The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-08-16
LAouAYRA, 10Th July, 1873.

regret exceedingly that should now have
it in my power to relate to you the circum-
stances and facts, regarding open violation OF
the treaty between the United States and the Re-
public OF Venezuela, by the authorities OF this
place, in reference to a seaman, duly and legally
shipped on board the American schooner Martha
Elizabeth, Captain Gatchell, of Baltimore; and
who, upon arriving at this port, deserted from
said vessel, and received protection from said
hortes, in contravention to the 32d article of the
treaty AS this case has been most grossly mis-
represented, and in order to counterfeit any false
reports which may be published by evil intention
ed persons, who are continually on the alert, and
ever ready to misrepresent the clearest case,
have been permitted to exa rine the documents
bearing upon a subject of such transcendent i'm
portance, and make the extracts judged necessa-
ny for the purposes designated
Soon after the American schooner, Martha
Elizabeth, Captain Gatchell of Baltimore, arrived
and anchored at this place. a seaman, belonging
to said vessel deserted from her. and at the in
stance of John p. Adams, Esq, Consulate Of the
United States, was apprehended by the Mayor
and imprisoned. On the 81 instant Mr.. Adams
addressed note to the Mayor, requesting that the
seaman should be sent on board OF the Martha
Elizabeth, of which the following is a copy
CONSULATE THE UNITED STATES.
LAouAvRA, July I'd, 1916
To the Hon. EsrEBAN EscoBAR, Mayor of Lagusyrs,-
SIR-I have the honor tc inform you that Mico one
of the of the American schooner Martha Elizabeth
who sent to prison yesterday by tho orders of your
Honor 10 a citizen Of the United States of America and
shipped Baltimore on board the said vessel to perform
voyage to this port one or more other ports on this
MAN, and back to Baltimore. Az the complaints made
ns S o.
be sent with proper guard on board the said schoon
aiy' ta. hsaSG to 81 s
To the foregoing, Mr.. Escobar, the mayor, adj
dresses the following official note to Mr. Adams,
". S. Consu:-
LA GuAvRA, Sd July, 1876.
In consequence of your communication of this date,
have to observe-that the seaman B Chico. of whom
you refer your official letter of this day. prepared to
the day and hour that you shall designate for which
purpose enclose herewith the necessary order to the
'A' (signeO EsTEBAN EscoBAR.
The succeeding day, on the 4th instant much
to his surprise, Mr. Adams receives from the
Mayor another communication, enclosing repre-
sentaton of the deserted seaman, B. Mico, to the
said Mayor, praying the protection of the autho-
rites, and complaining of bad treatment received
at the hands of Captain Gatchell during the
voyage from Baltimore; likewise affecting severe
illness, which would prevent him from discharg-
ing his duty on board, and alleging other motives,
that proved to be equally false and ridiculous.
Mr.. Escobar to Mr.. .adans.
LA GUAYRA. July a, 1916.
Accompanying this you have original representa-
ton directed to by B. L. Chico the contents of which
views respecting it, return the said representation
Your obedient servant, &c,
(Signed EsTEBAN EsCOBAR.
! Mr.. ADAMS TO SENIOR EscoBAR
CONSULATE THE UNITED SrArEs,)
La GuAvRA, July 4th, 1886.
| To the Hon. EsrEBAN EscoBAR, Mayor of La Guayra.
srR-Ih have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of
your note OF this date, enclosing written representa-
ton addressed to your honor with the gnaure of Bar
olo Meus Chico attached both of which have had my
serious attention find the material satemen made in
the latter to be entirely void of truth have examined
the whole Of the ships company Of the American ,choo-
Mico, seaman belonging to said schooner has
received the slightest msltreatment from the commsn.
der, any other person while board said vessel
Captain Gacbe of the said schooner declared that the
said Mico has complained to him his
OF being ILL that the said seaman is should be sick,
he has board proper medicine chest and 10 pre-
pared at all times to administer to him such medicines
This seaman shipped and contracted at Baltimore to
perform voyage on board the Martha Elizabeth. from
that port one or more ports on this MAN, and back to
The importance of maintaining proper discipline on
board the merchant vessels of the United States and
the rights OF one of the contracting parties makes
duty again to request. as now most respectfully do,
that honor will order the said Mico be sent
with proper guard on board of the vessel to which he
belongs. will boat to be in readiness the
wharf to receive said seaman at hour your honor
Ihave the honor. &c.
(signed JOHN P. ADAMS, U. s. Consul
The Mayor, on receiving the preceding official
letter of Mr.. Adams, and continuing to mani
fest a strong Discrimination to deliver The seaman
on DOaru Oh inc marina EllZaOetn, addressed 10
Mr.. Adams another official note, dated Ali inst,
enclosing certificate of the port phi stefan, rela-
tive to the infirmities OF the seaman aforesaid,
and concludes his communication by deciding
that the man was not in sui able state to be
barked DR.. Sierra, the port physician, certified
that the sailor was slightly affected with dis
ease, which 1t is not necessary TO mention, nei-
ther do consider full copies of all the cores
/ pondence necessary in order to elucdate clearly
the affair, and l shall consequently only give
brief extracts therefrom. In answer to the Off
cial letter of Senior Escobar, above referred 10,
Mr.. Adams states -
T" have the honor to enclose her ewh for your no.
nors perusa Doctor Baillies certificate respect to
the condition of the said seaman, which certificate
1.-THE extent Of the illness that in the opinion of DR..
Sierra this seaman is laboring under does not by any
discharge from the vessel to which he belongs neces-
sary In the firm conviction that proper treatment has
that his sickness may require be given to him, have
the honor to repeat the request made in my previous
note OF this date, &c Sc"
The Mayor, and the port captain Senior Guiti-
errer belng, as will appear, determined to oppose
and thwart the United States Consul in his en-
beavers to procure the said seaman to be placed
on board ofthe Martha Elizabeth, Sr. Escobar add
dresses note to MI. Adams, dated 4th inst and en-
closes an exposition drawn up by the port captain
containing the declarations of several boatmen
gardrng the treatment received by said seamen
from Captain Gatchel, in their presence on board
of the Martha Elizabeth, on the Both ult Upon
the 9th inst. follows another official note from
Senior Escobar to Mr.. Adams, stating that mas.
! much as there appeared to be contradiction be-
tween the certificates of Doctors Sierra and Bail
lies (the latter having declared that the seaman
was perfectly able to proceed on board and dis
charge his usual duties,) he had thought cenve-
nient to appoint another physician to examine the
condition Of the seaman Mr. Adams hereupon
acknowledges the receipt of Mr.. Escobars note
of the 9th inst, under the same date. To wit =
Consulate OF THE UNITED SrArEs}
LAeuAyRA, July 9Th, 1876. (
To the Hon EsTEBAS EscoBAL, Mayor of Laguay ra =
SIR-l have the honor to acknowledge the recent
on the evening OF the 4h Of your third of that
date enclosing an instrument Of writing signed by Senior
j. Guterrer also your dispatch Of this date and Ihsye
70 inform your honor, that any complaints the seamen
belonging to American vessels have to make of bad
treatment while on board Of said vessels comes only
within me jurisdiction OF this consulate. deny the
right of the authorities of nace