Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-02-02

"headland to headland," thereby confirming
the Nova Scotia construction. This General
Thomas thoroughly refused. He showed con-
cusiyely that the word "headlandn was not in
the treaty, and therefore the British interpreta-
ton had not the shadow of q foundation. The
decisions in the cases named, established the
fact that our Government correctly understood
the treaty, and that it is essentially "A Govern
ment Of justice, never taking ground which
cannot be sustained. wish as much could be
honestly said Of that of England / may here
say 1880 sterling were awarded to the owners
OF the Caroline Knight, fishing vessel illegally
captured at Prince Edwards Island and con-
demned there in the Vice-Admiralty Court, in
1852.
of the many American vessels boarded and
plundered by British officers on the coast of
Africa during the last fifteen years, the follow
ing most important cases have been acted upon
The Tigress and Seamew belong to the same
owners. In 1910 the former was seized on the
South African coast by her Majesty's ship
| Water Witch and sent to the United States for
trial for violating the laws relative to the slave
| trade. The Seamew was seized by the British
war ship Persian in the same seas and taken
| to ST. Helena, receiving much injury in hull
and cargo while in the hands of the English.
A vast amount of correspondence followed the
presentation of the claims. Lord Aberdeen
acknowledged injury had been done, and Of
fered $4,000 damages, which was refused, the
owners claiming f4,500. Mr.. Bates awarded
f4,9OO, thereby giving about f40O or $4,000
interest on the first demand.
The case of the brig Douglass, vessel un-
justly seized on the coast of Africa, in 1899
exhibited much barbarity on the part Of the
British officers. Award, 5000.
The Cyrus was a romantic case. She was
boarded on the coast of Africa, in 1874, by of.
fcers from several British vessels, to all of
whom the captain gave satisfactory evidence of
the legality Of his voyage. His patience was
tried; but still he bore his many Interruptions
quietly, until an officer from the Alert boarded
his vessel in port. He assured this naval hero
that the others who boarded him were satisfied.
This did not suit however, and the Briton be-
gun search, whereupon the captain of the
Cyrus abandoned his vessel and went to
Frenchman near by. The Englishman refused
to take the ship, and for several days she re-
manned deserted. By some hocus pocus she
got to sea with a new crew and captain, (un-
known to her old commander, but not, there is
good reason to believe, to the British officers
and in short time was captured with full
cargo Of slaves The case was an intricate one,
and as the abandonment took place before the
capture, indemnity was demanded. The de-
csion, however, was adverse. The Volusia,
another African case, was also rejected.
The claims involving questions of law most
difficult to decide, originated in cases of mutt
nous and ship-wrecked slaves. The Enter
prise was the knottiest of all. This vessel
sailed from one of our southern ports, about
1885, with seventy-three slaves. Stress of
weather drove her into Bermuda, where the hui
name colonial authorities liberated the negroes,
thereby setting aside all law relating to ship
wrecked vessels sheltering in foreign port.
Palmerston refused indemnify as usual, on
the ground that no slave can exist on British
soil. General Thomas destroyed this logic,
and although opposed violently by the English
commissioner and agent, established and gained
his point. Mr. Bates awarded $4,000.
The second case, and one of more tragic
character, was that of the Creole. The vessel
sailed from Richmond for New Orleans in
lS4l, leaving Hampton Roads, October q,
with 1876 slaves. These rose on the officers
when few days out, murdered passenger,
and seizing the vessel, carried her into Nassau,
New Providence, where they were received
with delight by the popuace, and set free by
the British Colonial authorities. The case was
argued twice. Once before the Commissioners
and again before the Umpire. Mr.. Bates al
lowed $ll2, 40 damages.
The Hermosa sailed from Richmond for
New Orleans in 1871, with thirty-eight slaves
and an assorted cargo. She was wrecked on
Spanish Key, Bahamas, October 10; boarded
by wreckers, her cargo and slaves carried to
Nassau, and the latter there set free. Mr..
Everett presented the affair to the British
government Sd of May, 1912, and on the 10th
of the same month, Lord Aberdeen fatty re-
fused to indemnify, pleading the old fiction
about the impossibility Of slave living on
British soil. The negroes originally belonged to
a Mr. Templeman, but as he had insured them
in two New Orleans Offices against all the dan
gers Of the seas, including seizure by British
authorities, he lost nothing, and the claim be-
longs to the insurers. The award has not been
made, but will not be over ST. 1000. as salvage
will be allowed the wreckers. / may be able
to furnish the decision in nv next