Richland beacon., 1875-07-03
Abandoned Off the Cuban Coast.
A Story that Smacks of Piracy.

WASHINGTON, June l4.-The fol-
lowing information has been furnished
the Government by the United States
Consul General at Havana. On the
morning of the oath of May a boat
manned by three persons came near
to Panta de Can,as. A watchman
who was on guard there, with several
others, come down to the shore, and
invited the occupants Of the boat to
land, but they inquired in English if
the land before them was Cuba, and
being replied to in the affirmative,
they ondeavored to put off again.
This aroused the suspicious Of those
on shore, and they threatened to fire
upon them if they attempted to escape.
They, therefore, landed, and it was
discovered that the boat contained
enough provisions to last month,
and package of fine shirts. Upon
being taken to the estate "Guacamaya"
and interrogated in English by the
engineer, it was learned that one of
them was an Englishman and the
other two Germans, but they resisted
giving up their papers until being
thoroughly searched when documents
were found which proved them to be
American citizens. In their state
ments many contradictions were
observed First they said they be-
longcd to the crew of schooner
loaded with cocOanuts, which had run
aground, and that the three had saved
themselves in the boat, the four others
who made up the crew having taken
to the other two boats But they
aftervard stated that in the vessel in
which they came all hands had got
drunk, and they took the boats and
fled through fear at the disorder which
commenced This has given rise to
contrary opinions, but the suspicion is
strong that they committed some
crime on board of a vessel and took
to the boats to escape. The men were
lodged in Jail to await examination
by the authorities. Subsequently the
following additional information on
the subject was received by the
Consul General and forwarded to
Washington, reaching here in the
same mail in which the letter contain
ing the above account was received,
being dated Havana, June 8: "The
schooner Mary Chiffon, of New York,
left that port during the middle or
latter part of March, bound to the
port of San Andres, Columbia, with
cargo Of salt beec, beer, magnesia
q few casks of fine gunpowder and
bags of shot. In Columbia only a
part of the cargo could be sold, and
several tons Of cocoanuts and other
trifes were taken on board. The
vessel was cleared by one Lopez, of
Columbia, and the goods consigned
to o Mr.. Castro in New York. The
Captain who took the vessel out Of
Columbia refused to return with her
to New York, and another one was
employed at San Andres, by the name
of Guper. This latter took the COM
mand and sailed about the middle o.
May, with q mate, steward, three
seamen, and one passengers Spauiard
on board. A short distance from the
point of departure, Capt. Guper seem
ed to repent of his bargain, ant
wished to turn back with his vesse
but the mate and the three seamel
refused, and then the Captain took
boat and, followed by the stewar
and passenger, put of in the direction
of the shore. The mate and seame
concluded to keep on the voyage, bu
finding the vessel to be ashore on Sa
Felipe reefs, about eighteen mile
from Punta de Cardenas, the thre
seamen took the sole remaining boa
and started for the shore, refusing
continue the voyage with the mat
whom they perceived to be ignoran
of seamanship, and that they woul
surely all be lost Two or three day
afterward fishing smack took of th
mate, and keeping along the Goa
arrived with him at Coloma on II
goth of May. There be was detail
ed by orders of the Adjutant
Marine, who proceeded to Puta
Castras to take possession of the We
sci, which is about seventy-seven tol
burden. The three sailors still T
main in confinement in the Jail
Pinar del Rio" The foregoing
the most truthful account of the ci
cumstances. as it corresponds wi
the statements made by the three Sc
men aud the mate. The departme
has taken such action in the case g
it is hoped, will lead to the punis
ment of the wrong-doers. some
whom are now in custody. Tht
offense, if the facts are as stated,