Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-12
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE pIsPATcH.l

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPATcH.l
NEW YORK. January 1.-THE fishing
steamer Novelty, which left Boston on
Tuesday for this city, is at Merritt's dock,
Stapleton, and is reported to be loaded with
so pieces of ordnance of various grades and
eight gattling guns, if not with fill
busters for Hayti. She arrived on
Thursday night. She is $50 feet
long and 291 1-2 tons in burden. When she
got to Stapleton her name was not visible
on any of the three places specified by the
law. All was quiet on board, but toward
noon yesterday it was noticed that an
unusually large number of men were aboard
her, and that few of them had the appear
ance of men familiar with life at sea.
Soon thereafter some Is or so of the men
left the craft and boarded a train for St
George at the Stapleton station. All they
would say concerning the vessel and them
selves was that they had left the vessel be-
cause the Captain would give them no infor,
for. They suspected that she had cleared from
Boston for Hayti, and they did not care to
risk arrest as filibusters or death by yellow
fever.
NEW BOAT THROUGHOUT.
A survey of the craft showed that she had
undergone thorough renovation. Anew spar
house. The tackle and blocks were new. The
hatehways were tightly closed and made flush
with the decks. A painters scaffold was swung
over the stern. A Unlocking steam launch,
about 35 feet long, stood IN frame on tn star
board side OF the forward deck. Two yawl
boats. painted white and bearing the name Of
the old Boston steamship Roman, were upon
the after part of the house. Between them
been painted black, with white lines.
A young man. who looked like country
man, was pacing the starboard deck, and he
greeted party of reporters with look
answer any questions, and disappeared down
a companionway. Several other young men,
who appeared every now and then on deck. de-
clined to be questioned, ON the ground that
they knew nothing about the craft, and had
shipped for no port in particular.
Persistent queries led a middle aged man
who was found to say that he believed the
craft was bound for Hayti or San Domingo.
She sailed from Boston early this week, and he
had arrived during the morning in New
York. He understood that the craft
aaa en eefn sN6 Tsae SF e9Deced gabds e fhe
hold was empty, and outside of the guns, no
cargo was expected. The bunkers contained
about 200 tons of coal When the craft was de-
by steamer to New York. The captain and
chief engineer were away in quest of men to fill
the places of those who left in the morning.
SOLD FOR A GUNBoAT.
During the afternoon it was learned that the
chief engineer had endeavored to ship Owen
Williams, well-known citizen Of Staple
he was told that the craft was bound
for Somona, a seaport of San Domingo. She
had been @ 81 sold for gunhbost, and ia a
Ser g" down He Hen was Ssfs promised eaGe % passage
north on steamship. should he ship.
When the Captain, who says his name is
Terry returned at o'clock last night, he
r1,t xrff anI h,,at 1af,%
aboard Five of them did not like the looks of
things and left the vessel. Seven went below.
A short man, who had not before been visi-
bic, came on deck. He said he was George
Bowman. the super-cargo. II sold this steamer"
he said, ito the Haytian Consul of New York
City. She is now bound for Somona. She will
be used as a gunboat. Her name has been
changed to Mercedes. She can steam IL knots
an hour"
Captain Terry is a stout, ruddy-faced man, of
joVial disposition and wears heavy mustache.
and said: Isn't this a splendid place for
pivot gun? Look at those low bulwarks.
Wouldn't she have long reach? wonder
whether she would stand the shock from the
of gun?'
The reporter then started down into the
forecastle, but the captain hastily detained
him with heavy hand upon his shoulder.
9ad not go down he
the deck here" The reporter then asked
him what he had down there that he
QlQn want seen. he TeplleQ. QOnG KNOW
as there is anything down there except maybe,
some stores and $50 tons of COAL" The vessel
was deeply laden.
UNDER THE DOMINICAN FLAG.
The reporter next asked if the Mercedes
would sail under the American flag. Captain
Terry replied: mo, we will sail under the
Dominican flag, but we haven't got it aboard
yet. 1t will be sent aboard later. We will try
to get off tonight"
The crew was motley-looking crowd. None !
looked like seaman, and few of them wore |
Prince Albert coats. One had on gold. |
trimmed spectacles. They were pale-faced |
lot, and didn't know the difference between |
the stem and the stern of the vessel. They de- |
clared that they had only been employed to |
take the vessel down to her destination, and |
that they hoped they would not be seasick on |
the way. The agreement was to send them |
back by the first returning steamer as pass
engers.
The entire crew consisted Of the captain, two |
mates, a chief engineer and two assistants the |
super-cargo and 20 men-a big crew for steam |
tug. They must have slowed themselves in |
ike sardines.
Minister Preston said tonight that it was |
we'll understood at Boston that the Novelty |
was intended for flibustering purposes in |
Haytian waters.