Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-10-17
OBSERET EVENING NEWS.
THE CAPTURE OF ALYARADO.
NlDsuPNIAN HUNTERS METHOD OF
APBROPRI4TISG PERRY's
LAURELS.

Charles G. Hunter, or "AIvaraao,,
Hunter, rs he was called in the
navy, was one OF the passed mid
shipmen during the Mexican war,
anu had been fifteen years in the
! service before he had an opuortuuity
10 show the stuff Of which ne was
made. The operations Of the naval
| squadron in the Gulf Of Mexico, I'M
der the command OF Commodore
Matthew G. Perry, known as "Bull-
| Jog" Ferry, extended from Tam
pico on the north along the whole
! line Of Mexican coast sJuth. block
/ aiding, bombarding and capturing
the several seaport towns.
After the surrender Of Vera Cruz
1t was reported to the gruf old COM
mcdoTe that munitions Of war We're
running the blockade up the river
% Aiyar5io. = very Important forti-
lied town held by the Mexicans.
The commodore gave uaSse,I Mid
shipman Hunter command Of an
army transport about a. large as a
common coal barge, which wa
AIMED with two brass howitzers and
manned by fifteen selmrn. lie
was given strict orders 10 20 down
the coast AMI blockade the town OF
AlvaraaO and its harbor by night
anu day, anu 10 continue 10 do 20
until the commodore arrived with
MS fleet to shell the place into sub
mission.
Away Went Hunter, the first in
dependent command he had ever
had. When he was of the harbOr
he began 10 shell the itiel. then
gradually approaching the townaud
limiting no resistance commence I,
shell the place itself. To his greal
delight and still greater surprise,
after four or five h0urs' shelling the
Mexican lag was lowered, and a
nag Of truce annCunCedltEe suren
der u the town. Hunter immedi.
ateiy landed all Of his force Of fiji
teen men, leaving the steamer in
charge o! the engineer and fremeu,
ana formally took possession OF the
jan anu Qualifications.
Ia few days Commodore PER-,
rrived with his grand fleet, pre-
pared for long siege. and his mind
inflated Win the Iura tnal the cap
ule Of the place would aiu great.
% his laurels. Soon, 10 his infinit
lisguSt and surprise he saw IL,
small steamer that was in his van
signal to the flagship on whose
quarter deck he stood in supreme
command, that "the American llaa
was now flying over the fortified.
tons Of Alvarado.r Swelling with
indignation the commodore sent q
boat with orders for Hunter TO r..
pair Immediately ON board the flag
ship and report to him.
IIuItcr 49, v,t ,..- order at once
anu all the officers OF the vessr.
I showing Hunter well and auNiuu
/ % learn how the episode would end
/ crowded around the excited Commo-
dore. When Hunter stepped ON the
ship Ferry iJTeuure the usual cOuT.
tesy OF receiving him in his cabin,
anu ordered him 10 the quarter.
I deck. As soon as ne reached the
/ SPOT where the commodore stood.
the latter, in an indignant tone.
asked Hunter, "Nh hat l. the mean.
ing ofa!l this, sir3p
1t means thIt / have captured
| Alvarado," replied Hunter, ''be.
cause We are at war with Mexico
His answer 50 exasperated the
commodore that all fOEmIlities end.
cd and he rOared:
$50 below, Consider yourself in
arrest; IN have you court mlrtiale,l.
You have dis0heysd orders. Who
ordered you take Alvlrado2 ! told
/ you TO blockade il only
! Hunter remained la his room 2
week, and, seeing no court IN view,
wrote a letter 10 the commodore de,
handing his Immediate release from
arrest or a trial. The commodore
| lid neither, but sent him to the
l United states under charges.
The newspapers got hold Of the
facts and published = fun account OF
/ the affair, and Hunter went %
Washington and demanded an in.
vestigatiUu. Public indignation
was aroused AZ Commodore Perry's
uuw4Frlnted course, and Congress.
taking up the matter, passed q vote
II thanks b. Hunter for his gallant
action. He was at once given com
maui Of a schooner called the NtgTt
ami sent up the Mediterranean,
where he remained three years.
There he was known 10 the iuhabit-
ants Of Port Mlhon as "Capt. Ava
EtdO Hunter, Of the Big Fish. -
Hunter died In the naval hospital in
New York in ls5i.-hUHs0s CITY
SIR