The New York herald., 1871-12-12
Arrival In New York of the Captain Of
the Adventurous Cruiser.
His Story Of the Trials and Difficulties Of the
Hornet-How She Was Detained by Spanish
War vessels-Alleged Attempts at Bri-
bery-The Conduct Of the American
Minister at Port au Prince
Spanish Demands ON the
Haytien Government

schooner rigged and Is furnished with q high pres
sure engine built by Stewart OF England. she Is
known as one Of the fastest boats adoat, making
easily fourteen knots an hour. She was built in
London, England, In 1862, for q blockade runner,
and named the "Lady Stirling" While attempting
TO run the blockade she was captured by the United
States, and was then fitted up and used by the late
President Lincoln as yacht. subsequently she
was sold to some parties In New York, who had her
internal fittings altered and used her in trade be-
tween Halifax Philadelphia and New York. sus.
ptciOn being aroused to the legitimacy of trade
she was detained In New York for some time but
eventually got away and went south ward under com
mand Of Commodore Higgins. Running into VIII
mngtOn for coal she seized by the United States
authorities and detained there about eleven months
but was finally released and returned 10 New York
with cargo or rosln and turpentlne. After dis
charging her cargo, together with all the arms and
ammunition she had on board, she was laid up at
Williamsburg, and afterwards at Hoboken where
she took In coal and left for Nassau in ballast beng
placed under heavy bonds not 10 engage in illegal
traffic, General Butler becoming one OF her bonds
men. Her record since leaving as personally stated
by her captain. ts best told in his own words.
THE CRUISE OF THE HORNET.
The Hornet left here In charge OF temporary
captain, her real commander joining her at Port au
Prince some time after. This was Captain +. W..
Walsman, German by birth. He is apparently a
man OF about thrtyfve years OF age, but has spent
most of his life amid stirring scenes at sea. On
the 7th Of December, 1870, the Hornets clearance
papers were obtained, and on the 9th she left New
York bound for Nassau In ballast. Owing to some
representations made by the Spanish Consul that
she was intended for contrsband trade with Cuba
she was detained for q short time, but everything
appearing regular she was allowed to de.
mar 2hn m tho rk., oS
ecember and there tried to obtain coal, but was
refused by the British authorities under the advice
OF the Spanish Consul. When the Hornet arrived
but lett during the day OF the 10th, the Hornet
leaving about two hours after, when she was con-
yoyed outside the harbor by the British -of-war
Philome. On leaving her convoy, the Hornet
steamed directly for Port au Prince, where she
OF me a. po
Prince the Hornet TOOK IN TWO hundred tons or
coal, and left on the 2sd for Aspinwall, arriving
there on the 27th. The coal she had obtained
ct Port au Prince being OF very inferior quality
she discharged the greater porSlon of 1t at
cleared from there for Port au Prince on the 3lst
On the 6 OF January OF this year the Hornet had to
pairing her boiler, the tubes OF which had become
leaky. This 1t was found Impossible to do efficiently
90 some OF the tubes were plugged up, and she left
the Bay OF Itburon for Port au Prince, where she
THE DIFFICULTIES OF THE HORNET.
AS soon as the Hornet arrived al Port au Prince
she was put In shape fOr thorough repairs; the
boiler, tuoes ana all her machinery was overhauled,
tubes. the old ones being too much worn 70 allow
OF repairing. That entailed lengthy delay, conse
fhe work OF repairing pushed forward briskly,
put 1t was necessary to wait for the new tubes to
tIons arose. On the 21st OF January the Isabella
Catollca, Spanish man-ofwar, arrived In the har
ately communicated with the Spanish Minister
Oivera who in turn sent word to the Uuited States
Minister, Mr.. Bassett the Hornet had been con-
demned by spanish court at Havana that she was
hed as pirate. and her offcers and crew would
notice OF any action On the part % Of the Spanish aa
thoriues at Havana was gwen than the word OF
the commander Of the Isabella Catolica. Captain
Walsman, OF the Hornet entered a protest against
Hornet, and claimed the protection Of the United
ment he being then In neutral waters. Not receiv-
Ing any satisfactory assurance OF protection
bly, taken out OF the barbor, and finding that
the Isabella Catolica sent out picket boats, the
n 10 New well
Ing II would require considerable time to put the
Hornet n proper sea,gong trim, and from desire
Of the Isabella Calollca, Captain Walls:
Haen es ns ns Of Ss une s
States Minister, that the Hornet, while in
teeed left for New York M the Horpe
although unmolested, was closely watched by the
Spanish man. .oi-war which nightly sent out picket
sea, although It was wen known at the time that
sne was not In condition TO do so.
ATTEMPT TO BRIBE THE CAPTAIN OF THE HORNET.
On the oath OF March last Captain Wasman re.
ceived instructions from the owner of the Hornet
left Immediately, arriving at that place the Attn
Of April by the steamer City Of Port au Prince.
Isabella ella Casocs @ a still there, Watching the % Hornet @
and also heard that they had threatened to her
or blow her up He renewed ms application Tor pro
government and the United States Minister. The
frm stand taken by Captain walsman and by the
from taking any overt act Of aggression, SO they
meanly resorted to bribery. On the 18th OF
A e o Mas the G m
and offered from ten to twenty-five thousand dol
lars to sink, burn or blow up the Hornet Captain
Walsman promptly replied that ne was not III the
market for any such business. Afterwards. on
May 2, oners were made TO some OF tre quarter
were unapproacnable, although every assurance
IN %as sGen sae place lace IN ' the s was then said By
the Commander or the Isabella Cato!ca, and Oy the
Hornet they would take her by force, hearing which
Captain Walsman again renewed his application 70
applied to Mr.. sassett for United states war YES.
se to support the e. dignity ,yo q the nag ne SAILED
M Hs M 81 p
porized and, in efect would nor send for vessel
oprotect the Hornet he at the time being under
Spanish Minister ana not from o1lcial information,
that the Hornet had been outlawed.
ANOTHER SPANISH WAR VESSEL.
About the 18th OF May the Spanish steam frlgate
Pizarro arrived at Port au Prince 10 relieve the
Isabella Catolica, which left on the 18th. The COM
mander Of the Pizarro, probably acting under In
structlons, was much louder in his denuncatons OF
the Hornet than was the commander Of the
Isabella Catolica, and also more active In his
precautions Hitherto Captain wasman had per-
Bonally been subjected TO insult or indigny, but
after the arrival OF the PzarrO he and his crew were
frequently insulted. Foul epithets were hurled at
them by the Spanlards whenever they were met
under suoh circumstances as would render it more
than folly to resent them. The commander OF the
Pizarro told several parties he would blow his own
brains out II the Hornet got away from him.
READY FOR SEA.
About a month after tho Plzarro arrived the
Hornet had her new boilers In, and was made
ready for sea- but 1t was late in July before she was
quite at TO put out, and she then laid for some
t{m6 the Plzaff0 Kept up q close watch upon the
Hornet and every night had out several picket boats
which kept about the Day really 70 give ,nteiigencc