The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-04-03

The Navy Department Is In receipt Of
several dispatches from Rear Admiral Hof,
commanding the North Atlantic squadron,
dated Key West, 10Th March.
Rear Admiral Hof reports that on Sunday,
the Dist u1timo, Havana was the scene OF
much excitement, caused by the departure
Of $50 political prisoners for Fernando Pc.
There was a great concourse Of people
witnessing their departure-the volunteers
having to keep the crowd back. One Of the
soldiers ordered citizen TO stand back,
which he could not do In consequence Of the
pressure behind him. Words ensued and
the soldier fred on him, killing him immc.
diately. A police officer demanded why this
was done. A discussion followed, and he
was also killed. Several arrests were made
--one for shouting "yiva Cespedes," and
another for having Cuban aag in bis pos,
session. Both wero tried, condemned, and
shot the same day. The transports with
the prisoners sailed In the afternoon.
lie encloses extracts from Nassau papers
relative TO the arrival Of one OF the Peruvian
| monitors at Ragged Island with the suryi-
vors Of the wreck OF her convoy. Tho ram,
while on the way from Key West with yes.
sci In tow, parted the hawser which con-
nected them, and while cndeavoring TO make
II fast again steamed Into tho vessel and
sunk her. Seven lives were lost. The
| VI NV OthSh "oo
| unknown.
| A proclamation was issued on the cath by
the Captain General Of Cuba relative 10
/ blockade runners or vessels seized In Span
ish waters or upon the free seas near
| the island with cargoes or Of materials that
may In any way contribute to promote or
foment the Instruction In the province.
"whateycr may be the point Of their pro-
cedure and destination, and AFTER previous
1 .t,..N nf hal Nd
they WILL In effect, be considered as enemies
TO our territory and treated as pirates, In ac-
cordance with the ordinance OF the navy.
All persons that shall be apprehended In
such vessels, In whatever number they may
DO, will DO Immediately shot"
Rear Admiral Hor cncloscs such reports
as had reached him from the captain Of the
American brig Mary Lowell, OF New York,
by the Spanish war steamer Andalusla, at
Ragged Island, one Of the Bahamas.
II appears that the master OF the brig had
left her and gone TO New York for instruc-
tlons, leaving the vessel In charge OF Gus
| tom-house officer at Ragged Island.
On the 18th ultimo Mr.. Wilson, custom
house officer and pilot, was moving the brig
from the man.of-war anchorage to the inner
harbor, when the Spanish steamer took pos
session Of her and sailed oil, carrying her to
Havana.
Rear Admiral Hoff reached Havana on
the eth ultimo, and found the Mary Lowell
In port. He was unable to give further In
formation regarding the seizure than was
communicated from Key West as the mail
steamer was about to leave for New York.
1t was thought that the Spanish Govern
ment will Immediately dlsavow the act, and
that 1t would be found that the commander
OF the Andalusia had exceeded his instruc
tons, or acted on his own responsibility.
The Narragansett was at Havana. The
Penobscott was at Clenfuegos, having
visited, within few days, the port Of Trini-
dad de Cuba and Tumas.