The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-28
THE LIZZIE MAJOR.
How She was Boartled by the Spanish Omcer

How She was Boarded by the Spanish Officers.
The following are the particulars of the board
ing of the schooner Lizzie Major by the officers
of the Spanish frigate Fernando Ell Cattolica, and
the taking from the vessel of two Cubans-
New ORLEANS, April III desire Through
your columns to present to the public an account
of a high-handed outrage perpetrated upon an
American merchantmen, on the 9th ult, while
on her passage from Caibarien, Cuba to New
Orleans, by the commander of the Spanish
frigate Fernando Ell Cattolica. The Lizzie Major
sailed from Havana, March Sth, for Caibarien,
thence to New Orleans. Two Cubans, Z. =. "A.
Annible and Ramon Rivas, took passage for the
United States, having passports in due form,
signed by the Captain-General, Dp'cc. They
also shipped horse and arriage, the
property of a friend whoSnad previously
left the island. AT Caibarien the papers of
the vessel and the passports of the passengers
were accredited by the proper authorities, the
latter being allowed perfect liberty as to their
movements. While at Caibarien, on the 10Th
ult., two men, father and son, were brought from
Cay Frances charged with an attempt to leave
the island. A guard OF volunteers was placed
over them, who demanded their instant eXecu-
ton. The captain of the post went to telegraph
for regulars from Remedies to control the voun-
teers. During his absence the guard shot the
prisoners, tore the clothing from their bodies,
and after dragging them through the streets
left them unburied. At the expiration of
twenty-hours the wives of the murdered men
begged their bodies for burial, when the ruff
fans refused them, and with the most oppro-
brious epithets threatened to shoot them also.
A few days after two men were shot by the
same volunteers. because one of them cried
'Viya Cuba" On the 9th the Lizzie Major
sailed from Cay ORANGES, at 1910 A. NJ. was
hove to and boarded by a lieutenant from the
aboYenamed Spanish frigate, being then ten
leagues from port and twenty miles from the
nearest land. He was accompanied by the first
engineer, Englishman, as interpreter The
officer inquired if there were passengers, to
Which the captain replied in the affirmative, and
the passports were exhibited. He then demanded
that the matches should be removed, that he
might examine the cargo, which the captain
refused to do. The lieutenant then returned to
the frigate, carrying the passports with him.
After considerable delay he came back and
ordered the passengers to prepare to return
to Caibarien. He again demanded the
removal of the matches, and was again refused
He threatened to take the horse and carriage,
and remarked that it was great favor that the
vessel was not seized. Finally, upon the cap
tain,s urgent representation in favor of
| the lad Ramon Rivas, an orphan on his way to
| join his friend the officer permitted him TO
| remain. Immediately after the return Of the
boat to the frigate she came in charge of n mid
| shipman, who ordered the boy to get his bag
| gage and go into the boat. The midshfpman
| went into the cabin, followed by his boats
crew. who rushed in, saying they came to take
| posses sion of the vessel. The captain asked
| what all these men wanted in his cabin The
officer replied that they came after the baggage
| They then returned to the frlgate, and allowed
| the Lizzie Major to proceed on her VOYAGE after
| a detention of three and half hours. All
| this took place while the American flag was ay-
ing aloft, and against the protest of Captain
| Giles. He said to the other:-"You should re-
| spect the flag under which / SAIL The latter
repled:-'We have got the biggest ship and the
biggest guns, and will do as we please"
a. w. Gins,
Master OF schooner Lizzie Major.