New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-07

the cruel fate which several of them suffered
= for IT, were delivered by Dr. Alberto smith Ven
ezuean Minister OF Public Works. and by Wv.
Russell Secretary OF the United States Legation
The monument commentaries en- AFFAIR now
resrly century old. the story Of which, although
4; is familiar in Venezuela an incident In the
ccuntry's history H. unknown to or forgotten by
most Americans. Francisco Miranda, the Neh-
ezu,lau patriot 10 whose aid the Americans came,
had many friends in this country. where he had
served rs young man with the Continental
Army n the Revolutionary War In the year
is'5 he thought he a favorable opportunity to
strike blow FOR his native country's independence
by creating revolution against the Spanish rule
Coming 10 New-York. where he was fairly well
known he soon succeeded in interesting in his
project man OF no less Importance than the Sur
veyor OF the Port Colonel William Smith. who
was a son-in-law Of John Adams. Colonel Smith
introduced Miranda 10 Samuel @. Ogden, pros
porous merchant Of the city, and the three set 10
work with energy to organize an expedition TO
60 to Venezuela.
Mr. Ogdens part consisted chiefly in the placing
at Miranda's disposal OF a good-sized ship, the
Leander or Leandro as II was usually called after
Miranda received 1t. Two hundred men were then
secured to sail on the vessel. under Miranda's COM
mand. These men were engaged In the most Sc
cret manner. and the information vouchsafed TO
them was Of the vaguest kind. They simply knew
that they were 10 60 wherever Miranda led them.
ard It was rumored that the expedition was In
soms way destined 10 attack the Spanish rule in
South America, but nothing definite was known.
These 200 men, who thus volunteered In the dark.
were for the most part steady. brave efficient fe-
lows who deserved happier fate than they re-
ceived.
The Leandro was we'll fitted out for her warke
purposes. Besides the eighteen cannon which she
mounted along her sides. in the oldfashioned way,
she carried fifteen hundred muskets. few rifles,
three hundred pairs OF pistols forty cannon OF
different sizes, two hundred swords. twenty tons
of ammunition. gun-carriages and other articles
Of the came military nature.
Sailing from New York February q 1895, with
Thomas Lewis for her captain the Leandro pro-
ceeded to the little port Of Jacmel. the south
coast OF Hayti. where she was 10 make further
preparations While here. Captain Lewis was sent
TO make arrangements for securing another ves-
sel, the Emperador. and crew to join the
petition Meanwhile Miranda was occupied in In
etructing his in their coming duties. He dis
closed 10 them the object OF the voyage. and told
them they were TO form the nucleus OF his Co
lombian army which was 10 overthrow Spanish
dspotsm IN South America. Certain OF the men
were selected by him TO be officers OF different
ranks and commissions were written out on the
spot. Captain Lewis returned from his mission.
reporting that he could not get the Emperador,
and a search made FOR something TO take her
place Two small schooners. the Baco and the
Abeja, were secured and the little feet set sail.
after a delay at Hayti OF six weeks.
On the nth Of April the three vessels lay OF the
Venezuelan coast near the town OF Ocumare, not
far from Puerto Cabeo. In the distance two Span
fish coasts guard ships visible, and trouble was
at once anticipated. At midnight signals were
noticed passing between the fort at Puerto Ca
belo and the guard ships. Captain Lewis beat to
quarters and kept his men their guns until day
HIGHT but there YVES immediate attack. In the
morning the position OF Miranda's vessels found
the Leandro six eight miles from shore the
Abe1a further In and the Baco nearest OF ell, being
what happened that day Is thus told by man
named sherman one Of the Americans In the
petition:
Donohue and two others tempted by the beautiful
aspect Of the shore took boat and two sailors
shore to recruit themselves In the
course Of an hour the wind rose and We immediate
ly the Spanish schooner bear down on the
Baco The men who shore. observing
this. FASTENED to return to the ship. but enter
ing the boat. capsized by the violence OF the
waves. The schooner. now within shot OF
the Baco. opened fire on her: In this situation the
only recourse left 10 the Baco 10 cut her cable
and escape from the Spaniard. The Leandro and
the AbeJa came TO her assistance. The Leandro
opened IRE the Spanish ships which replied.
The Abeja received orders from the Ieandro TO
approach the Baco ia order 10 board the
enemy uhe Leandro on the starboard and the
with this order the Abeta approached the Baco
whose captain Gagner obeyed the orders of Hud-
ole The two schooners together hoisted sail TO
the Kandro was seen to tack and fee - "'''
AT the beginning believed that this was a
cS1nt 20 deceive the spaniards, but on seeing The
doned and with only six cannon TO defend our