Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-06-12

AGGRESSION ON THE HIGH SEAs-FUNNV
INCIDENT, AND YANKEE PLuCK.-We learn
hat the schooner Catharine, Capt. Scott, ar
rived yesterday from St. Jago de Cuba. met
with strange incident on her voyage hther.
1t resulted favoraby to the American charac-
ter, and exhibits a small slice Of the same spirit
that wasreceutIy manifested on the Rio Grande.
The particulars Of the affair are as follows:-
On the morning of sailing from St. Jago,
and within gunshot Of the Moro Castle, the
schooner Catharine was met by the French
war steamer Tonnerre. from St. Domingo,
bound in; she passed at first considerably out
of liailing distance, and not much nearer than
she was to half dozen other vessels which
had come ont in company.
After she had run in about mile and re-
celved pilot, close to the shore, she was OBJ
served to back round and manGuvre some
time, and at intervals fired two guns; she then
stood for the c., came neal, and hailed in the
following words: ''Y on id rascal, hoist
you flag The answer was, that orders given
in such insulting language would notbe obey
ed. Other abusive phrases followed, and
unless it was Immediately done.
The boat, with lieutenant, was twice sent
on board with a message that, unless tie
schooner set her flag, all the force at the steam
er's command would be used to make her do
it; that her commander had the power to send
the schooner to the bottom, and that he would
do it. To all of which the same answer was
returned, the second time in writing, as fol-
| lows
''Fo the commander Of the French war
steamer Tonnerre:
"SIR-Atthe first salutati6n you called me
"a id rascal" Until you apologize for
such insulting language, will not hoist my
flag. Respectfully,
''ANDREW SCOTT,
"Master of schr. Catharne, of New York
"Off the Moro st. Jago de Cuba, 10 May, 1896
About an our was thus passed during which
time the steamer was laid across the schoon-
er's bows, and cumsily got foul, doing herself
some damage; her commander insisting on an
unconditional obedience, and the officers and
crew of the Cathalne upholding their captain
in his decision.
The wind was very lightfrom the eastward
the schooner was kept on her course, going
one or two kots and the crew continued thei
work of washing decks, which they had beer
engaged in. Al last, after some words ofcon
cllla'ion on both sides, the apology was offer
ep and the salutation made.
The language at first used by the captain OF
the steamer was broken English, afterWard;
the conversation with the lieutenant and with
him was in French. After the G. had passed
the Moro, Der flag had been hauled down SC
that the gait topsail might be set, which it in
terferred with.
! This was done about twenty minutes before
} the steamer came up-but no such nor any
! explanation was given, only the entention o
insulting his flag, which her captain charged
was denied. Excepting spanish schooner
nc other vessel in sight had her flag set.
The steamers maneuvres and guns wer,
supposed to be signals of COMMUNICATION
with the shore, and could not be under
: stood as meant for the schooner, and whe,
she came near. it was thought she wanted I,
, put letters on board, or ask for some informa
ton. =
We refer the above to the consideration o
the editors in Canada.