THE PIRATE FORWARD.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 735, 4 October 1870, Page 2

THE PIRATE FORWARD.

OFFICIAL REPORT OF HER DESTRUCTION. Washington, July 21. N. W. Low, commanding the United States steamer Mohican, of the South Pacific Squadron, reports to the Navy Department, off Mazatlan, Mexico, June 19, the details of the destruction of the steamer Forward, stating that on the 6th of that month information was received by the United States Consul at Mazatlan, from our Consul at Ouaymas, that a vessel on the night of the 27th of May landed between 100 and 200 men of different nationalities, taking possession of and robbing the Custom House, forcing foreign merchants to contribute funds and goods to a large amount, and compelling the United States Consul, under protest, to supply coal for the steamer, aud taking on beard as hostages civil officers of the Mexican Government ; thus, in times of profound peace between Mexico and San Salvador, committing acts of war. The contributions were extorted from Spanish, German, English, and American merchants. The Consul was informed that the vessel claimed to be acting in the interest of Placido Vega, but Vega has not declared himself to be actively engaged in the revolution. Fverythin« in the civil condition of the country about Mazatlan, and at vSan. Bias, where Vega was supposed to be, was believed to be quiet. No active civil war existed, and the existence of civil war on this coast not having been recognised by the President of the United States, and feeling satisfied this vessel was acting as a vessel of war without proper commission, that she was fitted out on the pretence of being engaged in acts of civil war, but in reality for the purpose of robbery. Commander Low deemed it his imperative duty to regard her as a pirate, and to assure s n curity of navigation he considered it equally his duty to pursue and if possible capture or destroy her. He consequently made immediate preparations for getting under weigh, it being reported that the Forward was still in the Gulf of California, waere he anchored wifcli the Mohican at Altala on the morning of the Bth June. He got no information from there, and left for La Paz. At the latter place he was equally unfortunate in obtaining information, and left there, and on the 16th reached San Bias, where he heard the Forward had gone to Boca-Jeacapan, a place about half-way between San Bias and Mazatlan. for the purpose of going up the river aud landing her plunder. The Mohican arrived there at daylight on the morning of the 17th, armed and manned six boats under the command of Lieut. Bronson, the executive officer, with instructions to find the piratical steamer and bring her out. The boats passed through the surf of the outer bar at seven o'clock, and shortly .afterwards Lieut. Bronson signalled to the ship that the Forward was iv the river, and that lie was going in search of her. The party returned the next day in the afternoon, and reported the capture and destruction by burning of the Forward, under a scattering fire of four half-pounder field pieces and the rifles of the one hundred and seventy men who had removed from her the same afternoon to a position on the shore, the better to defend her. The boats brought to the ship the remains of James Donnel, coxswain, killed, aud reported two officers and six men wounded. The boats had palled nearly 70 miles since leaving the ship, and had been under fire one hour. The men conducted themselves admirably, and accomplished the object of the expedition with the calmness of old veterans, which called forth the unqualified admiration of Commander Low. Though the instruction to Lieut. Bronson, did not expressly contemplate the destruction of the Forward, still in view of the circumstance of the case, the desperate resistance and heavy fire in her defence, the loss sustained, and the utter impraticability of moving her, the Forward being hard on the reef, his action received full approval . Dounel was buried at sea on the afternoon of the 18th with appropriate ceremonies. Lieut. Cutts, a passenger on board the Mohican, under orders to join the flagship of the fleet volunteered to accompany the expedition, and was given charge of a boat. On board of the Forward were found George W. Holden, presumed to be mate ; F. W. Johnson, presumed to be engineer, and four- men, whom Low proposed to tnrn over totheMexic.au authorities at M.izitlan: No papers were found on b-»ard. Low says : " In this affair I have endeavored to act with due deliberation, and have satisfied myself that the Forward, according to Navy Regulation No. 1,022, was a vessel acting as a vessel of war, or privateer, without having proper commission so to act, the officers and crew of which shall be considered as pirates and treated accordingly. "