Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-25
a sUsPECrED FLLIBsUTER.
The Steamer City OF Mexico Detained by
Customs Ofiicials.
From tho yo,0 Tort World.

Inc Steamer Nlt5 OF 4AFNt t~ D'NA1ANNN% ~
Customs Ohcials
From tho Non York World.
The steamer City Of Mexico, laying at
Boards Stores. Brooklyn, was boarded by
the Custom House officers Wednesday,
and alarge quantity Of arms and ammuni-
ton was found in the hold It was
taken out and an officer placed in charge
Of the ship to await the action Of the gov
eminent.
Since the death o! the King Of spain the
Revolutionist party in Cuba and the
United States have renewed their en-
tleavOrs to give Cuba her freedom. ana the
loading Of this steamer with arms IS but
part Of what is said to be an extensive
scheme to seize the island.
The CITY of Mexico was built in Glas-
gov for Alexandra g. Sons in 1869 and IS
t.026 tons burden. she had been used on
The Alexandra line between New York
and Havana until oct. - Wnen she lalu
1lp at pier No. 3 North River and on NOV.
9S last was sold for $4,000 TO a Spaniard
whose initials are !. g., but whose name
could not be learned. She was reitted,
over IS, 900 being spent IN repairs. A. ID.
strauss & Co., of No. ID Broadway, were
the agents. and ,o.d all OF the expenses
Of the officers a Il crew. The captain Is
Edward Kelly; firsS officer, James Green;
second officer. A. K. Rankin, and stew ard
and purser. Arthur Willis. These officers
have been with the steamer for some,
months. and are above the average as
good seamen.
After the steamer was sold and had
been repaired in Erie Basin she was taken
% Boards Stores, where 800 tons Of coal
were loaded fore and aft and a large
Ouantitv was put into the bunkers. A
.fr1- cd NJ RI z mi gniuppn for
VOYAGE as their articles read. mot TO
exceed three months" and 1t was gener-
ally understood that the destination was
10 be Corn island" in the Vast Indies.
IL was given out that some two hundred
and fifty railroad labOrers were to be
taken down, and aside. from the seventy
berths in the cabin about one hundred
mattresses were put on board and num-
Der Of hunks built for the accommodation
Of the men. Orders were issued that no
one connected with the vessel should give
any information OF answer any questions.
There was no other cargo except these
cases Of supposed machinery and the coal
and Capt. Kelly was given 10 understand
that be would sail under sealed orders to
be opened at sea. All the transactions
were carried on in Spanish and the ut
most secrecy prevailed about even the
little details.
In the mean time everything was made
ehipshape. and it was intended to set sail
on Monday night for the South. A pilot
was engaged, and remained on board all
day 70 be in readiness, and the crew were
ordered TO be on board and ready to sail.
Steam was made and the vessel backed
out, but instead Of going TO sea backed
into the next dock alongside OF the stores
and behind a schooner and began to load
a number Of cases which we're signed for
By the second officer as machinery, and
which were stored between decks for
ward. When the loading was done, some
people who were TO sail not having ar
rived. the departure was postponed, and
the next day an application was
made for clearance papers, but before
they we're granted the Surveyor made an
inspection and declined TO give it, having
1T is said, found cases Of arms.
This was considered sufficient grounds
Tor holding the vessel, and a Custom
House officer was placed in charge. Yes
terday afternoon truckmen came with an
order from the Deputy Surveyor TO take
The arms and ammunition. which had
been put back upon the dock, to Fraser
& Co.'s, No. 292 Broadway. The authorl-
ties believe that there are more arms
stored under the coal, and that they were
nut in while the ship was being repaired
at Erie Basin. The ones that were takeI
nut yesterday are part OF those which
were shipped to Cuba about year age
by the Anchor Line steamer Dorian
which was not allowed to land, and were
afterwards stored in Brooklyn. 1t was
not known who was the owner. They were
all carefully boxed, marked II. f., and
IN all numbered l24 cases, the largest be
ing a cannon 10 feet long, The gun-car
riages were also boxed and put into the
smallest possible space. While the shiI
lag at Erie Basin two large steam
launches were built on board, and were
said to be for landing the laDOrers.
On Monday night a number OF mer
went on board but were sent off again
These men were hired by a Mr.. Fitz.
patrick, VINO keeps an intelli gence ONCE
at No. O2Greenwich street. Tuesday they
were told they would not be shipped
They claimed pay for the days OF delay
and made a complaint TO the Mayor, and
their case Will come up for a hearing be.
fore City Marshal O'Brien.
IL was said that the scheme Of sending
the City Of Mexico TO Cuba has been con
sidered for some time. IL is claimed tina
a complete understanding had been ar
rived at and that IL was the Intention o
the people who are behind the matter O
take on her number Of men, 10 drol
down TO Newport News and there &c
more VINO have been sent there, and thel
proceed 10 Florida, where still more mel
were TO be taken on. The steamer wa
butH W plptttu W q hiudli lntNuu htui III
southeastern coast Of Cuba, where a land
ing would be made and the arms transtT
cred 10 Cuba secretly IN the steam launch
ss which were on board.
The captain was not on board, and th
other officers. as wei as the Custom
House oficiale, would give no iniorma
ton. Capt. Whalen, at the Barge Ohice
said: ave got the case here through tb
Surveyors office, aud ! really do no
know anything about IL beyond the fac
that we have a man In charge on board
the ship will undoubtedly be libelled. bu
for how much / cannot say. rs that come
under the Marshaps Office. ON th
Alexander dock no one who knew th
present owner OF the vessel could b.
found.