CONFEDERATE PLOT TO CAPTURE A STEAMER.

Evening Post, Issue 18, 28 February 1865, Page 3

CONFEDERATE PLOT TO CAPTURE A STEAMER.

Informalion was r> ceived on the 25'h ult. by the authorities of the Panama Railroad, that a plot hnd been concocted for the se'zure of one of their PtianiPM plyina between Panama and Central American ports, by a party of Confederate pirates, and that a number of the principal persons connected with the undertaking, whose names were gtrcn, were pnssontjerg on the royal nviil steamer Tamar, from St. Thomns, which arrived a! Aspinwall on the morning of that day, with the indention of putting thpjr designs into execution. The Guatemala bavins? put fo sea before the arrival of the Tamar's rnssengers on this side, the plans of the pirates were for the time frustrated. As another of the company's steamers did not leave here before the 10th inst, the conspirators were obliged to remain in this city till that date before an opportunity offered for them to carry out their diabolical purposes. In the meantime Information of the plot had been received from other sources, and the managers of the railroad fully matured their plans for the entire gang. The matter was kept a profound secret until about noon on Tuesday, the 10th Inst, when the steamer Salrador was ready to put to sea. The passengers were embarked as usual, apparently no suspicion being ex. cited until all were placed on board the steamer. Immediately on coming on board the passengers were requested to enter the main snlonn, all the other roomsjiaving been previously locked, in order to have their tickets examined and berths assigned. A signal was then given to the commander of the United Slates frigate Lancaster who, with a force of armed marines was stationed on and alongside the P.M.S.S. Company' s steamer Sacramento, lying a Bhort distance from the Salvador, that all was. ready. Captain Davenport was soon on board the Salvador with the requisite force, and after announcing to the passengers that he had taken possession of the ship, proceeded to read the pnssenger list, requiring each person to respond to his name and show his ticket. Several were soon recognised as the persons of whom information had been received, and on being examined letters of marque, commissions from the Confederate Government, handcuffs and arms wore found on their persons. The cv Hence being conclusive, Captain Davenport Mole the steamer to sea, accompanied by the Lancaster. The United States steamer Lancaster returned on the morning of Saturday, 12th instant, bringing as prisoners seven of the persons who had taken pasengc in the Salvador ; on several of the other passengers suspicion was very strong, but on investigation the evidence w.is not found sufficient to warrant their being taken. From all we can learn the plot must hare been quite a gigantic affair — of proportions sufficiently large, had it been successful, to have Bwept the United States commerce from the Pacific, and almost perfect in ita concoction. Prom the orders of Mr. Mallory, secretary of the navy of the Confederate States, to Capt< Hogg, the leader of the party, and from other documents found, it appears that Hogg, acting according to instructions, sailed from Wilmington, N.n,, for Havana, and at the latter p-jvb enlisted his associates, the paper 'containing their names, and the oath to stand by each (other until death, being dated at that place. Captain Hogg and his associates intended to take passage on the Guatemala, and when out at sea to seize the ship. It is believed they have conf derates on the coast or on a vessel near by, who were then to join them, and that there are also persons connected with the plot on both the California and Central American steamers. The instructions were then to intercept the P.M.S.S. Company's steamer Sacramento, on her way to this port from San Francisco, take possession of the treasure, which amounted to over a million dollars, and if it could not be shipped safely across the Isthmus to take it to Valparaiso, and there deposit it with some reliable British house, or to ship it on board a French man of-war, if one could be found that would take it. With the guns, &c ,to be found on board the Sacramento, the Guatemala might have been made a very dangerous vessel.— Panama Star.