The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1892-03-02
CAPTURING A SMUGGLER.
AN INCIDENT IN THE CRUISE OF A
REVENUE MARINE VESSEL.
A Would-be Spanish Smuggler or
the Florida Coast Overhaulcd by
Uncle Sans BIueiackets

A Would-be Spanish Smuggler or
the Florida Coast Overhaulcd by
Uncle Sans Blueiackets.
Within recent years the smuggling in
southern Florida has been reduced to
minimum, the assiduous cruising Of the
revenue-cutter having charge OF this
ground making it exceedingly hazardous,
yet occasionally bold craft ventures in
making run, and it was only year ago
that the United States revenue cutter
McLane was so fortunate as to make an
excellent haul. The cutter was standing
over late one afternoon in the vicinity of
Punta Rassa, on the southwest coast,
when the spars of a vessel were observed
in the distance above an intervening key.
To one not familiar with the southern
waters the mere sight Of masts would
simply have indicated the presence of
vessel and nothing more. The McLane's
officers, however, smelled very suspi-
cious object in yonder vessel, and particu.
larly from the fact that she was on that
part of the coast. Running quickly in
towards the key, and in such way as to
be unobserved until close at hand, the
McLane suddenly rounded off to tho
mouth of the entrance, and dropped
cutter full of armed seamen under the
command of Lieutenant Uberroth. A few
minutes only sufiiced for the cutter to
pull alongside the stranger, which
on a hasty glance at the stern was
was found to be the Spanish schooner
Ansonita. The Spaniards deck was full
of ed-capped Cubans aud Mexicans, all
armed with savage looking knives, and
shouting and jabbering to one another
like so many monkeys. Without any ado,
Lieutenant Uberroth and three or four
good men swung themselves up over the
Ansonita's side, and demanded to see
the captain The scowling Cubans at
this made way for big burly fellow,
who had Just assembled from the cabin,
and was demanding in grulf broken
English tho cause of the visit.
"You; papers," was the quick rejoin-
der of the boarding officer"
There was at once evident good
deal of hesitancy, and it was apparent
that the Spaniard recognized he was
caught. No papers could be produced,
and the boarding officer was about to
return to the McLane with this informa-
tion for his commanding officer, when
sudden movement among the Ansonita's
crew showed that they meant fight. The
| McLane's blue jackets were equal to the
emergency, and covering every one on
deck, the Spanish captain was
| tumbled into the cutter at the
point of a revolver. Once aboard the
McLaue, he was kept there, and orders
issued to Lieutenant Uberroth to pick a
prize crew, and convey the captured craft
to Key West. This meant q run of 1870
miles. Returning to the Ansonita, tho
Cubans were quickly secured. A few,
though, were put to work on the cap
stan bar, blue jacket standing by in the
mean while with cooked rifle, aud the
anchor was run apeak, the jib hoisted ,and
inside Of ten minutes the Ansonita passed
under the McLane's stern under jib and
mainsail, the bluejackets of the latter
ship giving a good-by cheer to their
comrades.
The Ansonita had cleared port but an
hour when one of those ugly Southwest
blows, so peculiar to the Gull, suddenly
sprang up. Hero was fix, indeed, for
young officer. 1t is bad enough to
have gale of wind on ones hands, but
to have in addition lot of prisoners,
outnumbering the prize crew, was an
uncomfortable thought. However, the
| prisoners not needed were secured to the
| pin rail around the mainmast, and two
seameu on guard stood close at hand.
| A few OF the prisoners were stationed
about the decks to haul ropes, but al
ways under guard. The Ansonita, on
the first appearance of the gale, was
| quickly gotten under close reefs, and
with mere handful of the jb showing,
and the last reef in the mainsail, with
the foresail slowed, she continued
throughout the night, despite the high
sea and the water continually coming
aboard, to log it off to the southwark.
1t was a trying night, but might have
been worse with less stanch craft. AS
daylight broke the gale began rapidly to
subside, the last reef in the mainsail was
shaken out, then another, then some of
the foresail gotten on her, until, when
! we'll on in the forenoon, the Ansonita
appeared oil Key West Harbor with only
one reef in foresail aud mainsail. That
afternoon she was lying snugly alongside
the Government wharf, her prisoners in
| the hands of the United States Mars hal, ,
and her prize crew sleeping us only tired
and exhausted men can sleep. Twelve
hours later the McLane followed into
port, her commanding officer not having
deemed it advisable to force the cutter
against the gale which had sprung up.
As feat in seamanship and nice
pice of work in navigation along mean
and ticklish portion of the coast, the
affair of the Ansonita is one of which
any young officer can justly feel proud.
The vessel was finally disposed of IN the
United States courts, some technicality
freeing not only the Ansonita, but her
captain and crew.--Harper's Weekly.
Speed of Railroad Trains.