The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-12-13 00:00:00

FIRING AT A BRITISH SHIP.

A Times correspondent writing from Madeira, says
The recent insults by the Portuguese authorities, and
particularly those in Madeira, to the English nation,
of which the present Government have taken no notice
although the facts have been constantly brought be-
fore them, culminated in an act so flagrant that we
cannot understand any nation daring to commit it,
unless seeking a quarrel to be decided at the point of
the sword. The Pleasure Sailing Yacht Company
chartered a ship named the Tyburnia, for a trip to
different parts of the world, at the rate of a guinea a
head per diem. The yacht on arriving at Madeira a
fortnight ago was anchored 220 yards west of the Loo
Rock battery in the quarantine ground, and was bal-
lasted with goods, such as cement, &c., which might
yield a profit at the different ports touched at.
When the yacht arrived at Madeira, the Custom-
house authorities neglected to send the papers
respecting declaration of cargo, &c., on
boam, and therefore Captain Kennaley did
not declare cargo, as he was not aware of the vexa-
tious regulations and the system of extortion and
usury to which he would be subjected in the passing
of goods through the Custom House. Having secnred
a sale for some of his goods, Captain Kennaley went
the day previous to his departure to the chief of the
Custom House, and having informed him of the part
of the cargo which he had sold, requested information
as to the time it should be sent to the Custom House
to be passed, whereupon he was accused of smuggling,
because he had not declared cargo on arrival, and was
informed that his ship should be seized and confiscated
with everything in it. The captain then said that as
be had not landed anything, he should simply take
his goods away with him, as he was sailing in the
morning. Then the Custom House authorities said
they would detain his ship, and put officers on board, "
but they were quickly informed that if they attempted
to board his ship, he would have every one of them
flung into the sea. The military governor was then in-
formed of the matter, and he issued orders that if the
yacht attempted to leave her moorings, she was to be
fired at. Captain Kennaley did not fear this threat,
having smelt powder during the blockade-running in
the American war, having successfully ryn the
blockade thirteen times. This time, however, he
called all his passengers and told them how things
were, and asked them what they wonld do. They all
answered, "We will go where you do." The following
is the list of passengers: Viscount Howard de Walden,
Colonel W. Dawkins, Mr. Charles Oakley, son of Sir
John Oakley, Dr. Stewart, Messrs. H. L. and W.
Barstow, Mr. H. Graves, Mr. Arthur Fitzroy Somer-
set, Mr. H. Percival, Mr. H. Eden, Mr. H. Foster,
Mr. G. H. Alderman, the Countess D'Epaieuil, Miss
Whitehill, Miss Quanell, and Mr. and Mrs. Slunay.
At twenty minutes to one in the morning he weighed
anchor, and the Government steam launch ran along-
side and warned him that the Loo Rock would fire
if the yacht left her moorings. The captain con-
tinued his orders about making sail, but some of
the ladies called out, "Tell them to fire away
as soon as they like." The rock then fired a blank
charge. The yacht ran up her foresail and got her head
round. The Rock fired a second blank charge. The
yacht then made sail and began slowly moving with
the tide, whereupon the Rock opened with ball. The
third shot carried away some of the ropes of the
bowsprit, and the firing was kept up for an hour till
the yacht had got out of range. Some of the shot
fell close to the yacht, dashing the spray over those
on deelt, others fell very wide of the mark, but no
loss of life ensued. Captain Kennaley ran up the
British Ensign on the first gun being fired, and as
each shot went singing by the colours were dipped.
Both ladies and gentlemen declined to go below, but
stayed on the poop till the firing ceased. The Portu-
guese in charge of the store on the Loo Rock refused
to give out more ammunition when that issued
had been expended, and he has been dismissed
from his post by the authorities. Barbadoes is the
port of destination of the yacht, and it will be
pleasing to read an account of the vc7age, which
began under such trying circumstances.