New-York tribune., 1871-05-03
TEE MEXICAN PIRATE FORWARD.
STORY OF HER CAREER-FORCED TO BECOME A
PIRATE-ACrION AGAINST TEE UNITED


STORY OF HER CAREER-FoRCED TO BECOME
PIIATE-ACrIoN AGAINST TEE UNITED
STATES.
From tn, bro California. Hpra4
Our readers are familiar with the fact that
the famous Gen Vega. Mexican, organized band OF
pirates May 180 and took possession oil the town OF
Guaynas for the purpose of pundcr 1t will he reinen
bered that the steamer Forward participated in the raid
on Guaymas. and was soon after burned by inc uhed
ward arrested and detained by the Mexican autnor
on his way TO GuayInss for trial He arrived in this
city recently, with some other officers and men oi the
Forward and has made p iavit scttiug forth the real
object of the Forward that she was forced Into service
by Vega, and that ho was entirely pOWerlcss u chage
the course OF events The Forward Was originally a
british gunloat in tho China waters. She sold out
of the British service ANA subsequently purchased by
Of our citizens Capt jansen but being OF foreign
bottom she put under the Salyadoran fag Before
sailing from this port she was extensively repaired ana
fitted up. The owner intends to bring IN action against
the United States Government to recover damages Tor
the loss of tho vessel The aday Of the hst oiccr
Geo. W. Holder, will be found veiy Interesting giving
the story of the affair from new standpoint Ill IN
MT Holder ccrtfies that he is resident of the City OF
San Francisco that upon the latter part Of the month
of July 1870 he engaged upon the steamer Forward IA
chief mate The vessel being then i'm the harbgr OF san
Francisco, and preparing Tor oystering expedition TO
the coast of Mexco the steamer was entirely hed out
object. The entire company of the steamer. he con-
tpues, consisted Of master myself as hrst nrite our
seamen, and three hrcincn There were two white men
skilled in the oyserng business called cullers' ana
twelve Cinnamon The onlers ana Chinamen were 10 be
landed upon the coast OF Mexico ana 10 Do established
there TO take oysters. the steamer started from
Francisco upon the sd day OF March and went first TO
Schamnans Lagoon, ana then TO mazallah' sMe&co'
reaching that port MSEaS on ae 2 81 % Mse So iao he GS
CustOIn-HOuso authorities there. and TO obtain
permit to proceed 70 I9cap"n "heie ,ere anti 9 ~
Mazatlan At Nazatlah the local military authorities
evinoed pretended TO evinco some suspicion OF the
real objects OF the Forward and accused the master OF
having intentions other than oystering After making
tached piece OF her machinery that it could not be
worked, and then made search for arms, dschargng
master myself and others taken before the tr0u
mails of Mizatlan and subjected TO rigid examination.
cerned being found entirely free from anything 10
the least suspicion, proceedings were discontinued.
mission was gwen 10 leave Mllatan bat permit
seered San Bias in hopes Of obtaining permit there.
Here permit was obtained and Tccapau was reached
of the river being unable to In by OF the heavy
rollers that broke the bar. The cuerS and Cinnamon
were landed at the entrance TO the river where they
were annoyed by the inhabitants. still the work pro
crossed steadily and fayOrably until the close OF the
month of April the steamer lying outside the shore party
ON the 3Oh of April number of Mexican soldiers
TO the beach the master being then ashore Soon after
lie of to the steamer and procured his papors say
ing at the time that Mexican officers and armed men
fI0m Mazatlan demanded TO see them. Tao master
taken ashore in OF the steamers boats stating that
he would return shortly, but he did not In fact return,
but sent word to me the evening the boat that took
him ashore directing To get up steam and come IN
the in the morning, pilot coming III the boat To
take the steamer ill., thOught there was something
wrong, and after questioning the second mate, who went
the boat, acknowledged that the master
prisoner III the hands Of the MeXcans. then deter
mined would not go la with the steamer because dis
trusted the Mexcans l remained where was two
weeks during this time sent boat ashore several times
to ascertain if the master had made his appear
ance. if any account had been received OF
him, and obtaining no information OF him, and lind
ing that the Mexican population ashore were interfering
with the Chinese in their oysernS operations concluded
to take the steamer down to place 80 miles on the south
ward called Boca Camehin to obtain supplies, and see
II the Cinnamon conId take oysters there without m0les
aton; anchored on that place. ana sent Doa ashoie
under charge OF Mr. Lee, second mate. When this boat
landed It was at once surrounded by party QI armed
Mccans, who ordered her 10 return TO the steamer with
thcm that they might the master. When this boat
alongside, ordered 10 80 ashore TO call upon
the COmnandan of the District ana AS could oiler no
resistance being totally without arms or Defense and
several small Mexican boats coming Of all with armed
men, deemed 10 best 70 ashore On landing was in
terOgated to the objects of the Forward, and demand
was made for her papeIs l stated what mad occurred
the steamers papers ana the permit for oyserng were
in his hands.
After this introduced to Gen Vega, who informed
that lac the GenerainChef of the District, and
that lie intended To make use of the steamer to transport
men from that place TO another on the coast This latter
place was not named, but in reply to my inquiry, he
stated it TO be about four days run objected. stating
that was not the commander 0 the steamer; tIat had
authority Ia allow her use, and that she without
papers Gen Vega then assured me that he had authority,
with papers from san Bias and that hc would make
allowance OF f0CO for the service OF the vessel then
Judged from the determined manner OF Gen Vega and
the surrounding circumstances that would DE forced Ia
comply and that 1t would he Tar better not 10 make any
resistance, but TO obtain tue best terms possible,
endeavor to keep the command Of the steamer ia
my own hands, aud save the lives OF the peo-
pie which resistance upon my part, did not
doubt, would nper. While this interview was IN
progress armed men going upon the steamer until
her decks Nero covered with them felt that was
completely IN the power Oi Vega and his men, and was
governed IN my actions 10y desire 10 save life, TO pro
tect tho vessel and prcs.rye, ar as possible, the
interest OF her owners Foga put a plot upon tho
steamer ana ordered her tt proceed o Boca Santiago,
place about ~ miles 10 san Bias at which place
was informed should bu provided with papers aud a
proper clearance On arriving, further patty OF armed
men taken iu aud quantity Of supplies, ana Col
Hiscanilos placed command OF the WnOic party,
gave orders for the steamer to proceed To
Tres MaTins at which place we arrived upon the 18th
Oi May, but papers were furnished me, huht no
notice taken Oi thai subject Here additional mum
bcr of armed taken board, and u further
quantity of provisions, stores aud large Quantity OF
WOOD for fuel On the 18th the Colonel ordered the
BEL 10 be got under ana Ia be stecrcd up the Guf Of
California the pilot placed on board by Gen Vega di-
recting the course allowed no control, except tO
take observations aud working up her reckoning. On
the 2th oi May anchored In small To the uOrtl
west OF CP0 Harcs and about eight miles frOm the port
oil buayinas. On tho evening OF this day the McNcans
headed ny the Colonel and loayinga guard
on the steamer. Upon the morning oi the following day
an order IOr tho steamer to enter the port vi