The New York herald., 1869-05-25
rs SHE A PRIvATEERi

what the Crew sny-Action Of Her 60
CLOSELY Watched-Other Operat ~,
Revenue Cutters.
To the interested or even casual .a..-z,.. a.,
sidewheel steamer quaker City, O ..,s~- .n. CS
iumbia' as sne Is now S"noo '' Aat the pier oppo-
site the Nove"s non "oAs, Il OF East Thirteenth
sreet reauy ~. s sp,' % looking men, with
her and depart therefron Isrr. :. m ,eorS 90
and demonstrations OF sax,ng in a c.rro ,ovs naen
made. Her intended pgyaee NAV be anc NAV have
been one Oh eei'h Hix design but lthe authorities
were made aware ca certain operations by her sup
poseo o~ues <hIch caused the action OF statoning
s"senuc cu' Ier'dsrecty opposite her. These move
menus " p' 'Gsilisr character may be summarized as
follows a.,
THE VESSELS PURCHASE.
i The QSaser City was taken from the Southern
route she on, is believed because Of its losing
natdre She consumed an immense amount OF coal
ts1me forty tons per day. and paying trade de-
manded a better business than she was doing. She
was withdrawn from the line, called '.pckpocket'
and ANONYMOUSLY sent TO the depository OF many
unfortunate steam vessels-the 'Ere basinn Brook
lyn. Here she remained until her present owners
came along and purchased her, the negotiations
finally ending in OF about 1875 900 being given
for her. 1t was round sum, but then there were
seyeraagents or gobetweens" TO fee to pocket their
little commissions, which without doubt they did in
upon the subject.
HER ALTERATIONS AND REPAIRING.
At once the Quaker City was towed to her present
position where she was put in the hands of scores
workmen, who III a short time made her look essen
italy different Her deck houses, embracing saloons
and pilot house, were all removed, the wheel for
steering moved aft, which gave her a clean deck,
and, indeed, the appearance OF man-ofwar
in tins respec-about the same she possessed during
the war, when United states gnnboat.
HER INTENDED PORT OF DESTINATION.
Her owners ana officers during the late hue and
cry about hlibusering expeditions were extremely
that Kingston Ja Is the port they desire to take the
vessel TO- and IN proof OF this point exutingly to
GER part OF last week. Say theY:-"This is egiti-
mate voyage. and we are Englsmen. We purchased
this vessel IN good faith and want to leave for
British port" That's the tenor OF their wrongs
very tragically given.
WHAT THE COLLECTOR OF THE PORT HAS DONE.
When the above representations were made to Col
lector Grinnel or his officers by the assumed owners
of the Quaker CITY, ne listened with attention and
said he would give II attention. Meanwhile, beev-
sng that all legitimate in the matter and
tearing that where there had been so much smoke
little fire might possibly be kinded, he sought
vices Of well known gentleman in this city, ship.
builder OF reputation, both in mercantile vessels
ships OF war-none the less than william H. Webb
and requested that he would visit the Quaker City
ohcally and report his deductions whether or not
was intended for voyage as stated by her ON
GERS or that OF some other purpose. This was done
and he reported to the Collector o few DAYS since
that he rmy OF the opinion that her alterations
and repairs had been made with the view OF using
her
AS A PRIvATEER
This he was fully convinced of by his obsrvations
particularly as she had heavy platform built aft
that could not possibly be used for any other object
than as gun deck. He gave other reasons to Col
lector Grinnell which have not transpired.
Since then the owners and officers, although stren-
unable to procure their clearance papers for Kingston,
despite they have offered the Collector bonds Of al
most fabulous amount that her voyage legitimate
design, intended represented. At this point tne
matter rests at the Custom House.
HER cREws-sTRASGE PROCEEDINGS.
The officers OF the Quaker City have experienced con-
siderable trouble in the matter OF the steamers
or crews, rather; first in their shipment, signing
articles, and secondly, in retaining them. The mem
bers OF the original crew, the first procured left the
vessel vessel In IN body last Thursday, yowing that they
would not remain on board q vessel that intended
to san ON an ihegitimate mission. Some OF the
petty onlcers We're also thus affected, 1t having tran
spred that the second mates retirement for this
reason.
so soon as this demonstration was made by the
sailors orders were instantly given TO certain ship
ping agent IN the Fourth ward for another crew.
THIS order called for seventy-four men, Now when
II Is understood that a crew OF forty would be a
very large number, including coal passers 1remen,
servants and boys for steamer OF this size and de.
scrpton, does not this fact look sgnldcantf Eighteen
sailors before the mast would be more than could
possibly be required; but here they desire forty.
Again, they have agreed 10 pay these men forty-ve
dollars per month-hye dollars more than the run
ming wages. These men are now board the
In confidential conversations since they Joined her
they have stated that the ship expected to procure
clearance Tor Kingston so as 10 enable her to sail
Saturday, and that If they could not obtain 1t they
would sail at all hazards on Monday. Saturday
afternoon the vessel was under steam her wheels
''turned over" and other little preliminary move
ments OF the machinery made, noticeable about a
large steamer preparatory to a sea voyage II the
officers expected the clearance alluded to they
mlseraby failed, and abandoned the intention OF
sailing then as also Illegally did they yesterday. 1t
Again, certain Of the crew have recently asserted
that the vessel is intended 10 san upon an Illegal
mission, as il has been decided upon should they
ever get OF, to meet a
SCHOONER OUTSIDE op SANDY HOOK,
from which they viii receive an armament and more
men, and that the -four cargo is all bosh, only In
tended to deceive the Authorities.
What statements are made above can IN every
essential particular be relied upon. Tney are col
are given without exaggeration with view Of
showing TIE status Of the Quaker City and OF her
stories are also fn circulation among a favored
few OF the later operation OF the same parties
that tina pure, purchased the quaker cry; They are & to
negotiations were commenced 70 purchase the
steamer Georgia now IN this port-an old blockade
runner, captured by the United states steamer NJ
agara but lying idle for long tme-with the view
oil altering her IN similar manner as their present
fsis ere ,Sar There ma y kgaia Y las eaa ns' no,
not to use harsher terms, oil those men, beliefs in.
cline " Tie former.
CLOSELY WATCHED.
The revenue steamer Hugh NcCdlloch sun lies In
the East river about 100 yards IRON the suspected
Quaker City. Her officers aud crew OF forty men
have watchlul eyes and her guns are sboted itmust
be lrksome duty, but all Oh board evidently under.
they are so closely guarding that when sue leaves
her oocn 70 sail oceanward hef Hpspers are al
right
The officers OF the Huga McCulloch are as foiows:-
Cdptdin-J. II. Merry ulau.
FIRST LteuteaGHt-d. l.. Hamn,
Second LtefteHGfi-H. l.. Reunett.
THd q Lte,tencnts--E. W. Crucy and J. r. OTIS.
EngneaS-C Chief, NJ. A. Chevefs. Assistants, Chas.
a. Satterlee T.. L. Hedden and - Rockefeller.
In addition TO the Hugh Mc.uOch, the revenue
steamer Mahoney, Captain Webster has recently
been ordered TO this port from Portland To assist IN
watching the haIbOr, and she Is now anchored In
the North river, with the character VI arIna-
fnent, crew and aught else as the lrst mentioned,
ready to eaten, punlsh or conusca,e any craft that