Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1852-11-04
ARRIVAL OF THE
CRESCENT CITY
T z o Hawai- a.
EEer ~Ese Se,

Orleans, via Havana, in A days and Is
hours from The latter port.
The following account of her reception
and treatment while in port, communicat.
ed by one of the officers of the ship, will
be read with much interest:
The Crescent City entered the harbo,
of Havana al break Of day, aud it was
supposed, by those on board, tina, it was
owing to our not being seen until we were
well inside, that we were not molested.
Al sunrise the captain of The port came
alongside and asked for Mr.. Smith, who,
he was told, was stll on board. lie
then Informed Captain Porter that, as the
ship was in port, no steps would be tax.
en- 10 expeI him, but THAI no communica-
lion would be allowed with the shore,
nor could any person from the shore be
allowed to come on board. Capt. Porter
replied that he desired TO present his pro-
lest to the American consul, on which the
captain of The port politely offered to get
further orders from the Captain General.
In the meantime he informed Capt. Por-
ter that The ship might lie in port as long
as It suited his purpose, or he might 60
10 sea when he pleased, as he acknowl-
edged no control over her, but she should
not communicate with the shore in any
manner
Such was the captain Generals order,
and guard boats were placed around the
ship, filled with the usual police for
boarding foreign vessels. They could
not relish the day, as the boats had no
awnings ana the suns rays were very
powerful. When the gong was sound.
ed for breakfast, the Spanish officers were
politely invited on board.
Alter breakfast, Capt. Porter ordered
The paiu! pots 10 be brought up and the
men were set to work to paint the ship
outside. From this il seemed to be in.
ferred that Capt. Porter intended 10 make
"A pro,racsed stay, for The police boats
were relieved, and two boats with SINH
lar crews were detailed from a friga,e to
keep guard.
Al o'clock, the captain Of the part
returned, aud informed Capt. Porter that
ne would not be permitted to lay his pro.
test before the American consul. capt.
Porter asked of what use a consul was, if
American vessels in difficulty were not
permitted 20 communicate with him, and
urged thai b. all civilized nations a con.
sui was reg ,rGed as The representative of
his country; and the law Of cations entill-
ed citizens to have access to him. The
captain OF the port declined entering into
ii discussion Of the matter, and said that
he was exercising no authority of his
own, but was acting entirely under or
ders. The interview terminated, and the
engineer vas ordered TO pu. on the steam,
Capt. Porter intending TO drop a copy Of
his protest on board al American barque
and a brig lying in the lower harbor.-
As the Crescent City was about moving,
however, word came that NJ. Morales,
(of the house of Drake Il Co, and The a
gent OF the Company had permission 10
come alongside, which he did in a few
minutes, in a sh%ore-boat, accompanied
by a Government boat, 10 which were 3
officers.
Mr.. Morales suggested that the Diff
Guilty could be go, over by Mr.. Purser
Smith sending TO the GOVERNOR General
a written DENIAL of his authorship of the
publications complained of. Capt. Por.
ter refused to perniit Mr.. Smith to do
this, as he had himself twice disavowed
il, which disavowals had not been receiv-
ed; nor would he permit any c~orrespon-
dence with the authorities by any officer
on board the Crescent City. He said
Mat he considered 1t beneath the dignity
of the Company to make further expla.
nations.
Capt. Porter also refused, on bis part.
to hold correspondence with any one or
thls subject, except through the United
States Consul. Inquiries were then
made of Capt. Porter respecting the ma
ture OF the communication he wished TO
send 10 the consul, especially whether il
contained a dIsavowal of the charges a.
gainst Mr.. Smith. Capt. Porter replied
that i, was a protest, and that it did refer
TO the two former disavowals of those
charges made by him; adding that. the
protest itself was written in plain terms.
The object seemed TO be TO draw out an
apology on the part of Mr.. Smith, which
would lead 10 q settlement of the diff ul-
~. a# sE sF. -ta
In this however they failed, and the
Spanish officers, after some discussion
among themselves, offered to 90 on shore
and see if it was not possible to ge! the
protest delivered to the consul. This
they thought could be done if il was first
ascertained that the document contained
nothing offensive to the Spanish Govern
ment. Capt. Porter denied them infor-
nation on this point, but they went on
shore, accompanied by Mr.. Morales,a n
after a short lime Mr. Moreland, acting
consul, came alongside in a Government
boat, accompanied by the captain of the
port, Don Guillermo Chacon. The con.
sui was not, however, permitted to cone
on board or 10 send letters by the Ores
cent City. Capt. Porter personally de-
hvered his protest TO him. and being in
formed by Mr.. Moreland that nothing
more could be done, the Crescent City
put to sea. As she passed the custom
house, a great crowd was assembled 10
see her departure, but there was no ex-