The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-07-03
CUBA'S FIRST WARSHlP.
The story of Col Prentiss Ingraham's Hor.

New York Sun.)

New OK SUM-
"While there is a good deal of talk
these days about Cuba" said the man
who likes to converse. 1T should not be
forgotten that the man who was first to
float the Cuban flag over an armed deck
is in New York city and is not bloviating
about it, either. He is Col. Prentiss In
graham, author, Traveller, soldier, sailor
and n lot of other things. In the Sum
mer of 1869 Col. Ingraham bought in New
York city for the sum of 81 the steamer
Hornet, which had once been the Lady
Sterling, blockade runner captured by
the United States GOveTnH. mt and made
dispatch boat for the service of PrcSi-
dent Lincoln. a wealthy Cuban living in
New York had bought her from the Gov
eminent, and he sold her to Col. Ingra-
ham for 50 because he wanted to. You
see, she had to belong to somebody, and
Col. Ingraham was the best man because
he knew his business. She made two
trips to Cuba rs :; filibuster, carrying arms
which she took on board at sea so as not
to implicate the United States in any act
against a friendly Government, Spain be-
ing on good terms with us Mt the time.
Col. In"raham was in command
I'm October of 1869 she cleared from
Philadelphia for Liverpool and put in at
Halifax under stress of weather, or so
it was stated. Here she was met by
Admiral Higgins, an ex-Confederate off
Ger and formerly of the United States
Navy. The Hornet remained ut Halifax
until suspicion pointed so strongly her
way that the British authorities were
about to seize her Il second time, though
she had already been searched and moth
ing had been found ON her which she had
no right to carry. She left Halifax in
such hurry that she was fired on from
the forts, but got away all right, making
the run to Cape Sable, 60 miles, in three
hours. At sea Admiral Higgins ordered
her course southwark and the - sailors
on board mutinied, and there was fight
for the ship, the officers winning OFF
Marthas Vineyard the ship was met by
several small vessels carrying arms and
men, and these were taken on board, and
the Hornet became a fully equipped yes
sci of war, having 26 officers. 800 men
and nine guns, one 1OO-pound bow chaser
two 60-poundcrs, four 3u-pounders and
two 2ipOunders. Once at sea with this
equipment, Col Ingraham, who had been
in command Of her since her purchase
turned her over to Admiral Higgins, the
officers receiving their commissions. Col
lnSraham becoming commandant of ma
rines. Her name was changed to the
Cuba, and Col. Ingraham with his own
hands raised the Cuban flag over her, be
ing the first Cuban flag ever to go up
over an armed deck or a cuban vessel,
and. by the way, there has not yet been
another one.
Not long after this, month or so.
the Cuba was caught in hurricane and
had to put in at Wilmington, n. c.. for
coal. She had hard coal. which would
not make steam, and soft was necessary.
The Spanish mail steamer. with three
millions in treasure and 200 Spanish Off.
GERS from Cuba, had got away from her
on this account and this was worse than
Il hurricane. She was suspected by the
authorities at Wilmington. and though
every effort was made to get away before
she could be searched. it was impossible,
as her engines had been uncoupled for
repairs, and she was captured. Admiral
Higgins surrendered her to Col. Frank. of
the United States Army. but refused to
pull down his flag until he had been tried
and the ship was finally confiScated The
trial lasted month and resulted in the
acquittal of Higgins and Ingraham; the
other officers were sent to Washington
under bond and released later. and the
men We're paid off and discharged The
Cuba, however, was held and sent to New