Commodore Moore was ordered to confer with the rebel leaders, but not to commence hostilities against Mexico until a delegation of Texas diplomats had completed a mission to secure recognition of Texas' independence. Thus "Austin" spent her time cruising around the gulf coast of Mexico and Yucatán gathering intelligence and investigating ports and suitable anchorages. When a large storm blew up near Lobos Island on 14 October 1840, "Austin" came upon a Mexican ship in distress. "Austin" recovered all of the crew of the stricken ship "Fama", delivering them to Tampico to great local acclaim. This did not deter a Mexican shore battery from opening fire a few days later on the flagship as she was close to the Mexican shore looking to replenish her water stores. Concluding that hostilities had recommenced, Commodore Moore hastened to rejoin his flotilla near Campeche. Upon reaching the Cayos Arcas, where the rest of his flotilla had remained, Moore found that the "San Jacinto" had run aground on a sand bar and the rest of the ships were not to be seen. "Austin" set out to find the rest of the ships, "Zavala" and "San Bernard", touching at the port of Campeche on 8 November and Sisal on 10 November. The flagship finally caught up with the rest of the ships at Frontera on 14 November. In order to salvage the "San Jacinto" and provide fuel for the lone steamship, "Zavala", Moore hatched a plan to gain money. The "Zavala" towed the other two ships 60 miles up the San Juan Bautista River to the capital of the Mexican state of Tabasco, Villahermosa. There the small flotilla pointed their guns at the city and then sent troops into the seemingly deserted capital. Commodore Moore encountered a man bearing a white flag on a tree branch, and when he ascertained that this was the Mayor, the Texas commodore demanded $25,000 or he would level the town. The Mayor asked if silver would be acceptable, and upon receiving an affirmative reply, delivered the ransom. The commodore set sail with the silver and used the money to repair and outfit his ships. Returning to the wreck of the "San Jacinto", "Austin" picked up the sick sailors and returned to Galveston, crossing the bar on 1 February 1841. During "Austin's" absence, Texas had achieved a hard-won recognition from the United Kingdom.