New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-13
THE YACHT LAGONDA SEIZLD D
CASES OF ARMS FOUND FLOATING AT
FERNANDINA
STRONG EVIDENCE THAT T!lE VESSEL. WAS on a
FIL1BUSTERING EXPEDITION-THE BRITISH
NICE-CONSJI. IMPLICATED-ON THE

STRONG EVIDENCE THAT TNE VESSEL WAS on
FILIBUsTERING EXPEDrTIoN-THE BRITISH
vIcE-CoNsUL IMPLICATED THE
WATCH FOR THE AMANDIs.
Fernandina. Fla. Jan. II )SpeciaD.-The
steam yacht LaSonda was detained AT this port
about o'clock this afternoon as a suspicious
vessel by orders of the Secretary OF the Treas
ury. The Collector of Customs had the yacht
seized she about leaving port, and has
placed a detail of officers on board TO hold her
for further orders. Captain Griffin. OF the La
gonda. and Senor MANTLE and senor Mrandi
are under arrest. together with other passen-
gers and all the crew
The Lagonda arrived here three or four days
ago and since then has been cruising up and
down the harbor and into the Sound. and has
also made two three trips up the river. She
was apparently sailing under cruising papers.
and the party on board tent only pleasure.
The officers of the Yacht came ashore two or
three occasions.
~ B. Borden. the British Vice-Consu at this
port. who is a we-known citizen here. appeared
to have a good deal to do with the yacht and her
party but this circumstance aroused no suspicion.
Cor Borden's reputation for straightforward
has been the best But by some strange accident
to-day. by design an Official telegram TO col
lector Port of Fcrnandina. Fla" fell into the
hands Of Borden. and was opened by him. He
may have opened II without looking AZ the
address, Internationally, but the contents Of
this message came. somehow under his
eve before the Collector OF the Port. G. l.. Bait
zelI got the telegram. A little later two large.
heavily strapped boxes. feet long and l2xls
inches square ut the ends. were found floating In
the harbor They were picked mp by boats from
the shore and opened by Collector Baltzell. The
boxes contained cavalry equipments ~ latest de-
sign. together with side arms. swords. etc. II Is
known that these boxes had been on the La
gonda for some of the Fcrnandina party enter
talned by sehor MANTLE the other day say now
that they rccollcct having seen the boxes on
board the yacht
II Is suspected that the Lagondas s party. hav-
ing been apprised Of the fac, that the United
states Government was abOu; to seize the yacht
began 10 throw the conttaband cargo overheard.
but the seizure came before they could get more
than two boxes out of her hold. Since her seiz-
ure Collector Bal'zell has been reficeni about
wha, he found hoard the Lagonda and every
body connected with the Custom House II under
orders Of the Collector T. preserve the greatest
secrecy But IL leaked uIt that the lagonda's
cargo Is wholly OF arms ammunition and cav
airy aCcoutrements. and these Contraband goods
were undoubtedly intended for Use by one ~ the
South American states.
The LagOnda left New-fork two or three weeks
ago and another yacht the Amandis which sailed
about the same time has been under the same
suspicion. The Treasury department has been
on the lookout for both. Puspecting that they
would enter some obscure port In Southeastern
waters. and there take their cargocs on board
Whether the Iagonda had her "contraband-oi'
war" on board when she arrived. or took II into
her hold on one Of her mysterious trips up the
river is not definitely known tonight
The yacht has a steel hull and Is l30 feet long.
IL is said that she was regularly consigned 10
u British Aics-tDnSul,
tom House IL closed and Consul Borden viii say
nothing about the affair He looks much wor
ricd however. and desperate effort has been
made by friends 10 suppress the story Of m"
seizure and his connection with the contraband
craft.
Washington. Jan 12-The Treasury Depart
nent Is Informed that the yachts Lagonda and
Amandis which left New York early In Janu-
airy. are believed to be on hbustering exped-
tiOn.