The New York herald., 1872-07-10
The Officers, Crew and Arma-
ment Of the Privateer.
Interview with the Captain Of the
Revenue Cutter Moccasin.
Secretary BOutwell's Order to De-
tain the Pioneer.
WILL SHE BE TREATED AS A PIRATE i?

ana quiet little watering place. Naval oficers
nave always been here in abundance during
the summer season and naval vessels too, but the
duties OF the former have for the most part
been confined to dancing attendance upon the
many fashionable bellies that frequent Bellevue
avenue In the afternoon and their vessels have
peen devoted to the purpose OF overawing petty
smuggiers by display ofstrength which was never
brought into action. But we have changed all this
now; instead of play there has been an opportu-
nifty for work, and work, too, not of the
nghtest possible character. International wars
nave sometimes been Occasi0ned by even more
trihng causes than that which 1t Is the purpose to
detail In this despatch. At all events there is
prospect OF nice little diplomatic struggles gen.
eral growing and gnashing Of teeth somewhere,
and perhaps an opportunity for parties and news.
papers to make political capital for the coming
campaign. THE case briefly stated, is just this -
United States revenue cutter, the Moccasin reg
ularly stationed at this port, espied Cuban prva-
teer, the Pioneer. within three miles OF land and
without any papers, although well supplied
with arms and ammunition OF war, and
seized her and brought her into this
port. She lies here now under the guns OF United
States vessel whose captain Is awaiting orders
rom washington, which is the story in brief Its
details which are Of an interesting character, are
as f0lows:-
1t was early yesterday forenoon that the capture
was enected although the first heard OF it was when
captain Rchie brought her into this port last even
Ing While cruising around Point Judith, SUNDAY
evening, the commander of the Moccasn noticed
the craft and made some special remark to a fellow
on1cer concerning her, but at that time the general
conclusion arrived at was that she was some limo.
cent fishing schooner. The next morning while
still cruising around In the same neighborhood
CAPTAIN RftChle apan hn
thought at once that her movements at least war.
ranted an Investigation He Immediately prepared
for pursuit, suspecting that he might overhaul
smuggier. but never dreaming Of encountering
privatecr. Upon hailing the craft her officers gave
the name OF the Resolute. This made the thing
still more suspicious, it was known that the
Resolute. which was formerly revenue cutter
and a sister vessel to the Active, Of New Bedford,
had been sold some two months since, and there
were strong suspicious that she had gone into the
Cuban service. Captain Ritchie therefore ordered
the commanding offcer to report with his papers
on board the Moccasin When the officer came
aboard he said that he was Lieutenant Commander
In the Cuban Navy and that his vessel was the
Cuban man-0fwar Pioneer.
This the first intimation that the officers had
that the craft was actually Cuban prvateer
When asked what they were doing within neutral
waters lie replied that about two weeks ago Off
Nu6TlcStOIi, D. W. tney lduueu messenger WlCn
s-.-r.~. DEsPATCHEs FOR NEW YORK.
and they had been ordered to proceed somewhere OF
Montauk and there wait for further orders, and
that the oflcer had been absent much longer than
was expected. The officer further stated that their
captain had left them day or two before and had
gone to Newport In fishing vessel, whence he
was expected to go to New York. Concerning their
presence In American waters, one Of the men Of
the privateer said that couple Of his
officers had discussion about 1t the night before,
and that the executive officer favorable to
putting out to sea; the others opposed him, how
ever, and he finally allowed them to have their
way. He told them next morning, however, that
the Newport revenue cutter would be around
and make trouble for them IL they did
not get out Of the way, and he had
scarcely got the words out Of his mouth
before she hove in sight, and was soon dis
covered In full pursuit. The executive officer,
now finding that his fears had been well founded
taunted his bellows with "By God, there
she comes How is that for high Yr
Upon boarding her Captain Richie asked
the officer the usual questions, but the
answers were all the way through unsatisfactory
and In some instances contradictory. "You ap-
pear to have no proper papers, and are sailing
under flag which the American government does
not recognize, and cannot do otherwise than take
you into port and await further instructions from
the government
THE CREW.
The men consisted Of four officers and sixteen men,
and there are said to be two officers absent in New
York on business connected with the vessel The
commander Is Captain F. L; Norton; Executive
cfhcer, Lieutenant Commander \. z. Hattrick;
Captain r. Cain, and Second Lieutenant J. K.
Chaure0n, all OF whom are Americans except the
last. The crew Is made up OF French and Spanards
and other nationalities, and 80 far as morals and
nAh Ia A.,A.
men Of Intellect and have seen considerable ser.
was once United states revenue oficer, but when
the war broke out ne went into the smuggling busi
ness ness down South, and while indulging IN
the Newport revenue cutter. All Of the
the captain OF the Moccasn endeavored to console
them by ssying that he would take them to the
most fashionable watering place in America ana
as the season was now at its full height they could
enjoy themselves In q manner In pleasant contrast
took the situation rather more philosopSically and
were evidently rather more pleased than other
wise at the turn affairs had taken They have spent
tue whole day IN drinking and rotng, and tonight
while on board their vessel, had q rough and tum-
BILE fight which resulted in about as many broken
board. There were no fatal casualties however,
and measures have been taken to prevent further
liquor which were on board. None OF the officers
or crew, OF course are under arrest, but they are
not allowed TO take anything from the vessel or
disturb the general condition II was in when cap
tured.
ARMAMENT OF THE VESSEL.
The vessel was very heavily and formidably
armed, her heavy weapons being two twenty
pound Parrot guns and one eighteen pound French
rined gun. or small arms she had an almost end
less quantity and variety, and between two and
three thousand pounds of powder The Pioneer
Philadelphia, and stationed at Key West Florida
She Is about one hundred and thirty
tons burden. She was sold some months ago to
parties in Philadelphia and has since changed
hands several times. She fitted for the Cuban SER
aud part OF her men have seen ser