The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-18
THE EDGAR STEWART,
Details About the Capture Of the Mys-
teriOus American Cruiser.
How She Was Captured by the British War Vessel
Plover-Her Liberation and Recapture by tho
United States Steamer Wyoming for Com
veyance to Key West-Is She To Be
Condemned for a Filibuster1

The steamer Edgar Stewart arrived here on tho
1ith OF April under peculiar circumstances. She
cleared from New London, Conn.,, for Key West,
but there were munitions OF war on board which
were not to be found on her clearance papers, and
which would had they been discovered on board
prior to her leaving port, have given sufficient
ground for her detention under charge OF Vioat-
ing the neutrality laws OF the United states. Prior
to her arrival in Jamaica she made the Island OF
Cuba, ami her instructions were that she shonld
not sight the Island OF Cuba at all in daylight, but
from given opoint, which should be shown" her
commander, and at time which he should be in-
formed Of by some one on board OF her. she
should then proceed In direct line "tfrough
channeln at night, $50 to be seen from nelther
point" This she accomplished. and
LANDED BOAT, WITH TEN ARMED MEN,
but rs these did not return, and as daylight was
gaining upon them, the Edgar Stewart put out
again to sea, but returned the following night in
the hope that their missing companions might be-
heard from; but though the steamer made signals,
no boat came of. The crew Tor rather the Cubans
on board then rose against the captain and took
command of the steamer themselves; but sighting
Spanish gunb0at In the ofling, which gave them
chase, they restored the captain to his command
and ran into the port OF Kingston, jamaica at night,
where she reported herself "in Distress" On ar
rival at Kingston. having powder on board, accord
ing to harbor regulations she was not allowed to
proceed farther than Fort Augusta where al such
combustible material must first be deposited. While
here the captain preferred charges OF "mutiny and
piracy against those on board, and they In turn
preferred
CHARGES or PILIBUSTERINd
against the captain, who, to make matters stin
worse stated that he apprehended that those on
board would carry or his vessel leaving him be-
hind. These several declarations were forwarded
to the Governor and the United States Consul, and
in accordance with law which enables the Gov
ernor Of this island on certain representations Of
the Collector of Customs, to detan such vessel
pending an investigation, she was taken In charge
by the naval authorities at Port Royal
These circumstances brought about an examna.
ton and IL was found that the coal on board OF the
Edgar Stewart was strongly charged with bacon
and that size capable OF running sixteen knots
an hour. II now became question with the Gov
ernor how they could deal with this vessel sho
had reported herself "in dIstressn but then there
were these declarations OF those board as to the
unlawful character of her mission, ana this was
supported by the nature Of her cargo. There was,
therefore, considerable delay, but the government
eventually decided upoa
LETTING HER GO,
and so informed her commander and the United
States Consul, to whom she was delivered over.
Meanwhile a Spanish steamer-Of-war came to look
after the Edgar Stewart, and, not long after her,
the American stoamer-of-war Wyoming, from Key
West The officers of the Her Majesty's steamship
Plover, who had been keeping strict watch upon
the Edgar Stewart to prevent her escape, and who
had their guns loaded and bearing upon her day
and night, were sadly disappointed when they found
they had to grant her liberty, and still more
| chagrined when they found the Edgar Stewart
again captured by the captain of the United States
steamer wyoming, who put an armed crew on board
of her. and announced his intention Of carrying her
or TO Key West where he declared the British au.
thorties had right to have taken her
AS PRIZE FOR ADJUDICATION.
While the Edgar Stewart was in charge OF Her
Maiesty's steamship Pl0ver the latter vessel having
Just returned from cruise or hayti, had not ton
OF coal on board, and 1t found difficult to keep
up The appearance of readiness. While she was
absent coaling although the Stewart had been told
not 20 leave port, and which she might easily have
done during the night for all Her Majcsty's steam
ship Plover could have done to prevent her, 1t was
found that she was getting up steam, The Plover,
which had been shoyeing coal into the furnaces
as it was being brought on board In baskets, then
came up but before she came alongside the Edgar
Stewart the engineers OF the latter had turned on
their hose and put out the fires; and on being
charged with an attempt TO escape declared they
Hiu HO uIcs dHu slchuI, ych VIC ci'kucS WoTc 50
hot that the engineers OF Her Majesty's steamship
Plover found II impossible then to disconnect the
engines, which they afterwards did, to prevent any
similar attempt to escape.
1t Is now stated that an officer and crew from the
Wyoming will take the Edgar Stewart to Key West
rather than allow her capture by the Spanish
rgate-ofwar, which is at present watching her and
the progress Of events here regarding her.
THE LATEST.
The American steamer Edgar Stewart Is being
watched by Spanish steamer OF war; and IL now In
custody OF the United States steamer Wyoming,
which will convoy her to sea and then despatch her
to Key Westin charge Of an officer and crew, who
will DC responsible for her going nowhere else.
The Edgar stewart Preparing for Sea.
Prospect of n Collision between the
Spanish and American War Ships.
HAVANA May IL, 1872.
The alleged blockade runner, Edgar Stewart had
not left the harbor Of Kingston, but prepar-
ing to SAIL The United States steamer wyoming,
and the Spanish man-of-war Borgia, were watching