The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-16
MISSING A nSTAKE.u
Mysterious Manners Of Ia.
toms Collectors.
Story Of Supposed Absconding Port COLLECTOR
from Cuba-He Has Diamonds or 'Ducats'
and the Customs Officers Here go
for" Them-Ihe Bird Had
Slipped Them.


dumpy and drty-looklng brig, Of $50 tons, bearing
the name OF the Lydia II. Cole, OF which Captain
Jones, plons and G0d-fearng man, was the master,
sailed out OF the mouth OF the harbor or the town
OF Guantanamo, at the southeastern end OF the
| Island OF Cuba. Guantanamo IL town
| OF about two thousand Inhabitants, In
the civil district OF Guantanamo, and TO the east
and west the civil districts OF Baracoa and
Jguani. Guantanamo district mas a white popula-
ton Of about 1000, Tree colored population Of
| 1900 ana 10000 slaves, with sxty-rour haciendas,
| forty-lour ngenos and $50 tobacco factories.
| Inc port oil Guantanamo IS chiefly frequenled by
| vessels who carry away cargoes OF sugar and to-
bacco to New York, London, Caliz Barcelona and
Havre.
| On the day that the dumpy brig Lydia II. Cole
sailed gentleman named Senior Ramos, then sup
| posed to be the
COLLECTOR OF THE PORT OF GUANTANAMO,
| and since proved beyond doubt 10 be SO, came on
| board with his vile and family, 1--WE trunks and
| some loose but important baggage. The Senior was
| stout, dark-haired, olve.skinned and dark
| eyed Spaniard OF over forty years OF age ana
| weighing in the gross about 200 pounds his
wife was an exceedingly beautiful woman OF
| twcntysix or twentyseven years OF age. with all
| the graceful fire and abandon or daughter OF
| Cadiz, the place OF her birth. There are three
| children in the family, the eldest of which was .
| boy oil five years of age, whose and hair were
the G,c stntiie OF his mothers. The servants were
1 Dolores and Juanita, Who, like all Cuban half
| breeds, were
| DISPOSED TO VERY FRoIrcsoME.
| The only thing which made the party Il mysterious
one large black leather valise, very heavy 10
| LIT ana which Senior Ramos allowed any per-
| son but himself to handle look at when he was
near.
The Ramos family came on board OF the brig with
their passports all rised properly and the Custom
| House officials helped to place their baggage on
| board. The brig was cleared for New
| York. and Senior Ramos had bought passage
tickets for himself and family for New York
city, the brig having cleared for same place with
several hundred hOgsheads OF sugar. thirty barrels
OF rags and one full Of bark. The Senor seemed
anxious all the time OF his passage until he LEFT the
brig; and for three days the LYDIA encountered very
rough weather and the Ramos were all
sEAsICK AND MISERABLE,
there being no ether passengers on board, ana the
crew consisting or the captain first and second
mates, steward and six seaien before the mast.
The cargo was CONSIGNED to waydell Co., No. 81
When four days out from Guantanamo Ramos very
suddenly demanded that Captain Jones should lana
himself, family and servants at Port Prince. The
captain. though willing enough
TO oBLiGE A HIGH SPANISH OFFICIAL,
like Ramos could not depart from his sailing in
structions, as Port au Prince was long way
out Of MS route Ra mn. alleged that me
brig and lnat he must go ashore at Port
au PRINCE IN r,0 order to take the steamer
and the Roman nose OF Senior Ramos twitched with
delight when nc heard that Captain Jones would put
him ashore at the port OF st. M TX the Island OF
Hayti, about sixty maritime leagues rom Guanta-
naino. Ramos Is native OF Barcelona, Spain. The
captain desired to put him ashore at Great naguiA
Island, but Ramos declined. he SAID there was no
complunication between that place and New York.
J LAsDlsG WAS MADE AT ST. MARK.
The brig hove to In the harbor and boat was sent
; ashoreko inform the American Consul that perms-
sion was asked to land some passengers and Soon u
! favorable answer came back by negro DOCTOR who
OF The Ramos family, and pronounced the family In
pe saad weather ann were aee e crew aI
Hatteras on their way home before they TOOK pilot
ON nv WEDNESDAY rls pc. a a. SIX +
was Immediately boarded by IA man who SAID that
he belonged to the Custom House, but did not show
The manifest and bills Of ading and stated that
he was ordered to stay on board nntI the revenue
were any passengers on board, and was iliOrMed
that there were not
the revenue cutter came down, and again the same
formula gone through. The papers OF the vessel
were demanded by a well known politician, VINO is
also deputy surveyor OF the port and In company
with several other officials, he asked Captain Jones
tons. lie asked about the passengers who had been
landed at st. Mark, aud demanded TO know II they
were not
CONCEALED THE VESSEL SOMEWHERE
He asked II the wife of Senior Ramos did not wear
tty OF Jewclry on her person, which questions were
answered III the negative. lie asked about her
| neaVy Vailse III anu seemed very much
grieyed That 1t had not fallen into his hands.
"Didn't the Spanard Ramos stake you for letting
him or at 81. Marks, and didn't you know ha was
4 THE ABsCONDING COLL cToR
OF the port OF Guananamoy' asked this polite
deputy surveyor OF Captain Jones.
81 answer no To both questIOns,' SAID Captain
Jones.
.'You know you Iie and
LIE LIKE A THIEF.
Don't lie to me- said the Deputy Collectors and
when the captain said that he did NOS understand
such ruilianly language the Custom House Oiclal
became more excited ana violent than ever. The
papers OF the brig were taken on board OF the cut
ter and there examined by an Official, who Is be-
lieved to be the
CHIEF CLERK OF THE SPANISH CONSUL
who was, no doubt, detailed TO watch for the alb
scOndng Ramos.
the Health Oricer finally cleared the vessel and
she came up and Is now locked al the foot Of Con-
gress street. Brooklyn
Previous TO leaving the brig couple OF the GUS
toms officers, whO'had by this time been fully
hour on board, were heard TO whisper ILLUMINATION
other 'sThe bloody thief has slipped us; we've
MISSED A GOOD STAKE
on this thing. Wen have To watch the steamers for
| tell you there's something IN IT,
The conduct OF the Custom House officials seems
very strange In this matter and would bear in
ves.igaton. IL is probable that by this time Ramos
and family have taken the steamer
FROM JAMAICA TO EUROPE,
and no one excepting the Spanish Consul knows
how many hundred thousand dollars In specie and
diamonds belonging TO the spanish government ho
has taken with MIN to unknown ports provided, OF
course, that he has taken any.
THE QUEENS COUNTY TAX LIST.