The New York herald., 1871-09-11
THE MEXICAN PIRATES.
Full Account Of the Attack Upon American
Shipping in the Cuff Of Mexico.
Hand.to-Iland Fight on the Deck OF The
Brothers--A Gallant Defence
Eight or Ten OF the
Mexicans Killed
NAsaINoroN, Sent. lo lsYl.

WASHINGTON Sept. 10 1871.
Information has been received here that the Anne
rican bark Harvest Home, Captain Dickey. arrived
at Galveston on Wednesday morning, bringing Cap
tain Thurston and crew OF the American bark
Brothers. rney give the particulars OF the engage
ment or the coast OF Minatitlan, Mexico.
special despatch from Galveston 10 the New Or
leans Times says the two vessels were loading at
Mnatitlan with mahogany and other freight Tor
Europe For some bad conduct Captain rhurstOn
had ironed one or two or his sailors, and their
friends ashore, hearing OF It, made o demand Tor
the prisoners. Captain Thurst0n refused to give
them up, saying he was fully able 10 control and
take care Of his own men. He was told ms life was
In danger and he must give up the men. This oc-
CURED shore. The captain returne1 TO his vessel
and found CAPTAIN Dickey on board who was there
on friendly visit. Shortly aiterward party
OF MexIcans eight or ten In number, came out rom
the shore, pulled alongside the Brothers and got
board, protesting all the time the greatest friendship
for their leader Roman Ripold, clerk for the con-
signee OF Captain IhurstOn's vessel, was the only
one who spoke English. While seated around the
Captain, as II by preconcerted plan, the Mexicans
sprung TO their feet and with drawn revOlvers and
cutlasses demanded the surrender or the ship. The
Captain shouted ''never,n at the came time making
an effort to secure the arms OF the nearest man,
which was the clerk. The mate Of the vessel rushing
forward with the Captains revolver shot and killed
Ripold.
BY this time all hands had come on deck and q
hand.ro'hand fight ensued. Eight OF the attacking
party were killed and Two made their escape. Cap
tain Thurston, knowing II he remained there he
would DO attacked BY superior force, made sail.
slipped his anchor and tried to get to sea- There
being no breeze he was forced to take to the small
boats not having time to secure even drop Of
water or anything to eat.
In the meantime Captain Dickey had returned to
his ship. True TO his anticlpatOns Captain Thurs
ton saw two boats come out from the shore and pull
directly towards his vessel as he supp osed to board
her. He put to sea- out OF their reach, and beat
about until picked up by Cagtain Dlckey on the
night Of the 2Sth, having been nearly thirty hours
without food or water.
On the night of the 9th a party Of some seventy
or eighty strong came out from shore, and when
within short distance OF Captain Dlckev opened
fire ON his vessel. This party was armed with rides
and howitzer. Tie Captain reserved ius re
until the enemy were within three boats length Of
his ship, and then let fly at them, ana they retired
immediately to the shore. breeze spriDgiDR up
Captain Dlckey got Under weigh, steering for the
nearest American port, which was Galveston. The
wounded men OF both vessels have been sent to the
hospitals. rJ
There are only four vessels now In the North
Atlantic neet-namely, the Nantasket Shawmut,
Nlpslc and Swatara-the others having been with
OF them made cruise from Yucatan to TampicO
rel Orting everything quiet. IL was alter this tiat
snd Harvest Home. The Treasury Department has
transferred the bret In formation ii received this
subject to the Department OF State. rho lairer
awaits further advlces before taxing action In The
premises. ...