The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-04-02

"THE EVER FAITHFUL ISLE"
A SPANISH OUTRAGE IN NEUTRAL WATERS
REIGN OF TERROR IN HAVANA.
Full Particulars OF tho Capture of the
American Brig Mary Lowell by a
Spanish NJ nlan-of-yvar-- Bloody Work Mt
Havana-Terrib1e Excitement among
the POpulacc-ViolcntS Sccnos ON Palm
sunday-M VI a and Executions
Dulcc's COwartily Conduct.
The Havana ,rrespondent Of the New York
World, writing under date OF March Oath, says:
The British gunboat Chernb came into port
yesterday evening from Nassau, N. p, and
brought news of sens tional importance, since
they tell Of great insult to ana outrage upon
the American and British fags by Spanish
man. of-war. have told you OF an American
sanr vessel having shipped on arms
passengers from an American steamer.
that had been disabled in her ma
ohinery, at or near Nassau, and of her
where she was closely watched by a Spanish
man-of-war, the Andalusia. BY the arrival Of
tne British schooner Margaret, at Nassau,
from Ragged Island, the startling announce
had been captured in an English port Of entry
by the Andalusia, in direct violation Of inter
national and British laws. By the Margaret
there came as passenger to Nassau Mr.. Walter
Wilson, the Custo NH ouse officer at Ragged
Island, who had had charge Of the American
brig Mary Lowell, the vessel in question: in
the capacity of pilot AMI custo4house officer,
90 Of who
Majesty's customs. TO one OF the officers of
the gunboat Cherub I am indebted for the fol-
lowing copy of Mr.. Wilson's official report Of
the capture of the Mary Lowell, he having
been on board of her at the time:
On the afternoon of the 18th, at about 20 P. NJ,
was In the act of removing the brig Mary Lowell
as the "Harbor, when was ordered to heaye to and
lower my sails by the commander OF the Spanish
gunboat Andalusa, who, finding that did not do SO
at once. gave tho order three times in loud voice,
to fro into U.S. Upon this Immediately hove to,
when boat came alongside containing fifteen men,
well armed. under the command Of two officers. one
OF whom demanded permi Ssion to come on board I
replied that he might private individual,
but not in an official capacity, upon which he came
on board. We mad not, however, been in conversa-
ton more than minute or 80, when an order from
the pap S ns r svth to the
did, and Immediately took formal possession Of the
vessel. may here mention that the order, three
ing carried into execution by officer who placed
his hand on the cap of the gun to prevent Its being
demonstrated with the officer who bearded me
(who. by the way could speak English uently) in
energetic manner as was consistent with my duty.
asking him whether he was aware of the illegafity
and gravity of the act which he was about to com.
NIT. and whether he knew that the brig Mary Lowell
under my charge was an American vessel and that
she was In British waters and under British protec
tion and, moreover that was an officer in the en-
ploy Of her Msjesty's government Of the Bahamas.
to which he replied, "that he WAS only obeying the
orders Of his superior Officer" BE then ordered me
to get into the boat and go board the gunooat,
SIX men that were with In the brig-four Of whom
belonged to her and the other two OF whom had
brought from the shore-got into the, boat and pro-
ceeded to the spanish uaan-of-war. On going on
board asked the captain what his Intentions were,
and what lie wanted with me- to which he
simply replied that must at once 60 on shore. To
enable me to do 30, he gave me the boat belonging
TO the Mary Lowell in which my brother, George
W. Wilson who was on board Of the man-of. war,
together with myself and the two men from the
shore, reached the land. The other four men belong
Ing to the brig, who were all British subjects,
During the entire of the above proceedings as mar
rated by me, the American faR was flying from 9he
%y ss q s ss f
sei and epread over the rail. On our leaving the
Mary, Mary Lowell. the "A American flag was removed and
fast to the gunboa which proceeded with her 10 sea
in Q southwesterly direction.
TIE captain Of the Mary Lowell had LETT her
at Ragged island some time before the capture
OF the vessel, and her Cuban passengers had
all gone of ashore, many of whom came back
to Nassau IN the schooner Margaret with Gus
tomhouse Officer Wilson. The good people Of
Ragged Island were thrown into high state
OF excitement by the capture and consequent
insult to their flag, and have sworn vengeance
against Spanlards. and the first Spanish ves-
sci thai puts into their port is likely to get
also created no small excitement Governor
Walker at once pronounced it an outrage, wan
ton and unpardonable in it's nature and execu-
tion, which demands prompt and vigorous meas
ures in vlndication Of the honor and integrity
OF the British Empire. With this view Of the
case. his Excellency forthwith prepared dis
patches for the home government. and sent
transmission. Her Britannia Majesty's CON
suit General here. the Hon. James Graham
Dunlop, has taken the matter OF the capture
in hand with zeal and energy. Yesterday
evening he was to have had an interview with
Captain-G General Dulce on the subject. The
capture Of the Mary Lowell is likely to lead TO
serious diplomatic complications betw cen
Great Britain and Spain, in which the Aneri-
can Government will necessarily have to take
part against the latter power.
The Same correspondent writes under date
of the 2Sd ult. as follows: ~
On Sunday evening q government trans port
left for Fernando Po with two hundred and
twenty. five political prisoners on board, hav-
ing for escort the war frigate Lealtad. Until
Within q day OF two Of this, four hundred pris-
tions made to Captain-Genera Dulce induced
him on Friday to reduce the number, and re-
tain one hundred and forty five of the prison.
erS IOr Iulior cOn6lOerauOn OF tnelf cases. Ine
two hundred and twenty-five, who went were
embarked from Fort Cabanas, and although
very many of them belonged to the first classes
Of society, embracing wealthy sugar and to-
baceo planters, able jursts, talented lawyers,
professors and physicians, merchants OF note,
fervont priests and afluent bankers, all were
taken on board, ironed and chained. Their
embarkation wAs witnessed by several thous-
ands of persons assembled on the wharves.
Most OF the spectators were Spaniards, attract
ed there by curiosity and to rejoice over the
misfortune Of the embarking prisoners.
All the prisoners had been embarked before
halt past one p. a., and the vast crowd had
began TO leave the wharves when very re-
Gan officer Of volunteers but then dressed in
citizens c!othes), caught q man trying to pick
his pockets. and had Kim arrested. The crowd
noticed this, and some one having wickedly
Muera Espdnd! death to Spain!) o general
md tor hsu nd ~