Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-01-03


we're astern; then cnt the painter upon
winch the officers jumped into the boats anti
hailed, saying, To he'll, Nou ID iaseals,
shall fire upon you, which they dad, aud
The American Tort and the Saralac Then iinn.e.
diatcly fired each three shots. @. What did
you Afterwards. A. fred two muSkets snd
prepared TO defend my property. q. Why did
Won tire ut an American boat, knowing that we
are ut peace with the United StateSt A. i did
not know whether that boat Was American or
Spanish. q. How can you say this, wien the
American cOiorS were diSpiasOd IN the boat
y. The Spaniards could have done Tie same 10
decoy and take the vessel. y. N.te you ut
the American waters, OF what they called he
fore tke spanish waters: :. i WAS As close 10
tie beach OF the Island as could be, aUd OF
course l WAS III what they generally called
Spanish waters.
The same day appeared before me, Mr.
Charles Johnson, who being duly sworn, dc
poSeth as follows. =. Did You see the Gui
neauan schooner come into pOrtr a. ! DAD.
-. Did yOu see the boats wlca HEY attempted
10 board the schooner A. 30; DUt saw her
when she waS lutting round the outer poirtof
Amelia, close INTO the beach where tie boats
were aud did keep steady fire until size had
entered the Sound, and then The fort aud brig
>hraha tIed three shots each The last shot
fred by the Saranac after the prize entered
considerably into the harbOr of Amelia. y.
Did you heiteye the SGranac to be ia the Span-
iSh or American waters? i. believed her TO
De more than haii NAY oVef the channel OF st.
NialN : river, and OF course IN what was Orisi
~. X,
OF are you eertim whether the schooner Was
IN the American or Spanish waters when fred
upon \. / am certain She was IA the Spanish
waters. g. How do YOU know thatf y. From
tic experience and Knowledge l have of those
waters, having been Il Pilot seven years or
thereabOuiS, aud nave kGDyyH The place for
thirty four years, beng 4 native. 4. Are you
\ regular Pilot uuder tLe American govern
lNent, as well from Tie State Of FiOridaI a.
Yes having had nay Branch fer aboHt seven
years, iT0Rt The American Commiss toner's AZ
the port OF 81. Aiary'S.
Also. on the same day, appeared before me
Mr.. John W. johnson, who being duly sworn,
gave the following testimony. -. Were you
on hoard the slave schooner Tentativa, when
sac eniered thus port OH the evening OF the sth
instant: \. ! was; being herpilot. q. What
diu the OihcVr of the SararacS boat say or
state when they attempted 10 board the YES
Sc, \. They attempted TO board the schoo-
ner without saying word until She had passed, ,
and tiey mad hold OF the boat asteuI. The
carpenter Of the schooner then cut away the
painter, and they being adrift, Jumped up in
the boat, saving, e You Id YaScRls, II yOu
do not heaVe te, we will fire INTO yOU - aud
immediately fred, being at distance OF about
the vessels length, or within pistol shot. -.
what did the prize master answer in TeturO
4. lie made no reply, bat prepared for de-
fence, and iired two mnsketS, alter tic officer
OF The brig who believe fired twice before
the men had fired. q. Was the vessel then IN
the American or the Spanish waters: \. She
was IA the Spanish waters; as had Curyied
her so close into Amelia bench, that had
gone any nearer, the vessel would have ground
ed. q. At what distance from the beach was
The vessel when they commenced hriugS \.
lJ0 feet or thereah0uts. q. WAS the sara
nae lying III the American or Spanish waters
A. 10 the bestOf my knowledge, in the Span
ish
On the same DAY appeared before me, Wm
i'ilce, Captain ef the British schr. BVtSey,a de-
talHtdDE the private arIncdSchr. Bruins, Cant.
Jolly, Tho being duly sworn, gave the follow.
testimony. q a. fl1p
schoonerwhen she was boarded by the Sarauac's
boatt a. Yes; the boat boarded inst when
outside OF the bar, and hailed MS very politely
after crossing The bar, and being on the Mid
tie Ground, another boat attempted to board
tie vessel, but missing her, caught hold of the
DOatS LOVING astern upon which, The captain
gave orusrs FOR the carpenter TO cut the tow
rope, which being done, the officer stood np i'm
the boat, desiring the captain 10 heavc 70 or
he would ire INTO the schr. which the captain
or pIileniGster not thinking proper to comply
win, tney nred one musket; the prizemaSter
then called Tor arms TO defend himself, upon
which the boat fred another musket; where
upou t9e prZemaSter returned the fire twice.
g.. " hat was the distance between the vessel
and the beach a Abont twice her own length;
tor heard the pilot say, If lie went any nearer,
she would touch the Amelia beach. q. WAS
the Sarauac in the American or Spanish WA
teisr a. Having no know ledge of these wa
tiers, j cannot say.
The British schooner Betsey was detained,
as has been reported by the captain OF the Bru
tins 10 the Court OF Admiralty, on the ground
of being dispatched by the Intendente OF Ha.
vana, y IN a cargo of munitions OF war, for
General Morilis, on the Spanish Main.
Head Quarters, Fernandina, 1nielia Island,
Dtcealber 10, 1917.
and ist of the IaGependeace Of the fIo,id,,s
GENTLEMEN-iu consequence of YOUR letter
ofyesterday, have the hOuOr OF enclosing vou
a copy OF the Documents in my possession, re-
latiVe 10 the correspondence that has taken
place between this Republic and Cant Elton
commander of the United States brig Sarauac,
and the proceedings OF the Court Of inquiry
appointed to investigate carefully the conduct
OF Capt. Austin, verifying the different state.
meuts which had been made.
] have the honor TO be, &c.
(Sigued) AURY.
Hon. V. razos,J Murden, L. Come.
No. II.
u. s. Brig SaroHaC, Cumberland Jslerd,
NOCgWbeT ). 1917.
SIR-I have just received note from e.
Farnham, mentioning hi, confinement at Fer.
nandlna, aud requesting my interference as
he cOnceivcs his life ia danger. As he is an
American citizen, and situated as Feruaudina
is, am bound 10 make that request and hone
that lis offence is not great but thar he NAV
be delivered to an oiiiceT of this vessel, sent
for that purpose. IT hc has willingly subscri-
bed to any military law OF regulation, and has
broken them, l shall not urge this reuuest
but the lite OF citizen being too valuable to
be JeOpardIzed, shall write TO the President
Of the United states on the subject and ex-
pect until his determination is known. that
his life is not injured. ii lie has not snbscri
bed to any military law, II would he well to
consider the right to Try him, as no declaration
OF Independence has been issued or acknowi-
edged By the United States.
/ am sorry to trouble you, aud have the hon
OF to be, &c.
(SigneD JOHN II. ELTON.
Gen. AURY.
No. III
Head Quarters, FeuUidiaG,