The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1844-10-30
LETTER FROM RIO JANErRo-Aucusr /, 1874.
OUTRAGE ONTHE AMERICANA FLAG
AN INSULT TO THE AMERICAN Ma
TION-AN AMERICAN VESSEL A.
BANDONED TO THE BRITISH-AR-
RIVAL OF CAPT. DUMAS,

-~' @-'CCHA III LNL
TTON-AN AMERICAN VESSEL A.
BANDONED TO THE BRITTSH-AR-
RIVAL OF CAPT DUMAS.
To the Journald o Commerce., Rio Janeiro:-
SIR--I hope that one of your columns will be
seen by the whole world. BY inserting it you
The American nation. Your most obedient,
P. c. DUMAS.
On the second day of June, at one O'Clock in
the afternoon, the English man-of-war brig Alert
was lying to, at anchor, five miles off Cobinda,
Her boat came alongside manned by two officers,
one boy and four negro sailors, (called crew.
men) The captain Of the Alert, Mr.. Bosan-
.quet, CATER ! told him that the brig was the Cy-
rus, of New Orleans, and visited once by him by
force, to save himself the trouble to visit my
vessel twice, and at the same time asked him
who he was, and to show me a power from
my government 10 visit me- answered, put
ting his hands OH his fag-"This tells me
who | am" and said to mel will come
on board and you will see." every well,
sir; a protest shall be made for violating the
treaty."-The moment he got on deck with
his officers and crew. he ordered his men to O.
pen my matches, fore and aft-went down him
self with his company, and came ON deck after
he found that the vessel had nothing but water
ballast, (%nothing eIse,) then came towards me,
and said, in a rough manner, 81 want to see
your papers," My answer was in the same
tune--"Since, when u man like you, takes the
liberty to Jump on board of an American vessel,
against the captains will, opening matches,
searching the cabin, and all over the ship, with
out speaking a word to me, please tell me who
you are? You are not in uniform; any pirate
can come to an anchor like your brig, and send a
boat with an English flag, as you ~do--plcase
show me a power to visit me-then, on The spot,
| will show you my papers," He said, II have
it, but it is on board" "Well, 60 and get it,"
"My word is good enough" said that l was
not obliged to believe him; then again he asked
for my papers, "You shall not see them"
''Well, if you don't show me your papers | shall
take you to be a pirate, and from this moment |
take charge of the brig"
My answer was--"As long as that flag is hois-
ted and my papers on board, | shall have com
mand of my own ship; or if you wish TO take
charge of her you must send for more force, OF
order your brig to come along side and fire into
me, until | am killed, holding the ensign hal
lizards in my hands," During the conversation,
| held the log-book in my left hand; then, think
Ing would show my papers quicker, he said to
me" i he reason why you cannot show me the
papers is because you have sold your vessel
was told So" at is not true if my vessel was
sold | would not have the American flag up; I
nor my crew would not be on board now.'
VeXed to find that he could not succeed in any
way, he then said--"Well, | will 20 in the cabin
and make search all over" Immediately | pla-
ccd the American flag before the cabin door,
which was held tight by myself, the mate and
two Of my men; and | observed TO him that he
could not 'Step into the cabin without trampling
on the United States flag" His answer was,
that "it made no difference to him; !" and he in
stantly rushed into the cabin, followed by his
officer and a negro, who trampled the flag under
their feet in presence of my crew. Then said
-"B oys, our flag is insulted; it will cost dear
10 the English nation!" They all came ON deck
and the captain told me TO let him have my log
book. My answer was-"Nover! and as long as
| have a drop of blood in my veins no British
subject would take it away from me-" Then he
observed that he had "the power to obtain it by
force " at the same time he ordered one of his
negroes to take the book from me, who obeyed
the order given him. | stepped back. pushing
the negro, and called TO my mate and crew tc
assist me, and to arm themselves with hand
spikes and knives, and be ready to strike, il
case the British officer gave a new order. A
this the British officer turned pale, and with the
voice Of a coward, said to me--"captain, stoI
your men; | do not wish to see any b!oodshec
or butchery; then nothing took place. He wan
ted TO go into the cabin to make a second search
| observed TO him that "lny papers were on boarC
in my trunk" and showed him the key. lie
said--let me have the key, or | will take it b.
force" My answer was-"Have you forgotten
what took place for the log-book before? d.
you wish TO begin a~gain?" Then he said"
will 90 in the cabin and have your trund broker
open" | gave him no answer. He sent HI
officer and negro to act. | followed them wit
my mate. They broke the trunk and took th,
papers out Of it. | observed TO the officer that
had money in my trunk, a gold watch, &c. H,
made no answer, and we all went on deck. HI
handed the papers to his captain. | then tolt
him "Now, you are satisfied with your chic
r d'Gurre, please to give me my papers, as | wis
10 sail-to-morrow." "No, sir, | will keep then
with me-, and pocket them and go off" | the
said to him--"As long as my papers are taker
away from me, ! shall have to leave my vessel ,
and thereupon me and my crew abandoned heI
leaving every thing on board; trunks, instru
ments, chronometers, &c.
y P. G. DUMAS.
g U. S. CONSULATE, Rio JANEIRo.
a |, the undersigned, Consul of the Unite,
s States, hereby certify the signature of the fore