The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-05-29

~ oea6hot Of tho Spanish authsrtiss IN forsit1y -
pdvag him Of throo Of his crew. while his vssd ~
NJ pert Of Sagus la Grande. Partial accounts a -
mAser have already appeared in the journals Of this -
bus IN view OF thu importance Of tho subject and ~
suo purpose Of awakening the attention Of khe
'nc pioseeon OF our vessels In foreign ports gv0
oePsen Wst own statement Of the entire transsotsa,
appears from this that the brig LUCY Watts leS ~
port OF New ork on tho 2ith Of March with orev -
eight hands for sogua Ia Grande IN Cuba shs h.A
been lying there twenty days when 18th Of A,sa
whae the brig taking In her cargo the captais oT
tho port went board with officers and took .So
custody of the crew the plea that he had ooa-
essed himself to be dcserter from Spanish man a.
war. This had shipped in New York under Ne
name Of Andrew Martin, and American citissar
Captain Watts objected to Of his men beinw
taken from him under any ssch pretenoe but he
officer stated he fully authorized In tho course
he was pursuing, and carried OF the sailor with
out giving Captain Watts any further informstos
and without leaving any written statement, explana-
ton or justification OF his conduct On the uhssqusot
day Captain Watts, being shore sccosted by M
same functionary who ordered him to get his boat
to his vessel and bring ashore two others OF the crew.
named John Catharown and Joseph Greer. Watts ~
first refused but afterwards finding 1t useless 10 res,
complied with the demand The captain Of the port 40
his officers proceeded to the brig and took into CUSTODY
these two men, whom with Captain Watts they convey
ed to the town Of sagua la Grande, at twenty miles d
lance. They assigned whatever for this sst
but imprisoned the without bringing them or u
captain before any court Of justice, Offering any js
tifsble grounds for the arrest Those men had slso
shipped in New York American citizens. Captain
Watts complained Of this table treatment to the
American Vice Consul at that port from whom, howeve
he unable to procure any adequate relief He va
threatened If he made any protest, he might hin
self be arrested and sent to Havana Notwithstanding
this threat, however Captain Watts the 3D. Of Mag.
entered formal protest against the unwarantabe inter
ference of the Spanish authorities with his rights
American captain and also wrote to the Secretary Of
State at Washington under date Of 9Th Of May oom-
planning of the treatment to which he had been subject
cd Tho protest. of which subjon copy, was signed
by the captains Of the United States vessels then
lying in tho bay =
CONSULATE UNITED srArEs or AMxascAl'
AT THE PORT OF sAcUA La GRArDE.
Before me- James II. West, acting Vice Consul fer
this port personally came and appeared Captain r. q.
Watts Of American brig Lucy Watts Of Warren. Maine,
tho 2Sh day Of April he being in tho act Of taking In
cargo at this pert there board Of his vessel
Who ons Of his nansa
Martin and furthermore that tho 10Th day Of Tho
same month"; he being on shore at the time, he WAS a.
dered to board his vessel and bring two Otherv q
his ashore and to proceed himself with them -
the town Of sagua Ia Grande which is distant tweny
Grande there charge made against Him
given for such proceedings that he returned board
sent back to him. and several days have now clap ~
and he has been subjected to expense and damage he
hereby protests against whomovor 1t conserns for these
damages or whatever others may ensue, claiming renu
neraion therefore, and stating most soenly that ~
knows right BY the parties who have thus
taken his men from him without his consent that e
his Consul In witness whereof hereby sx my signA-
ture and seal Of office at ssgua la Grands aforesaid Thu
third day Of May, A. D.. 1859 JAMES ii. WEST.
Signed = George A. Mitchell. bark
Thomas Phel.ns, LIST mate. JOS G: Madden, cooper:
Ellen. Albion.
8. Fullerton bark William John Perry, brig kmsline.
Ralph Devereux brig H. John Goycr schooner Maav
The following is copy Of Capt. Watts letter to ~
sAcvA Ia GnAsDn, I,.ArD or Cy.A,l
May 8, 1852 )
To THE Hor THE SECRETARY or STATE WAsrIraror -
Sn-I have to communicate to you the foiiowin
statement Of what has taken in regard to my
and to call your attention to the support Of my right
which have been infringcd upon in this port.
About ten days since my vessel was boarded BY boat
my taken out of her and carried ashore under the
plea that ho was deserer from Spanish man-ofwsr.
by the sseF who're took t ns me ou ".
day before TO proceed board of vessel and take
two Of my men out and go to the town Of sagua VITA
them (Which about twenty miles from the bsy). did
So and on my arrival at the town could get reason
for the act and returned board without my Who
American Consular agent and requested him to cndeavor
to get my men returned as could neither get my vessel
loaded proceed to without them wrote to the
Commsndante and informed him that was detained and
that should be obliged To make protest for damages
The answer he received was that the authority which
took these men out, competent to take the
vessel Of any nation and that had better not any
protest against it, or might myself be taken from ny
vessel put under arrest, and sent to Havana.
take the opportunity of writing by the first vesssa
which leaves this port. making known my situation L
do know whether shall be able to procure other
m gpl nd baya told
the Consular Agent, that my will not be sent ON
board again, and that before proceed to must
pay the expenses Of the and these
men. have made my protest here, and have w.t.
ness es the masters OF many American vessels load
iHg IN TINS port Most respectfully your obt servant.
ROBERT @. WATTS
On the sixth Of May the Vice Consul forwarded to
Captain Watts the following communication
SAGuA LA GRANDE, May O. 1852
CAPT X g. WATTS or Baro Lucy Warts, SAoUA Bar:
SiR-lmmedately on learning that your men had been
taken out your vessel by the OF this mort
addressed letter to that fuDconary, telling him that
you had notified that the act had been done contrary
to your wishes also without any knowledge Of mine and
that you wished them restored you could load
your vessel continue your voyage without them and
stating at the same time, that you protested sgAns
whomever It concerned, and claimed damages for the
In his reply he states to that he took these three
men out OF the vessel account Of i'll treatment thsy
bad received board and that he responsible any
disorders which may take place in the harbor AZ
vessel OF any nation Furthermore he remarks that
one OF the sailors had acknowledged himself deserter
from Spanish man Of war and he you NOS
to make protest Of any kind he may DO obliged to
arrest you, and send you to Havana.
In second letter he requires to procure from you
the chests Of these Mariners and place them his dis
posal and wishes to ship, by whatever other weasel
that may be going to the United States two OF these
men. understand. verbally, that tho remaining man
Is to be Havana though there has been no exa
mnstion dispositions taken ascertain the truth az
his statement ms to his being deserter from the Spani
nag have done what lay In my power in support of
your wishes particularly consider that your rights
have been infriDged on Still am powerless to do
for you than to certify to your protest and the
facts known to the Consul OF this district In
time must eDdcavor to procure from Of
the other vessels in the harbor You will undoubtedly
have before you allowed TO proceed to eK-
penses TO pay on account OF these men. Very truly
yours JAMES ii. WEST, Acting Vice Consul.
Captain Watts was through these means detained In
Sogua Ia Grsnde for five days being unable to
hands for the voyage to load his vessel On the tenth
Of May he filed his claim at the s. Consulate, for the
sum OF $40 which he had been put to in
nue OF of fhe nj fhOritiea