give
uncertain sound respec ting statutes which
allow the United States to be m ade the work
shop, arsenal, recruiting ground and base Of
operations By oppressors against sister re-
public. The emotions OF those spectators viii be
but the elimination OF the feelings which have
attached much interest to the history Of these
gunboats and which alone have made their con-
struction worthy OF comment. Ever since the an
nouncement that the gunboats would be allowed to
depart every incident connected with them has been
anxiously searched out by the public and as the
work progressed each day added TO the number
who thronged the docks about Thirteenth street!
On no occasion has the excitement been greater
tnan that which characterized
THE SCENE YESTERDAY.
Standing upon the pier at the foot OF Thirteenth
street. 1t not difficult to imagine ones self IN
niah ard 4 W.
coal barges alongside lay at anchor III the stream.
fifteen Spanish gunboats swung with the iide the
left rowboats with Spanish officers and bearing
Spanish nags moved 10 and fro across the water,
Spanish voices gave orders among all the dn ana con-
fusion around and even the roar OF furnaces and
clank OF hammers IN the workshops seemed to
sound In the tones OF Spain. Practically 1t was a
Spanish navy yard. Captain Aragon tine agent OF the
Madrid government. was imperial in his supremacy.
The most delicate intimafion OF the spanish Minis
ter was command, ana Captain Navarete, the
secretary OF the Spanish Admiral al Havana
ceived less soicitous attention. Naval buttons,
bearing the crest Of Spain ana gold-laced caps
adorned with gilded crowns glistened III all the
nues about the place, ana Spanish sailors lounged
upon the timbers chatterng their iargon as content
edlv as II on their native shore Curious spec
tators found u more agreeable to stand stand
the operations from nelghhorlng lumber piles, as
the authorities IN command were not amiable to
n
wanted TO enter the spanish service They felt
that they were masters OF the situation, and their
looks and actions did not belle their feelings. They
were In great haste. The barrels and boxes OF pro-
visions could noo be handled fast enough 10 suit
their impetuous nature and ,te parges seemed 10
tons OF coal into gunbdat Work on the three un-
finished vessels amazed them by its prolongation.
ana every movement from the painting or upper
work 10 the hosting OF gun carriages, was closely
watched with impatlence. The engineers and dremen
engaged on Monday and Tuesday were overwhelmed
with Instructions and ordered to be on board this
morning at seven O'Clock; and the former agreed to
obey, provided some arrangements were made for
their subsistence on the gunboats This ad not
been attended to In the contract and after consider
able consultation they were promised sl1 lo, IN
gold. extra, for subsistence money the trip. The
firemen will draw ratlons. No American coalpasseTs
were taken. It having been finally decided 10 detail
men from the Pzarro for that duty. Four pilots,
one Tor each five vessels were engaged the last
orders for supplies, &C, were gwen at sundown,
and as the 1ags go up to the peak this morn
ing the decks OF the notilla Will resound with
the sounds OF departure. All the necessary
Custom House preliminaries have already been AT
tended to- On the 18th instant the Spanish Consul
sent to Collector Grinne eighteen different certi1-
to No. Is. The Collector thereupon detailed an
offcer to inspect them and certify on the face OF
each Of the transfers that he had visited and denti
fled them I'm consequence OF this no obstacle Win
be offered by the Collector to the departure or the
boats which, ~ vessels OF war, require no clear
anee. Mr.. Hopper, superintendent OF the Coastwise
Department, Identified them yesterday morning
those t0swhich the certificates applied.
THE UNFINISHED VESSELS
are being hurried TO completion less rapidly than
those Just delivered. All the workmen that can be
conveniently employed on them are nastenina their
ontft as II the glnbOats were required TO protect
New York from an enemy, and the decks are covered
with tackle, hammocks, cables and other parapher-
dock between Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets,
and are guarded day anu night by u large number
OF watchmen armed WIN s rev9tsers. 1ose Every
in most cases is denied admission to
the boats unless provided with pass These vessels
viii all be completed by the lst OF January and viii
Immediately proceed to Havana, conveyed by the
Spanish frigate Isabel, now on her way to New York
with officers and men for them. III Is understood
that several other spanish war vessels Will be con-
structed at the same establishment, although MIR.
Deiamater states that no contract has yet neen en-
tered into.
Among the swarthy looKerson In citizens dress
at the uelamater works yesterday was tall span
lard elab oratey attred, who seemed TO goat on tile
progress of affairs. The HERALD reporter politely
asked him how Spaniards in New York regarded the
attitude OF the United states respecting the gunboat
question.
SPAsIARp-Oh Senor zee governments OF zee
United states ees all right. Weneyer supposed zat
zee goonboats would be stopped. Zee law was vary
plain.
pathy OF the people for CUBA might influence Con-
gress 10 detain the vesselsY
SPANIARD-We was not afra-ed OF Eat. Zee gov
ernment of spain was ready to iet II zee boats
seezzed, and zee United states cannot have war
now. Spanish fleet would come to New York II
zee boats was not let go.
REpoRTER-Are the people Of Spain ready for war
with this country
SIANlAhp-i ecHs Jou Asio "ou'o oc w Ius
II zls government did make war zee Spanish pee
pies Is ready. Zare never was much friendship for
zee United states III Spain. Lay always believed Eat
zee Yankees had ger eyes on cuba, ana Eat zee
United states was zer enemy in every question zat
affected provinces Of Spain In America. Resides
Eat, when Queen was In Madrid zee American
papers called her bad names ana before zee
iution made zee spanish peoples very mad. How
woud you like IL II zee papers In Madrid said Eat
Meeses Grant was bad womanf
REpoRTER-But you know she Is not Americans
think that the spanish government ought TO reel
very amicably towards the United States especially
since the Cuban expeditions have been broken up
and your gunboats released.
SPANIARD-Perhaps 1T does but Eat is not much.
We had zee right to come To New York for gunboats
aud SPAN has plenty Of shhps to make United
states give zcm up. IL was question OF honor. and
II II was necessary zee fleets Of SPAN would bom-
bard New York. Zee United States has
got very few ships, and cannot protect