Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-04
THE CITY OF MEXICO.
RcpOH OF Commander Chester, VINO scze'
lBY telegraph to the Dispatch.l


Her.
lBY telegraph to the Dispatch.l
WASHINGTON March 3.-The Sec
rotary Of the Navy has received long
report from Commander Chester, OF
the Galena, dated Key West, February
22d, regarding the capture Of the al
legged iilIbustering steamer City of Mex
leo. The Galena arrived at st. An.
drew's, Colombia, February 18th, with
X. h. Wright, Jr., United States Con-
sui at Colon, on board. The steamer
City Of Mexico was found in port, with
only her passengers thirty in number),
the captain, and one Of her crew on
board. The remainder Of the crew
had protested against proceeding to sea
with the passengers, asserting. that they
composed an organized band under the
direction of one Of their number, Emilio
Del Gardo, as chief, and that they were
in waiting to receive arms and ammu-
milton from the American steamer Nep-
tune preparatory to landing on the
island Of Ruatan that the vessel, in
stead of sailing on a peaceable voyage,
for which they had enlisted, was under
the control Of said Del GaIdo, and that
the captain was implicated in the ir-
regularities that their contract having
been broken, they demanded their dis
charge or satisfactory guarantee for
their lives, which they claimed had
been threatened by the passengers,
who were to some extent armed, or
that the passengers should be removed
Fl ON the ship. Under these demands
the consular agent had removed the
crew to the town Of st. Andrew, while
the Colombian authorities had, owing
to reports that the passengers had been
refused landing at the ports Of Ballze,
Honduras, Bluefields, and Corn Island, in
Colombia, declined to permit their com
ing on shore. The consular agent had
examined the crew and captain under
oath. Having read the testimony anc
taken part in the proceedings, with
Consul Wright, commander Chester
was convinced that the grave charges
preferred by the Consul were vel
founded and determined to seize The
vessel. Before doing so he was as
suIed by the project Of the port anC
the Judge Of the district that such &C
ton was in accordance with interna
tional law and treaty stipulations. Or
board the steamer. were two stean
launches and three Honduras flags
The captain had authority to draw OF
the agents Of the vessel for money, bu
it is in evidence that Del GardO pal,
the bills.
Lieutenant William p. Elliott wa
placed in charge of the prize, with al
the papers found in the vessel and to
testimony taken by the consular agent
with instructions to proceed to .key
West to await instructions.
KEY WEST, FLA, March 3.-Th
| United States steamer Galena and he
prize were released from quarantine
to-day. Affairs on the City of MeNic'
are IN StGtu quo. 1t appears that tn
naval authorities desire to transfer tn
case to the District Court, but IN
United States marshal OF thi
district has no authority to tall,
possession of the property with
out an order from Judge Locke, VIII
is absent holding court at Tampa
1t is probable that the naval suthorl
ties, if DESTROYS of efiecting transfer
will send an application to Judge Lock
by mail tomorrow, who will probabl,
return here on Friday, as he is withou
a district attorney at Tampa, o.
account of the vacancy in that ofiic
and non.conlirmation of the appOinteC