New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-28
SEIZURE OF THE CURACAO.
THE CONSEQUENCES MAY BE SERIOUS.
HELD BY DUTCH coLoNIsTs IN THE WEST
INDIES ON A CHARGE OF SMUGGLING


HELD BY DUTCH coLoN1sTs IN THE WEST
INDIES ON A CHARGE OF SMUGGLING
ARMS AND AMMUNITION.
severa, LETTERS from Curacoa arrived here the last
chin from that place They differ from one another
IN details but all agree In saying that the American
barlventine Curacao which sailed from New-fork on
June % and arrived OF Cracoa on Juy ~, had been
sezed on July Is for trying to land ammunition at the
chief port on thc island wilemstad. The letter fur
nsed 10 The Tribune dated July IT, and the writer
SAWS that the Dutch officials discovered that firearms
and ammunition such as revolvers cartridges, etc.
were slowed away on board Every package Of goods
was Immediately opened and examined by them, ana
M last 100 large cases found. The manifest IS
said BY tins correspondent to have called for cases OF
soap,s and he says also that black pedler named
Marin who has since disappeared, is suspected OF
being implicated. A strong impression prevails IN
Government circles at Curacao that the contraDand
articles were to be smugged TO Hayt The bankentine
has been towed 10 the powder magazine and is held by
the Government
The C1,racoa is a weknown vessel; she has
register Of $50 tons and WAS built In Horton NoVa
Scotia in 1872. She is owned by Fonlke &c Co. OF
No. 25 Beaverst they received letter from their aee
az wemstad yesterday lie confirms the story OF t'e
seizure of the vessel but says there were only iory
cases of powder aboard and no arms OF any hnd
Tribnne reporter talked with member Of the firm
Yesterday He said positively that they had no
knowledge of the fact that contraband articles hao
been shipped but that the captain, whom they I'm
plcitly trusted up TO the present time, must nave
known that the goods We're aboard before the vessel
started 70 unload
The man Marin, Marine they call him mere Is
a Curacoan black who began sending birds TO new
York some years ago. lie prospcrcd and since then
has started small business buying goods OF dilfercht
kinds in this city. lie was here when the barRentne
was being loaded and sent several lots OF merchahus0
aboard. He may have succeeded in smuggling inc
powder in question aboard, but 10 II not KNOWN WHY
he should do So His business is apparently not large
ana he has no connections Of any kind in Hayu' nor
any interest the troubles going on there, us lar as
known.
He followed the Curacao on the steamer that leu
here a few DAYS after she sailed He was aboard the
vessel when the officers found the powder anu
ID is said that effort was made by the Gre" 10
throw 10 overheard. The powder was found IN inc
cabin but other goods were also slowed there, as
the ship heavily loaded, there being some !oo
boxes of tobacco and there, besides other
articles The vessel also had about 166 kegs Of
blasting power, which regularly consigned
The restriction on bringing powder or any KIND OF
rearm into the island of Curacao without authority,
are so extremely strict that the consequences are
likely to be unpleasant TO the captain and others
implicated If the offence is proved. The penalty Is
Imprisonment and heavy fine. the Dutch who
own tbs island, having adopted These stringent
measures because years ago, Curacao was starting
place for all sorts expeditions to aid In revolutions
in Venezuela and Hayti. II Is the largest OF the
Dutch West India Islands, having area OF 2l2 square
miles, and is only seventyfve miles from the Vene-
zuelan coast The port, wllemstad is situated on the
southern coast, at the mouth of st. AIMS Day. Yes
sells bringing explosives must sail the harbor pass
ing the town. and unoad at the head OF the BAY where
a frearm must be delivered 10 the Government.
Fouk. & Co. say that merchants mas import them,
but they are stored BY the Government and cannot be
sod Unfortunately. There Is consequently some
what of a scarcity Of firearms among the inhabfahS
The Dutch Consul. John i. Panten, has received
merely an Official notification Of the seizure.