The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-03-27

Our New Orleans Correspondence.
NV ORLEANS, March 10, 1851.
Nropge Co,drd If the authorities Of Trinidad ~
uords the Pdioa-Serch oh Detention of an
american Pessd-H'Story Of The AJau-Ertructs
fran the Log-Book If the Pelican.
Permit me to call your attention to an occurrence
which created little excitement among the in
habtants Of Trinidad lie Cuba. and which ought
justly to call down the Indignation of every Amer-
can citizen. The plain facts stated just as they
occurred; and should you Judge them worthy Of at
tention, please give them place in your widely cir
culated paper. 4 greater insult in my opinion has
never been offered 10 the American flag. and we
leayeit to your judgment to comment upon the facts
and cali the attention, not only Of the public, but
also Of our authorities ut Washington, to this gross
violation of international law-to the national in
suit sufiered-by unjustiiably trampling upon our
dag-making prisoners of American citizens whose
vessel is obliged to enter of the Spanish ports
Of the island Of Cuba in Distress and thus de priv
ing those citizens Of their freedom and the rights
Of hospitality, which rendered to the most
barbarous. The vessel, after being barbarousy
ordered out of the port, without even being per-
mitted to overhaul her bottom after having been
Il
Spanish man-of-war schooner called the Habanera,
on the high seas and conveyed under her guns TO a
roadstead in the Isle Of Pines mot port Of entry)
having previously examined her papers. In this
roadstead she was detained until the following
morning, when the commander Of the Habancro
finding he could not ju>tifsbly detain our vessel
sent pilot board carry us out to sea- 50 that
we might proceed on our way home, after being in
captivity twenty hours
Capt Irwin j. Miller acted as navigator Of the
Pelican. and not Mr.. Wm. II. Holland, whose
fact should be mentioned. The enclosed l. a copy
Of the iog-book, extract of which has been
sent To the Secretary IT state, after having been
duly sworn to before of our magistrates
Judge Winters. Justice Of the Peace for the
second municipality Of New Orleans. Should
this thing be overlooked. government would be
permitting the rights OF her citizens 10 be tram
PEELED upon, aud conseutng to the right Of search:
for the act Of the lieutenant of going down into the
cabin, without asking permission, or speaking
one word, and then visiting the hold, after having
examined the papers. proves the search an insult.
Moreover, what right had the Spanish authorities
OF Trinidad to take American citizens from under
their flag. and examine them before a tribunal,
without having committed any ohencc-without
having ever landed 90 their shores, and without be-
ing accused Of any crime or nisdemeanor This i
another insult. The spanish authorities Of Trini-
dad were certainly playing the second act OF the
tragedy, OF farce, Of the Contoy prisoners.
When our vessel struck on the reef, she lost her
false keel, and badly injured her bottom. Common
humanity should have taught the Spniards that
we could not 20 10 la distress. We requested
the authorities To permit us to hcaye her down on
the beach, where there was no possible means Of
having communication with any body, and even TO
place guard ~ soldiers over rs whilst We did 80 !;
but they inhumany refused the request aud sent
Fix souls to sen, in small boat, Ia a state Of dis
tre.s, and during the heavy norihers Of the winter
season. + thi- humanity Would "A Spanish ycs-
L al he tod in lac f.I &f.faz
The following are extracts from the log book
kept by Irwin j. Miller. navigator ~ the schooner
Pelican, on her trip from New Orleans 20 Kingston,
/ Jamaica. az given by Captain Mer:-
january ~, lsjl.-Light airs aud calms. A. 2
Y. NJ, light breexes from the North. At 8, mad,
Trinidad bearing north, distance 2 mcs; ran
down for The reef; hove 70 and hostcd signal for
pilot. Az i. NJ. finding that none came OIL con-
cluded 10 rtp il ourselves. Found - channel over
the reef Of ~ feet water IA T. spoke u small b.lt
that informed "a Of the channel. and we ran in.
Al g. TO anchor in the port; received the yls,
~ the boat Of the captain 81 the port who made a
few inquiries and then left, after having told him
that Ne entered In distress" being Ia want OF
wood. water. aud provisions.
"3Oth.-Calm. Washed decks down and cleaned
vessel up. About III A. NJ, received tho visit
from the custom house boats, we judged from
the letters IL ~ the centre of it, national colors
The officers examined the papers, aud then cam) on
board and examined the vessel. They theu ex-
acted a written manifest ~ the captain. which was
given them. stating that we cleared ia New Or
leans foe Kingston, Jrmaica. entered ~ distress ~
this port ~ ballast. without provisions, and CON
signed q the American Consul, We knew nobody.
At five i. NJ, the Consul came %, and informed us
that we we're in quarantine. lie then went on
shore and scnt provisions for the following day.
At ten i. NJ, officer Of the government, accom-.
panied by several men, came on board, (aftcr
having been hailed bv the boat stationed astcrn
Of " since our entry, 20 keep from any commu.
nication) The officer stated that he came to take
away our rudder, by order of the government,
which he did, by unshipping i himself with his
own men. and putting i into his boat and carry
ing i on shore, leaving Us 70 the mercy Of heavy
\ nOrthcr. which had sprung up during the day.
1 One Of the passengers told the captain that he
\ ought to protest against such an outrage, which
he then did, IN due form to which the officer an
| swercd, that the American Consul was informed
| II the act, and bc (hc oficcr) acting under
| superior ordcrs-'hat the rudder would be found
" the morning, in the Office Of the captain Of the
port"
"3lst The schooner Pelican .till living in the por.
Of Trinidad, With strong galcs from the north, cs-
posed IN an unsafe roadstcad 10 the inclcmency of
bosterous weather after the outrageous insult and
indignity offered - the American hag by lepriving
us (stealthily and under cover Of the darkness OF
/ the nght,) II our rudler, unjustfably dcpriying
\ American citizens Of their liberty. who bad com
Inittcd offence against the laws Of the country,
keeping prisoners under the surveillance Of =
\ police appointed expressly for the purpose and
trampling upon the sacred rights Of hospitality At
l eight A. NJ. boat came along side aud brought
some ife~n pr0tlsioIe anu NattIs sent bv the ktn1
attentions ~ the Consul Who - worthily represent
our nation IN this port, aud who humanity took
into consideration our destitute condition, and thu.
| provided for our immediate wants and temporary
/ necessities. AZ nine O'Clock the government boat
came along sidc with officer, With ori,rs 70 con-
Wy the captain, mate, ard one seaman, on shore,
which he did, in the same boat, who, whoa landed,
we're conducted prisoners before Q tribunal sp-
\ pointed expressly r. examine thcm-this inyeyti-
Cation being strictly private each individual bong
iuteuogatsd scpantely. At eleycn o'clock, III,
navigator, who acted as mate, came On board f,r