New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-26
CAPTAIN O'BRIEN'S VOYAGE.
HE THOUGHT EVERYTHING WAS RIGHT.
FURTHER DETAILS OF THE TRIP OF THE CITY OF
MExIco-THE CONSIGNMENT OF ARMS


MExIcO-THE CONSIGNMENT OF ARMS.
Commissioner Shields continued yesterday
his examination in the of Captain John OBren, Of
the steamer City of Mexico, who is charged with violat
ing the neutrality laws Of the United States In conveying
arms to the Colombian insurgents and taking board
the vessel soldiers who for several days sailed about In
the vessel and made prisoners of officials of the regular
Government District Attorney Root appeared for the
Government John H. Mccarthy. the first mate Of tho
steamer, s-examned by ". W. Macfarland tho
defendants counsel. He answered a few quest pus
quietly but then appeared to become excited He said
that he had made comp aint OF Captain Briens con-
duct because he did not think right that the crew
and the other officers should have been put in danger OF
Imprisonment by the Colombian Government for sailing
about with the soldiers. He gave his opinion that
the captain "pusanimous man and q low char
acter" The witness showed increasing signs OF excite
ment, aud Mr.. Macfarand Asked Are you accustomed
to drinkr Il take drink every morning" said tho
witness. little further on he sad-pointing TO Mr..
Macfarand: "I want to make this gentleman UNDER
stand this; he appears to be little dumb" Later In
the day while Captain OBren testifyng, Mccarthy
burst out with: That is false" Mccarthy said that
when the soldiers about to come board he OBJ
jected but the captain said that they would be killed IL
they hestated II told him." he continued TO call all
hands Oh deck and we would make stand had
tig revolver In my berth and could nave killed three OF
g. Perez Triano testified that he was q commission
merchant He bought the arms, ammunition and about
l,OD
They we're purchased orders from the merchants OF
Baranquilla through Benjamin GUSTAV. an agent Tho
Mexico carried passengers Antonio Izquerd and one
Perrara, clerk of the consignees Perez 60 of garan.
auia The letter of instructions from 81 Perez Trlano
4 Co. to Captain OBrien was identlhed by the wiz
s e nndr rs @ To 20 and do
anything without consulting him. He was TO and tho
York The witness said that the orders for the arms
from reputable merchants, ana that he acted only
n commission merchant through Benjamin GUSTAV
WhD introduced
merchants. GUSTAV held commission as speciat
agent of Bolivia. The money for the came from
merchants of Baranquilla The witness said that he did
not know that the port OF sayania was closed when
the goods shipped but told by GUSTAV that the
Colombian Consul not TO he informed about the mat
ter. ., A., .,
George Houston, the colored steward Of the vessel
cOrroborated much OF the testimony OF the first mate
He admitted that he had been discharged by the captain
farland where he had previously been employed ne
as ES & 'hh' h s @
Fireman Quigey aud one or two other members OF the
crew gave cOrrObOFating testimony. .
Captain OBrien the defendant in his own behalf, said
that when the vessel arrived at Savana ne saw tnat
the cargo discharged and then went on shore TO see
the consgnees lie saw the American and Eritlsh Con-
suls satisfied that all was right He continued
made charter party with the consgnees to take 100
passengers on trip for three days for S400
day. I thought there chance 10 save something
for the because had to have 700 tons OF Dalas
the supplies that necessary The American Consui
The men were all black They had fantastic costumes.
no two being dressed alike. They had band Of music
Eosted from sunrise TO sundown on the day we sailed
from Savanila Rio Hacha We did not arrive at RIO
Hacha till 1t was dark. asked when they expected 70
land the troops. | had gone down stairs when heard
that a Custom House officer was coming on board ana
| the men thought the soldiers might capture nm:
| | demonstrated. The Custom House office seemed
| to know Of the passengers, but when he
| attempted to go of the vessel he was stopped
| by tie soldiers and the other men were COM
PEELED 10 come aboard. demonstrated with the general
We saw a schooner the next day. The rilo man FUR
nshed by theiconsgnees reported that tue general said
that we were TO attack the vessel said that We would
not and called 90 the at the wheel HaTda port
The general said through interpreter that be did
not care what sad lie was going 10 attack the yes
sell took the American flag and called the men to-
gether and said that would not attack We brought
the soldiers: back to savanilla reported about tne
men who had made prisoners, and the comm sndin8
general said that had exceeded his authority
The American Consul said that he would see that the
| prisoners returned"
District Attorney Root made severe crossexamna'
ton the captain that lasted until late In the after
| noon. The examination was not finished.
A libel suit begun by the Government yesterday
against the vessel aud 1t formally seized by tho
marshal