Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-17

were several OF them---made no response and
night coming on he suspended action until
next morning. when he began firing again, when
several horsemen were seen gal!oping down to
the beach bearing white flag and soon boat
put of from the harbor with o flag Of truce
and commanded by the captain Of the
port who invited the commander Of the
Scourge to take possession of the town.
The Scourge was brought up TO the town and
two officers and eight men were sent on shore
with demand for an unconditional surrender,
with but thirty minutes time for doing 1t.
The demand was promptly obeyed. The
forts and was "a bugbear," says my
informant, who was one of the captors.
Understanding that several vessels with NUM-
tons Of war had gone up the river Lieut..
Hunter pursued them, capturing on his way
four schooners, one laden with powder, which
was burned. and two were brought back to
Alvarado. Arriving at Ha Ca Talsaw, after
firing on the town, three officers and six men
were sent ashore to summon the alcalde Of the
city to surrender. 1t being very early in the
morning that official was awakened from a sound
sleep and the demand made on him. The sum
mons was obeyed. The town contained about
1000 inhabitants. After this capture the
Scourge returned to Alvarado and on the way
back Lieut.. Hunter, Passed Midshipman Temple
lnow admiraD and my Informant. the aid to
Hunter, Maj. Lachlan H. Mcintosh, boarded
and captured q large boat loaded with cotton,
hides and dry goods. When Lieut.. Hunter was
ordered to blockade the port of Alvarado, from
which the navy had been twice repulsed, it was
intended to make q combined attack by land
and sea.
FOR DIsoBEYING ORDERS.
Lieut.. Hunter was tried for disobe dience of
orders and dismissed from the squadron. On
his return to New York he received an ovation.
splendid sword was presented to him by the
citizens and banquet and receptions fol-
lowed. When he visited his native place,
Trenton, N. j.. q like ovation was rendered
him there. The press Of the country teemed
with Communications Of his gallantry. On his
Navy, Hon. John Y. Mason, gave him
command Of the Janey, revenue
cutter transferred to the navy, and
sent him to the Mediterranean in
pursuit Of some Mexican privsteers which had
burned barque and committed other depreda-
tions on our shipping. The pirates, as they
were regarded. were captured by Spanish
man-of-war and escorted to Barcelona. On his
return from that cruise, for some disobedience
Of orders. he was tried and suspended.
This Alvarado episode was a counterpart of
the conduct OF Col. George Croghan, who was
left with force OF 100 men at Fort Sandusky,
with instructions to surrender the fort il at
tackled by a superior force. The British and
Indians, several hundred strong. attacked the
fort and Capt. CrOghan remained and defended
it, and after two or three days assault they re-
tired, leaving larger number of British and
Indians killed than were in the fort. He was
tried for disobedience Of orders. but the coun-
try sustained him and he was lionized and Con-
gress voted him a sword and thanks
Poor Charley Hunter life was embittered by
duel he fought when . midshipman, in which
he killed his antagonist, young man of his
own age, named Miller. The shadow of that
event hung over his whole life. He died in
New York somewhere about 1867.
JOHN F. CoYLI.