Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1869-10-21
The Hornet.
terror.

This same vessel was blockade runner
during the war, but captured near its
close. The Government sold her three or
four months ago to Senior Maclas. by
him it was re-sold until its actual owner
ship became a matter of doubt. From
the Philadelphia Navy Yard, where it
was bought this vessel was taken to Ken
sington shipyard, near Philadelphia, to be
put in repair. There was certainly moth
ing suspicious in this, but the repairs
made we're of such nature as to excite
suspicion. The attention of the United
States Marshal for that district was called
to the subject. He made all possible IN
vestigatiOn, but aScertained nothing war
ranting the detention of the Hornet,
which finally cleared on the 10Th Of Au
gust. 1t was, however, seized before falr-
" at sea. This seizure was ordered at the
instigation of the Peruvian Minister. A
few men, some twenty-five, all told, were
found on board, only armed with pistols.
The only suspicious facts were, that pro
visions were found on board to subsiSt
five hundred men two weeks and no cargo
This was an unusual showing for vessel
Just putting out to sea under command OF
a merchant sea captain. Not enough was
learned to Justify her arrest, although
competent Judges declared that the vessel
could not from her construction be anti
Peruvian in destination, but rather de-
signed for coast use in Cuba.
Having run the Philadelphia gauntlet
the Hornet was next heard of at Halifax.
The Spanish Consul was afraid she was
Cuban privateer, and had heavy guns
concealed beneath her coal At his insti-
cation search was made, but all to no pur
pose This second danger passed she
turned her keel southwark. 1t is said that
her armament was received from a vessel
out Of one of our ports. A New York
paper says further that coasting to points
near that city, she was by shipping
house there, supplied with coal, provis-
ions, double crew Of men, and all needed
munitions, a steam-tug named Martha
Washington making frequent trips to her.
The next heard Of the Hornet was on
the evening of the 4th instant, when she
appeared off Smithville, North Carolina,
thirty-five miles below Wilmington, flying
the Cuban colors. Driven shoreward by
the Storm she anchored inside the bar,
and sent her engineer and purser to the
latter city to secure supply = coal,
that taken on board off New York not
being adapted to quick movements Sus-
picions being soon aroused the officers,
after engaging a supply of coal, returned
to their vessel without making arrange
ments to get their coal aboard. This, of
course, excited still graver suspicious.
The United States Marshal at once pro-
ceeded to Smithville. 1t was found that
the vessel had two hundred men and thir-
ty officers aboard, majority of the lat
ter being ex-Confederates, Commodore"
Edward Higgins being the commander.
These are the facts in the case, according
to present advices. Cruising under the
Cuban flag is really sailing under no flag
at all, so far as our Government is con
cerned. Mexico, Peru, and such other
nations as have recognized the Cespedes
Government as the Republic of Cuba, are
bound to respect that flag, but to nation
which has not recognized the Cuban pat
riots as even beligerents, Cuba has no flag.
-Chicaq0 Journal, Oct. s.