The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-08
THE CASE OF THE HORNET.

He Ran into WiImingion-What He In.
tended to do With Spanish Merchant Ves-
ses--His Future Movements.
WASHINGTON. Nov. I, 1869.
Commodore Edwin Higgins, OF the Cuban navy,
late in command OF the Hornet, with F. ]. McNulty,
| surgeon or the same vessel. arrived here yes
terday from Wilmington, N. G. The Commodore
is a fins looking man, OF about ffty-hve years OF
age medium height, well built, with large
round head. tninly covered with gray hair. lie
has mild, good natured expression OF coun-
tenance an eye large, but not particularly bril-
liant and an aquine nose, considerably bent to one
side, as II it had received a severe visitation from
some antagonist in prize fight. Setting or tho
whole Is q gray mustache, which, with his hair,
makes the Commodore look much older man than
he really is. No person meeting him for the nrst
time would take him for the commander or a priva.
teer Indeed, he denies that the Hornet was In any
sense privateer. He insists that she regu.
larry commissioned man-ofwar belonging to the
Cuban republic. The Commodore's whole bearing
and general appearance impress you with the idea
that he Is OF cooness daring and pluck,
which he unquesionaby is, or he would hardly have
yentured at his time or life, on such a hazardous
business the command OF the Hornet, While he
naturally regrets the capture of his snip he seems to
lake his bad luck with that Kind Of philosophy which
says, "I try again ana hope to do better next
timeu
The Commodore received your correspondents
kindly and cordially though he said there had been
some misrepresentation OF his motives and conduct
In the HERALD out he knew they were not inten-
tional. After the usual salutations said, "Commo-
dore, how does the matter stand now ?"
CoNaopoRE-Well, our ship lies at wilmington
and, after trial. all the oncers and crew. with the
exception Of seven, nave been discharged. Why
these seven officers are held do not know.
CoRREsPoSpESr-Has your ship been dlsmantled
as well as disarmed.
CoAMoDoRE-Yes, partially disman,led and wholly
dlsarned They have robbed her OF nearly every
thing, including stores, tobacco and clothing.
CoRRRspoND ENr-Do you consider tbs Hornet q
vessel in all respects adapted TO the purposes you
| had in view?
CoHMoposE-No not exactly. She ls a sidewheeI
steamer and could not, therefore, be pat under can
| vas. Besides, she colld not carry more than six
/ days coal, and being fast saier, she would do
l better for blockade runner than man-of war
that expected TO encounter well armed vessels on
i the ocean.
| CORRESPONDENT There have been various state.
| menis published, Commodore, about your object In
running into Wilmington. win you give Inc your
! own version OF itS
| COMMODORE With great pleasure, sir. When I
| arrived OF Montluk Point, from Halifax, found
myself out OF coal, aud It necessary to get some
| before proceeding further. Isuceeelsa in commu-
| nlcating with our friends anh they sent out
! schooner with about hundred and sixty tons,
which we took on board IN q gale, and then pre-
ceeded way. Ny chief engineer soon informed
me that tue coal was OF poor quality, indeed, IL
was half slate. and ne made a written report
to that effect 1t appears that those who sent
tho coal out did without examining its quality.
They found the schooner with oad OF coal and sent
her TO without delay. when we were OH
useless to proceed fufber without getting coal is
would be impossible, he said 10 handle tue vessel In
/ an action with the coal We received OIL Montauk
| Point. On my way South did not know put that /
might meet spanish war vessel, ana aid not want
| to 30 taken at disadvantage. the chances were
| could neither get away from her nor light ner.
| Unaer these circumstances set about TO look for
| place Where | could get coal ! Thought at 1rst OF
putting INTO Eiatteras inlet out found there was no
prospect OF gctsng coal there anu the sea was rum
ming nigh at the tine tnat vita sidewheel
| trously on a lee shore When reached Cape Fear
found pilot, who informed me that could get coal
nj Wilmington; That the fort there was unnamed anu
| that there were United states naval vessels in
the nei.hborhood. By anchoring oil Smlthylile hs
thought could get the coal sent down to LIE and %
| OF before the United states officials were well
aware OF nv presence, certainly before they could
| send any force 10 detain me. | concluded TO 40
| this an1 lie took me in. We arrived or Smthyillc
| on Saturday night That Is thrty miles below
| master and anosRer officer to Wilmington after the
| coal. They did not reach there until one O'Clock
| sunday moruiar Alter making iaquIry they aseer-
talneI that lhe only man who had coal 60 sell In
/ such large quantities was q pous Presbyterian.
Aronsng MIN tneY found tnat he would not sell on
| Sunday not before Monday. did not think that tho
United states authorities would do more than order
! me to leave even after they found Was there Is
was useless 20 again without coal, because
the coal was moi only bad but y was nearly all used
i | concluded 70 wat until Monday, get mg coal and
1 be or. on Monday tho authorizes discovered was
/ there, ana tue Jnted states Marshal came DOWN
ana took possession Of the snip and put her under
the guns OF the iorf, having previously hlown soma
| soldiers mo #.
CoRREspoxDESr-Yo may have seen statement
10 the effect that your wife met you NJ VA mngton
| Amos. soon as you arrived there, Which looked
as Il your running mo WILMINGTON was preeon-
certed. ~ tnero anything In thatH
i CoMMoDORE-No sIe; II Is not true. While wo
i were taxing coal OIL Montauk Point was struck
! with naWser, which parted aud knocSei me sense
less. have not been wei since, and when we got
i detained ~ Wilmington the surgeon here tpontlhs
TO DR.. McNuliy), ADVISED me to telegraph Tor Ms.
/ Higgins, which did She did not artye tnero lor
i several days alterwe were seized.
/ CoRREsposDRNr-Where aid you intend going
CoMMoDoRE-I learned that the spanish mail
steamer efs Havana on tho lst ana l5th OF eacn
| month was anxious to run across the track Oh
the one leaving on the lst OF october, and beng all
4 my energies to DO SO. II the bld coal that got
from the schooner and the poas lresol tctian eoai
| dealer at wilmington had not failed me would
have encountered mat steamer, Tor was Wen aware
coHREsPoSDESr-wh would you have done with
her, had you caught herY ,..,. -. ..a.s .
| CoMNopoRR-l would most probably have maze q
| fire cut or her. the only trouble would nave lad
| would nave been Ia taxing care o. my IIisoaeIa,
| CORES PuRDBNT-l suppose you WOad nave
| burned most or the spanish nerehantinen you camo
| oss. r., -. 49,
| taken them into the ports open to tue Cublns anu
| Mad them condemned ~ prizes.
I CORES PONDENr-Wa ~ your intention 10 nave
| run into any u the ports OF CuDaY
| CoMMopoRE-Yes; | intended TO run In, destroy
whatever snipning found, aud, In connection with
the guoan land force, seize and hold OF tha
ports ana then get out again the best way could.
| In nv opinion tue cuban army ought 10 come To
OF the sea porls ana get hold OF It. This would DO
| better than DEFENDING the inland towns
IoKREsrOSDBNr--N as any part Of your oflcera
and crew Cub0hsY
CoMM0DoEE-lhe paymaster and two or three OF
i the engineers were Lubans butnOno OF the crew. |
did not consider tuat II would do TO the seamen.
! CORRESPONDENT Commodore, what about your
| future noyement33
i CoMMoDoRE--Weil, can hardly say. ! shall pro-
baby Try IL over again il can get another sup.
| The loss OF the Hornet fell more heavily on tue