The New York herald., 1869-10-03
The Hornet Under a New Name
and Master.
How She was Purchased, Trans
ferred and Started.
Scenes A, Sea as Witnessed by Our Special
Correspondent on Board.
MARSHAL BARLOW IN A FOG
AT SEA, longitude :. Sept. 27, 1869.
sCENKS AT SEA.

l
Far out on the ocean, away from the grin.
| ming breakers which but yesterday ahone
| white and gstening In wake. with the
| long. monotonous roll OF the Atlantic surge.
swayng the vessel on its crest and causing the dim
| lamp over my head TO swing backward and for.
| ward with regular creaking motion. sit myself
| down TO write the first authentic news OF the
| Cuba, or, as she is perhaps still called
| in the States, the privateer Hornet Many
better communications have been written in dingy
newspaper Offices than this will turn out to be, but
| few scribes ever sat down to write under more
serious difficulties than those which now oppress
and distract your special correspondent. The sigh
| ing wind in the shrouds the thunder OF gun car
| riages being dragged and fixed into position by
salworth sailors, and the cheering and chattering
| OF Cuban patriots on deck, together with, the
splash and wash Of the sea breaking on our
starboard. is exceedingly dIsquietng. And then
how the timbers creak and groan, as II in antlcpa-
| tion OF the hour when, in the course OF probable
| events, vindctive Spanish shot and shell win
| whistle through them. But necessity knows no law.
| The copper-colored Imp detailed by the Captain to
minister to the wants OF the HERALD representative
| may labber broken Spanish and wildly wave his
| significant bucket as he holds on to the uncertain
door on the little sixby -four cabin but the yawning
! press at the corner OF Ann street, groaning for
"matter" sounds q call louder and more impera.
/ tive than the Increasing storm. Within the
last twenty minutes have been informed that in
short time the long looked for opportunity of sending
forward my despatch will be afforded me, ana there
| is therefore, no time to lose. would have wished
had circumstances permitted to send you more
particular description OF the departure OF this ship
and 0f her career to the present writing, but must
content himself with a very hurried, but yet per-
fectly reliable account, trusting to another oppor.
| tunity for more graphic and expended description.
/ am not suro whether 1t would be proper for me
| to state how or when came on board this craft;
| but-wrtng under editorial correction-I Will ven.
ture to give few details OF the embarkation. Hav-
ing carte blanche as TO expenditure, as all HERALD
| men have abroad took my own way Of getting on
| board. Hearing that the steamer Hornet owned by
Mr. VT OF Portland, Me-, was lying at Phiadel-
phia, and being pretty well posted to the move
ments of the Spanish agents and the Cuban Junta IN
New York, and moreover, feeling satisfied that
she was looked upon by greedy Cuban eyes.
l proceeded there and placed myself IN
muncation with certain parties who were
connected with her. l speedily learned that Mr..
R had purchased her few days before my
arrival with the view OF running her to Queenstown
Or Liverpool stopping en- route at Halifax. where
ne hoped TO 1nd purchaser Simple soulD IN the
sprg of royalty Illuminating that future State OF the
consequently felt himself in a position to swing
round the ocean circle in search OF good customer
He might have had one in the Cuban Junta but he
did not think there was money there. II instructed
by the Cuban leaders, however, his action could not
have been more favorable to the designs OF the
Junta. The Hornet was under the strict surveillance
OF the United States authorities while In Phiadel-
pha. but 1t not entirely strict the watchful
scrutiny Of the Cuban leaders. As you are already
m
BRUSH authorities, thoroughly searched, overhaued
and examined IL Is also well known that nothing
OF crnlhating nature IN an INTERNATIONAL point OF
government, which winked at the sailing OF the
Alabama. and that she was released by
Shortly after her arrival Mr. Leon Lafitte,
now one OF the officers of the Cuba appointed
by Mr.. R., who found that his attention was
required in another place as the supercargo OF the
ship, Power of attorney was gwen him TO proceed
steamer to the best advantage.
Her machinery having been repaired full crew
shipped and plenty OF coal being put on board, the
head OF steam from Halifax at eight O'Clock on Sun
day night, the 18th September with her suDercarg0
Thoroughly well informed OF what was going on,
your correspondent left the "Hallfax Hotelr where
he was stopping under nom de plume during the
examination OF the Hornet, and under the guidance
OF one OF the crew who was detailed by the COM
mander for the purpose, and with scanty luggage,
went on board with safety and was duly Introduced
and provided with berth. No time was lost In
weighing anchor after all the necessary preparations
had been made and we stood out or the harbor at
sjashing rate The next morning, after the decks
were washed and everything made taught, the land
our wake, one OF the passengers, after
first swallowing cup OF coffee handed
HIM by a ghostly y-looking steward, TO steady his
nerves, approached the supercargo, who was ner-
vousy pacing the deck before the Wheel ana spoke |
something IN quiet tone. some conversation fol-
tlons were on foot Tor the purchase OF the vessel.
The passenger proved to be duly accredited agent
nf ha NH nuarn ont ruhA radt
offer such terms TO the supercargo as could not be
refused short of madness. The supercargo, hav-
ing the interests OF the owners in view, closed |
with the ofier and the money being paid down, q
formal transfer was made. did not ascertain the
OF the ron OF psnk bills placed in the hands OF the
smiling supercargo 1t must nave been large. The |
bill OF sale was signed and delivered "at sea- Sep
tember 81 1859. in the presence Of wit
nesses.n The Hornet was then declared the property
OF the republic Of Cuba and her course
was Immediately altered to suit circum- |
stances. The next day, being far out at |
sea- we sighted schooner right ahead and |
standing toward her and one was surprised to fnd |
that she was a vessel that left before us with |
number OF men from Halifax, who were duly trans |
three and a tiger. Hardly had these men finished |
fraternizng with our hitherto limited crew when |
on the dusk OF the horizon a white speck which |
grew into the form OF full-rigged ship, disclosed
itself to our view, and after an hour more
aided by the sharp sou'easter which had |
and found to our unspeakabe satisfaction that she
had on board a number OF Parrot guns and large |
quantity Oh Ammunition. AithohEh the !
rolling heavily, ana the white waves Jumped against
the sides OF our craft in impotent fury, the officers
set about the task transferring the precious cargo,
and before the sun began to blink and wink over |
the disturbed sea, behind which he was apparently
sinking to rest everything was on board and pro- |
pery secured Some difficulty had evidently been |
anticipated 10y the officers OF the Hornet at this |
critical Juncture anxious glances being cast from
the quarter deck on the curious gaping crowd |
that filed the waist and FORWARD part Of the vessel;
but the result proved that there occasion for
anxiety To q man the crew were in full sympathy |
and accord with the onlcers. They had not been |
consulted regarding the change OF destination, but
when open mouthed guns began TO creep slowly on |
the deck from the creaking dayits and they were |
called upon to assist IN slowing them away |
they did so willingly and with hearty cheers. |
IL was midnight. few stars blinked I
from under dark masses OF clouds, the waves dashed
madiy past as In sympathy with the excitement |
which every ofncer and man experienced and the |
wild wind loose among the taut shrouds whisted |
merrily. The pale beams OF the moon fell athwart /
she deck, and In the shadows under the bulwarKs |