The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-14

Outrage ON Americans In the FALKLAND
Islands.
The following extracts from private letter viii be
read with interest -
STANLEY HARBoR,
FALKLAND ISLANDS, March II, 1864 J
Ny DEAR SiR-In accordance with my promise to write
to you shoud before this have forwarded you eps
tie but since leaving Boston, nothing Of interest oc-
CURED to vary the usual monotony Of cruise until about
the 18th Of February ult when despatch received
by the Commodore, then lying at Montevideo from
commercial agent at these islands stating that the cap
tain Of whaer lying at New Island the westernmost Of
the group had been charged by deserters from his
ship with killing wild hogs and that the Governor had
ordered brig to proceed to the island and
capture the ship.
This information induced the Commodore to send this
ship (the Germantown down to inquire into the facts
"a proceeding the more necessary American ship
of war had visited the group for twenty years
Express had sailed for New Island to capture the ship
On the Sd the American schooner Washington tender
TO the whaer, came in in charge Of an English Heute
nant and six men, and boarded and brought
to anchor under gunsthe lieutenant, TO avoid the
dsagreeable necessity Of saying that he surrendered
falsely stating that he was not in charge but merely
put on board 10 the vessel ina despicable equvo
cation On the afternoon Of the day. the brig ar
rived, having in company the whale ship Hudson Cap
lieutenant The ship not being able to enter the inner
harbor, anchored outside, and discovering the
u
nearest beach, leaving board only constable having
warrant for the arrest Of Captain Cliff We sent
board, restored the captain to his command, and
learned the facts of the case.
Nearly year since Captain Cliff killed some wild hogs
uninhabted island, which hogs had been placed
there by himself and others whaling in that neighbor
hood that they might breed. Several months subsequent
to this the and Council passed act imposing
should kill any cattle upon any part Of these islands;
act which could not extend to these hogs frat because
they did not belong to the Falkland Island COMPANY for
it was e1poa .faeto. The desertion OF boats
brought the knowledge of the killing to the eoyernor
and writ issued the oath Of these deserters for
the arrest Of Captain Cliff
Armed with this, and accompanied by constable to
serve the writ the Express sailed for New Island where
the Hudson lying moored, with sails unbent and
seized not the captain for whom they had warrant but
the ship and schooner made prisoners of the crews and
took possession OF the ships papers Captain Cliff offered
to proceed to Stanley in the schooner in the Of
and enreated the commander Of the Express not to
break up his voyage removing the ship pre-
sent anchorage deaf to all representations he
merely stated that his orders to bring the ship and
schooner and ordered the mate of the ship, Mr. Leeds
threat Of putting him irons If he refused, most afro
cious violation Of personal liberty, for which Captain
Boys and other officers Of her Britannia Maestys brig
Express deserve to be branded as pirates
Fully determined not to interfere in any way with the
judicial authority Captain Cliff appeared before the
gisrate and 6ned eight hundred and eighty pounds
sterling upon the charge of killing twenty-five hogs in
August last No evidence offered by the prosecution
other than the dispositions Of the deserers before
The captain offered to prove by his log that at the time
named he the coast of Patagonia but this petty
despot Mr.. Montag, refused to hear the defendant
either by himself counsel thus committing under the
color Of the law direct robbery and affording
opportunity Of seeing specimen Of English justice The
fine subsequently reduced to twenty pounds
1t appears very clearly that this outrage has been
caused solely by their Jealousy Of having complete
possession of the whole fishery on these islands
able to cope with our hardy seamen they endeavor by
petty exactions rumped up charges fines and mprison
ments, to drive OF wha1ers In this they went
out full of exultation to capture the damned Yankee
They return to find American of in port, and
cap in hand deny any intention Of violating rights
This Is not an isolated case-t occurs frequeny thu
10 excited but the submits to the indigny AND
loss rather than lose time and money, waiting in the
antichambers of the authorities for satisfaction daily
promised, but never given.
All the papers in the will be forwarded to the
government that may demand satisfaction for the in
dignity to flag and compensation for breaking up
ships voyage f.