The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-03

Blockade Runner at Baltimore.
The arrival in this city yesterday morning OF
Colonel Aguero, commanding the expedition" re-
Gently landed on he coastt OF Cuba from the steamer
Edgar Stuart, and Of Captain Sommers, who
was in charge of the successful blockade runner,
caused much satisfaction among the many sympa-
thzers Of the insurgents in "the Ever Faithful Isle"
in this vicinity who were advised Of the fact and
these gentlemen received the acknowledgment due
them for the eminent service which they have rem
dered the cause. HERALD representative called
upon these officials last evening, from whom he
learned the story of the Edgar Stuarts late voyage
together with the many incidents attending it.
which are exceedingly interesting.
Colonel Aguero and Captain SOmmers seem to be
fitting persons to conduct to successful issue
blockade-running expedition of this nature. Firm
in their faith Of the insurgents ultimately achev-
ing their independence, their work in the re-
spective channels through which it has been
directed has been with q will and determination
seldom equalled, II ever surpassed Colonel
Aguero, Of the Cuban army and the special agent
of the insurgents IN this country, Is fine speci-
men of the old Castilian type, and his whole bear
ing and demeanor indicates that fitting selection
mas been made in appointing him to the delicate
by President Cespedes. Fully six feet and
one or two inches In height, he has the move
| mentg OF leader and would not stop at any OBJ
stacle to insure success. Captain Sommers COM
! manding the Stuart, is a Dane by birth and about
thrty-six years of age. His record is good one
as a naval officer in the United States service,
having served in our navy from the breaking out
OF the late rebellion in 1851 until 1868, 'where," as
he says, che was engaged in catching blockade
runners, but he is doing little business Of that
kind himself" His face, actions and conversation
denote the intelligent officer and his various Cuban
commands of this nature include the steamers
Annie, George b. Upton, Webster, Hornet and the
Stuart.
NO VIOLATION OF NEUTRALITY LAWS.
Captain Sommers in beginning the narration OF
the late little successful trip to the coast OF Cuba
avows that they did not desire to commit any viO-
lation of our neutrality laws, claiming that the
'stores" they landed, even If some of such were
munitions OF war, without men, is not violation
Of any law but municipal law Of Spain.
LEAVING NEW YORK.
On the 18th of December last the party consist
ing of Captain SOmmers, Mates Charles Olsen and
Arson Rlsey, two engineers and twelve men, SIX
teen in all, left this city in the steamer Henry
Chauncey for Aspinwall. Accompanying them
were Colonel Aguero, his son and four Cubans,
the former having in charge the stores
and merchandise designed to be carried to
the insurgents. without incident the Chauncey
arrived at Aspinwall on the 10th OF that month,
when the "goods" were transferred to the Stuart,
where she had been awaiting the arrival Of this
party. 1t was the intention OF the leaders that, all
circumstances being favorable, they should start
upon their mission on the goth, in order to reach
the shores of Cuba upon Christmas Day. that occa
| sion being one when merry making mOnOpOliZes the
| attention OF all, and the look-outs on the coast
| might not be 80 watchful as at other times. The
machinery OF the stuart not being fully in order
| prevented this and the time was passed
until the morning Of the 25th before all
was in readiness. Before departure there were
menling the crew. And here 1t is proper to state
! that ali the men under Captain S0mmers were
fully advised Of the character OF the voyage upon
| which they had embarked and in every bosom was
| found willing heart.
At six O'Clock A. NJ, Christmas Day, the Edgar
| Stuart with brave men on deck, and capable off,
GERS and competent leaders at their side, and with
the sinews OF war In the hold ieit Aspinwall for
fine, but the passage was purposely a long one,
that the vessel might not reach her destination
were dark and Spanish cruisers could more easily
be avoided. The passage also enabled the Captain
put the Stuart IN Tnng m caSs
length OF the shore, when Colonel Aguero, who
| had fully prepared for the event. sent messengers
to the land with dispatches to communicate the
pleasing intelligence that the expected aid had
arrived. Then the Stuart, not to be "caught
| nappingn proceeded to sea and shove to-"
Awaiting until the next night they returned when
there were found 500 stalwart insurgents ready to
receive the munitions OF war designed
for them. Within six hours, by means
of RATS shipped on the steamer for
the purpose, there was landed at this point one
half the Stuarts cargo, consisting OF toO Reming-
100000 percussion caps, 100000 cartridges, two
tons of POWDER 800 full sets OF equipments, 200
blankets 200 machetes, large quantities OF surgi.
Cal Instruments, several medicine chests anu
broken before the contents were sent ashore, as
1t is impracticable to take bulky articles up among
the mountains. All the materials were quickly
despatched into the interior, being carried IN o
canvas fitted to long slaves, "a load" being that
quantity which twelve men could carry. ms OF
course refers TO the arms but the smaller articles
had purposcly beeTfput up In New York In boxes OIL
such weight that one man could easily manage and
hausted This part OF the mission being successfully
ACCOMPLISHED, Colonel Aguero seat messengers
nom Point Lono through the courtesy OF the pilots
to Porto AguerO that the stuart might be expected
on the following night, the sd, at which time they
arrived and meeting welcome friends to the mum
Der OF 100 discharged the remainder OF the cargo
without accident, not leaving even percussion
cap on board.
wy SAILING FOR KEY WEST.
Their mission ended and Colonel Aguero havinl
communicated with the leading officers OF the Gu
ban army. the stuart prepared for run to ke
West leaving Port Aguero on the morning Ol tS
| cruiser was seen, but did not modest them. III
steamer coasted along the shore six or eight mile
distant. from Cape Macy, on the southeast OF III
island, 70 cape Crus, continuing westward, when
within eleven miles OF the Cape OF san Antonio
her machinery broke down, and the gallan
stuart was almost driven on the hostil