The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-11
is SHE A PRIVATEER?

THE "RAcEHoRsE" PREVENTED FROM MAKING
HER VOYAGE TO "rHE WEST COAST OF
ArRIcA"-HER RATHER FORMIDABLE CARGO.
Al pier East River lies the schooner Race
horse, and as sho has come within the embarrassing
and OBTAINING processes OF the law Is quite pos
sble that she will continue to lie there for consii-
cradle time. The tact that she no longer skins tho
azure main Is due IN part TO the foreclosure OF
mortgage for ST. 00 libel suit for $722 55 second
suit tseamans wages) for $50 o. ana In part to the
withdrawal OF partner from the adventure on which
she was about to start to destination OF such
inconsiderable extent sthc West Coast OF Africa"
Tho mortgage, which had run about yoar was
held by johnson Company the principal libel suit
was brought by G. d. Lunt, while Jonn Nelson Is the
claimant Tor the $50 o., seaman's wages. Under or
binary circumstances the Raceborse would probably
pass unnonced, but being surrounded BY as many
unknown quantities half dozen algebraic equa-
TONS and the operations OF the legal processes re-
veang the fact That she had considerable quantity
OF arms and ammunition on board she came al once
under the ban OF suspicion. II docs not appear tn
anybody connected her with Russian designs, but
Spanish agents supposed that her intentions In re-
spect to the Queen the Antilles needed investga
ton, and SO they watched her pretty closely.
CAREER OF THE RAcEHoRsE.
An imaginative person, with memories Of the Red
hNcT Tuuuiue tHTouSu MS uedu, "ouiu Iuc
horse "rakish craft, q description warranted by
tradition 10 apply TO all vessels attained with piracy
and nautical outawry But although ner masts have
something OF back she is not at all rakish. On
the contrary, she Is emnontlY stanch, solid and
spectacle. She Is Of 101 tons burden, has beam OF
~ feet carries apparently good spread Of sail and is
furnished with yards for square sails. Although
thirteen years ago, and IS reported 10 DO stanch
present she was whom she left tho stocks. She
has bueted the teeming seas in her day, ana It
her fortune to lie becaned in the pulseless
airs of southern ATTITUDES Sho has also been
been most recently employed IN tho fruit trade. On
the 10th Of January last she entered the port OF New
York. having made a voyage from Jamaica. she was
charge OF Captain Herman Won Weller, who Is her
Captain Won Weller Is a German by birth, but
speaks English fuentiy He is OF middle size and APP
parenty not much over thirty years OF age. He has
had varied career docs not appear to have de-
voted himself 10 navigation until recently. He
studied the science in Germany, and within the last
year and half or SO has put II good deal into prac-
tical operation. During the anco-German war he
officer. he says. IN the Black Hussars having
entered the regiment from military school, aud no
the badge OF hts regiment "a deaths head and
crossbonesl on his bTeastpn He was engaged at Sc
peror's to tho Belgian frontier when his way
TO Wiihelmshohc.
CAPTAIN vox wEILER's STORY.
When tho HERALD epOrter went on board the Race
horse yesterday tho cargo, which was Tor the most
part packed up IN large and small cases was being
moved from the vessel to the wharf, The officials OF
the Sheriff and The Marshal were on board but they
had jurisdiction over the cargo and did busy
themselves about II. Captain Won Weller answered
all questions with moro good humor patience than
frankness aud his evasions and reservations
some suspicion on transactions which possibly
altogether within the channels OF legitimate trade
Thus he would not approximate moro nearly
to the destination of the vessel Qf nothn
had prevented ber sailing than 'the West Coast OF
Africa" HIS story was that he had arrived In port
on tho 10th OF January. from Jamaica, aud that he
African trade Not having suiicisus money Of his his
own he got u gentleman 70 advance 1000 Tho
nane OF this gentleman ne refused TO give, but
1t was discovered BY inquiries elsewhere that he
is Mr.. Alexander Westphal, who had on
tered into the business in purely
speculative spirit His purchases exceeded the So 900
and no applied to Mr.. WcstpnaI tor further advance
complete the cargo and clear the vessel. This
not orhcomng and he then about getting another
party TO come into tho transaction he had secured
from this person advance OF 81 600 but about the
time this transaction had matured Mr. Westphal. by
tho advice OF his lawyer Withdrew from the ture
and the cargo which was then being taken from tho
vessel, having been purchased with his money, to
OF john ID. Draper Co., Pearl street, and was. In
fact, voluntary surrender
Captain Won Weller described The cargo as general
assortment suitable to the African trade consisting
Of hardware rifles, muskets, musqctoons, rovolvers
loose ana fixed ammunition but II was Impossible TO
his manifest or procure tho exact details OF the
cargo. In tho bottom OF the vessels hold were
twenty thirty tons OF COAL and this uel fns captain
stated, was to have been consumed by steam launch
which they were TO have carried with them to fxc-
tato their intercourse with tho natives living on the
banks OF the African The lau uch, he said he
had sold when he that the venture would fall
through. "ro whomf - was asked. "ro sporting
gentleman uptown" was the reply. This ono OF
the unknown quantities. over tho coal were some
ten thousand feel OF lumber cut IN scantngs which
IL Intended 10 use in building snantes during
progress VI tue African trading negotiations.
Al Draper Co Is store, although they received tho
cargo, they had been utterly unable 10 procure tho
manifest or copy Of 1t IRON Captain Won Weller,
anu they wero busily engaged In separating the
milton from tho other cases. not to vitate thor
Insurance. One urge case, portion OF which mad
been broken away, contained two dozen Of mus
Another, besides bearing stamp s2o u s. Muskets
buyoneIs, conc seats, bright tho .brigh referring
TO tho barrels. There were eight Of these
number OF smaller ones containing musquetooLs
There wero aIso several heavy OF bar lead,
cases Of dry goods, two bales oil coarse blankets,
quantity OF galvanized hoop and wire and many other
articles The ammunition, consisting Of number Of
cases OF cartridges aud large box OF United States
army percussion caps, were not admitted into tho
store pending advice from the insurance company.
tug CAPTAINS PARTNER
Mr.. Charles ii. Knox tho legal adviser OF Mr..
Wesphal, who had advanced the So 900, and he says
that hrs client Ind gone into the matter In purely
Commercial spirit. Ito withdrew IRON IL, ho said,
upon and his connection with tho matter entirely
legitimate Tho cargo had been voluntarily surrcn-
dercd, and would DO sold TO enable Sir. Wcstphal to
realize Tar US possible tho money which he had
vanced
Altogether, although tho matter may DO tho out
como Of legitimate trading transaction, u has
guarded with secrecy anu reservations that IL could
not quito escape suspicion.