The New York herald., 1873-12-19
SPICY INCIDENT OF THE. SURRENDER.
Our Correspondent Under the
Guns of Fort Murillo.
No Persons or Vessels Allowed to Communicate
with the American Despatch Boat.

you have not yet heard of the adventures and
difficulties of one OF your special corre-
spondents charged with the duty of attending
and reporting the historic event. Let me tell
Ahem with telegraphic point and brevity.
UHE HERALD SCHOONER OFF FOR BAHIA HONDA.
In anticipation of the surrender at Bahia
Honda one of. your special correspondents
Aere had chartered schooner of 80 tons,
called the Nonpareil, and, with proper crew and
after successful trip, with no untoward
accident, our little schooner, floating the
American flag and the flag of the New YORK
sHERALD reached the entrance to the harbor of
Bahia Honda.
THE ARRIVAL AND ovERHAULNG.
A boat from Fort Murillo commanding the
Sharbor, put out for us, and soon it was evil
dent that their intention was to intercept and
prevent us from entering the harbor. The
officer commanding the boat called out to us
20 Curn DacK, OtnerWlSe the guns OF
THE FORT WOULD OPEN FIRE
and perhaps sink u.s. This fort mounts some
heavy guns, which we could plainly see
pointed toward us, while officers and men
hVere moving about in a threatening manner,
evidently preparing to let their guns spit fire
and ball at us in case we refused to obey the
Reremptory and despotic orders to put back.
st is a fort that perhaps would be able to de-
molish an eighty-ton schooner at short range,
Dbut it would afford fine target for our Amer
6can monitors to play upon in case of actual
hostilites. Here was curious fix.
WHAT WAS TO BE DONE?
Only about mile and half distant from
ns we could see the Virginius and hesDe-
spatch, both now flying the American flag.
Our object was so to manoeuvre with the little
Nonpareil as to attract the attention of the
american naval officers on board either YES
sci. Our little craft turned and scudded
about the channel making signals of distress,
but all in vain. We failed to catch the atten-
tion of the officers on the Despatch and Vir-
ginius.
VERY wARLIKE WARNING.
Meantime one of the guns of Fort Murillo
WAS deliberately pointed at us, in readiness to
open fire. and some of our crew not liking the
a. Ofo OFF Nd r;p avfro
hazard not s'down in the bond,' demanded
orders to retreat.
In this emergency your correspondent asked
The commander of the boat from Fort Murillo
for permission to speak with the American
hespatch boat but this was also refused by
1he Spanish officer. Not yet relinquishing
khe idea of entering the harbor, the order to
retreat was given, and we sailed out into the
Gulf, resolved to return at the first favorable
opportunity.
A SECOND UNSUCCESSFUL EFFORT TO GO IN.
After some time spent in tacking about in
the waters of the Gulf we wore ship and made
another effort to enter the harbor. Again we
endeavored to attract the attention of our own
naval officers, but again in vain. AS we
approached Fort Murillo we were brought to
bya boat from the fort filled with Spanish
soldiers. On coming alongside our schooner
She officer in command of the Spanish boat
ordered us to sea in the most menacing man
ner.
WATER AND PROVISIONS REFUSED.
Your correspondent asked this despotic
officer for permission to send ashore for water
and provisions. To this the Spanish officer
replied that he could not give this permission
without consulting the commandant at the fort.
ONE OF THE INUNDATED DoNs.
The latter, on application being made, de-
clared that nothing could be supplied from
the fort.
Your correspondent suggested that the ne
cessary supplies could be obtained from the
little American vessel representing our navy.
The commandant sharply answered that
he could allow no communication whatever
with that war vessel.
CoRREsroNDENr-Will you even allow one of
her boats to board us?
CoMMANDANT-No; there must be no COM
munication whatever, I repeat. My orders
here are imperative.
HIGH PRICED PROVISIONS.
After good deal more talking and excited
gesticulating on the part of tho Dons our little
Nonno reil WAC finally allowed to obtain 81 80