Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-07-30
THE CLAIMS on PORTUGAL.

The last accounts from Europe represented things to Be
about TO come 10 crisis in the determination evinccd BY
our government insi, upon the payment by foTsal o
claims which citizens have ON that government e"-
graphic despatch from Washington published IN Ne" oS'
aivcs rlmor that dispatches have been Ttceed rom "''
Cay our minister Portugal, informing our government
that The claims have been paid.
The claims had their origin s the facts are coia'ta
bv the Baltimore Patriotic in The war WAN Ensmnd IN
1919 and is founded the seizure al the American rIa-
,eer General Armstrong in The port o ta!" hs hflsh
force on the 10Th of September ali. Inc 'ener" Arm,
strong was commanded rs Capt Samuel Reid and carried
.yn INNS anl was manned bv 90 Thu General Arn-
strong had entered Fayal neutral port ana a"croitt-
Shortly afterwards three British neroi-war, one seventy
four entered The harbo ana anchored within H. idn' h:,
J5tn of his safety brought his vessel under c guns o TN
Tor. wichhad small garrison. boat rom The bs afha"h
ono of the British squadron approached the '"cw
cd some distance others. Capt Red aPpeltniin4 an
tack warned the boat keep OIL but this %arnln- not b'ns
Needed frt ensucd After this was over thc r"von"F
of Faya sent emonstrance 70 me -n nr e"'''', ~ Nv :,
arlns this violation of neutral port The answer l. sas
10 have heen that he determined To destroy the ,esSc
n tbs cxpen Sc all Fayal and should any protection 'e
given her by the port he would not leave h"sc stin1in.
in Tho VILLAGE All the inhabitants gathered about the
walls expecting renewal of the attack " midnight ionr-
teen launches discovered to be coming IN rotation 'f
the purpose When they rot within Close gnn3h" tf"-
mendous and eiccua discharge was maze rom the hfi'-
eer which thew the boats into confusion They now re-
turned spirited rc5ut the prvacer Kept up 50 con
punI discharge il was almost inpossibc ior ue b'a1
Ia make any progress. They finally Succeeded alter lIesc
loss to get alongside of her. and attempted 10 board at every
quarter cheeed by heoccrs, with snnt "i mo quarters
Ihe ut terminated i'm near about total massacre three ri
the boats were SUNK and but one poor solitary "iccf esca
p.d DEATH in boat that contained ity souls III was woh
d,l The Americans fought with great frnncss Some o
hc boats were left without single Hian to row lei otcI-
with three on the most that any one G"ie, WIN was
about hoats oatcd on shore ih OF arad ai
This bloody and unfortunate contest lasted ancI AZ nun
u,cs After the boats gave out, nothing mere was attcn-
ted till daylight next morning. when the Iarna,i'h hahe'
alongside and engaged her The pyaeer sun continued
To make gallant defence, but Ii was IN VAN ma 'y
we're obliged abandon the contest They therefore cu
away her masts 10 the deck blew hole through her bot
tom took out their small arms clothing &c. and went on
shore.
letter, written by an Engishman who was an eye-wit-
ness of the scene, says:
sTwo boats crews were afterwards despatched from our
vessels which board, took out some provisions, ana
sci her fire.
"For three tays after we were employed in bnyina the
dead that washed on shore in the surf The number o Br
,sb killed exceeds 10 and 80 wounded. The enemy 10 the
surpse of mankind lest only Killed and seven wound
20. We NAV we'll say God deliver Us i;on on. enemies
If this is the way the Americans fight"
The American Consul then made demand on the Por
gucsc government the loss Of the rr:aicer, on that
lw of nations which declares that neutral nation Is bonnt
IN protect the shins of nations peace with il while they
| are in its ports.
The claim has been repeatedly called the attention
the Portuguese government but for one reason or oc
pnstponed or avoided till now when has been made in
| manner 10 demand decision.
In 1915 public dinner given b. the citizens Of Rich
nond to the gallant Captain Reid We doubt not that Tho
claim Just oncbut do question the pr"nre'y oI thu
late administration taking such pcrempory step, wh;!
may lead TO reprisas and with Portugal, without con
sung Congress. 1t is said that Great Britain has made
similar demand Portugal behalf of her subjects Por
| ruga will find herself in tight place.