The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-05-24
Cuba's First Warship.

while there is a good deal OF talk
these days about Cuba" said the man
who likes TO converse to "A New York
Sun reporter, "it should not be forgot
ten the man who was first 10 float the
Cuban flag over an armed deck is in
New York city and is not bloviating
about It, either He is Colonel Prentiss
Ingraham, author, traveller, soldier, sail
or and a lot of other things.
In the summer OF 1869 Colonel Ingra-
ham bought in New York city. for the
large sum of So. the steamer Hornet
which had once been the Lady Sterl-
ing. a blockade runner captured by the
United States government and made n
a dispatch boat for the service of Presi-
dent Lincoln.
A wealthy Cuban living In New York
had bought her from the government.
and he sold her to Colonel Ingraham
for s. because he wanted 40. You see
she had to belong TO somebody and Col
onel Ingraham was the best man be-
cause he knew his business. She made
two trips to Cuba, as a filibustre car
rying arms which he TOOK on board
a sea so as not to implicate the United
States in any act against n friendly
government. Spain being on terms with
us at the time. Colonel Ingraham was
In command.
"In October of 1869, she cleared from
Philadelphia for Liverpool and put in at
Halifax under stress of weather, or so
IL was stated. Here she was met by
Admiral Edward Higgins, an ex-Con-
federate officer and formerly OF the
United States navy. The Hornet re-
NAMED at Halifax until suspicion pointed
so strongly her way that the English
authorities were about to seize her a
second time, though she had already
been searched and nothing found on her
which she had no right 10 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 the course
southwark and the As sailors on board
mutinied. and there was fight for the
ship, the officers winning. on 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 vessel
of war, having 26 officers, 300 men and
nine guns, / l00-pound bow chaser, Co
Founders, 4 30-pounders and A-pound-
ers.
once at sea with this equipment, Col
onel Ingraham, who had been in COM
mand OF her since her purchase. turned
her over TO Admiral Higgins, the offi-
GERS received their commissions, Colonel
Ingraham becoming commsndant of ma
rincs, her name was changed toy the
Cuba, and Colonel lngraham, with his
own hands raised the Cuban flag over
her. being the first Cuban flag ever to
go up over an armed deck of 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 a 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 orii-
GERS from Cuba, had got away from her
on this account, and this was worse than
"A hurricane. She was suspected by the
authorities at Wilmington, and though
every effort was made TO get away be-
fore she could be searched, IL was inn
possible. as her engines had been un-
coupled for repairs. and she was cap
tured Admiral Higgins surrendered her
to Colonel Frank, OF the United States
army, but refused 10 pull down his flag
until he had been tried and the ship
was finally conhscated.
The trial lasted "a month and resulted
in the acquittal OF Higgins and lngra-
ham the other officers were sent to
Wilmington under bond and released
later. and the men were paid of and
discharged The Cuba. however. was
held and sent to New York under com
mand OF Captain Martt. formerly OF
the famous Confederate privatiersman
FLORIDA and she was later taken 90 Bal
timore where she was left TO rot.
understand she is lying I'm the mud down
there now and ~ she IL the Cubans
ought TO resurrrect her and take her
bnspst'