Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-06-01
Outrageous Firing into an American
 Vessel.

staple.
 Outrageous Firing into an American
 Vessel.
 We have read with surprise and indignation an account in the New York papers of the British cruizer of war Styx, firing into the American schooner Mobile, Capt. Howe, recent y, when off Key West. If this affair is as rep- resented by the captain of the Mobile, the act was nothing more nor less than ieh-handed outrage, and one for which her Maiesty's gov- ernment should be held to strict accountability. The American captain states that he was un- tremendously fired into, contrary to all rule or law as existing between natons-that he had | committed no Offense whatever, and violated none of the courteses acknowledged among sailors upon the high seas The. commander of the Styx. did not, as he should have done. notify the Mobile to lay to, by firing across her bows; on the contrary, his first salute was discharge of Mimic rifles, several of the balls from which passing so near to persons on board the American schooner as to be heard whistling m the air close by their ears; and further, that the commander of the English crtlizer boarded the Mobile, making extraordinary demands, and acting ln an impertinent, coarse, ungentlemanly manner-following Capt. Howe, even into the | were presumed to be en dishabile.
 The account, however, of this affair, is so concisely and apparently so truthfuly given by Capt. Howe, on his arrival day before vester- day. in New York, that we give it entire as fol- | lows:
 On the 29th ult., I was about twenty five or thirty miles south of Sand Key Light; there was a good strong breeze from E. N. E. and choppng sea; my schooner was under double reefed mainsail, whole foresal and three iibs: it was perfectly clear; 1 judged of my situation from the fact that I sighted Sand Key Light, about three hours after falling in with the steamer; the vessel was on the starboard tack and heading to the northward. 1 first saw the steamer about noon, long way to windward, but could not make out what she was; at one o'clock F. M, took my glass and discovered she was steamer, and was apparently running across my bows; told the mate 1t might be an American naval steamer from some port in Cuba, bound to Key West. Having taken my oloser- vation and got dinner, went below and turned Ill, thinking no more about it.
 Between three and four o'clock F. NJ, my oldest daughter came and walked me up, Capt Howe had his wife and two children with him, ) she asking what is the vessel doing? got up and looked out of my cabin window, Ghe cabin is on deck,) and saw the vessel was running down to me, as if to cross my stern. My i'm prcsSinn was that she intended to speak to me- and l went out on deck to answer the hail in case she did so. 1 ordered the mate at the same time to set the ensign. The mate said :" l believe she is an English steamer He had been looking at her with his glass. The steamer, which was rigged as bark, rounded to within musket-shot of my weather-Quarter, when 1 Icn,, l., had l, D,;.;.l A..;,0 | then within hailing distance. The schooners course was not changed. At that moment heard two reports, as of musket, in quick suc- cession, and instantly ball came whizzing be- tween two men who were at work on the rig ging 1 then ordered the mate to haul the fore stay sail sheets to windward; the wheel was put down. and the schooner was hove to. After this had been done, two other shots were fired -one ball struck the vessel abaft the fore chains and the other passed over the main deck amid ships.
 The second mate and two men were at work on the nmper-stay sitting on bales of cotton -ships-they said they felt the wind of the ball as it passed over their heads also heard the whizzing of the ball as 1t passed. stood with my glass in hand observing the movements on board the steamer the same time and saw them clearing away the boat as if to board mo. It is the universal custom at sea- if an armed vessel wishes to board another to fire one gun, and if it is not needed, to fire a second, and a last resort, to fire shot across the vessels fore-foot 1 was at loss to con- lecture what the steamers treatment of me could mean. The proceeding suggested to my mind that she might be pirate. My family heard the firing, and saw what was passing, Id were very much alarmed. The boat with six men and lieutepant came along side, and without saying word the officer came on deck, and addressing no one in particular, ask ed:
 C. Where is the vessel from?
 l answered, from Mobile.
 c. Where is she bound?
 A. New York
 o. Where !s she owned?
 A. She is owned in New York. I then thought it was my turn, and said:
 C. Why did you fire into us? Did you take | Us for shaver?
 A. No. Didn't you see man o'war to the windward?
 A. How should know you were man O. war?
 Offcer-Didn't you see our pennant?
 Captain-I didn't see it, and besides, we very often see American and Spanish men owar with their colors flying, but they never interfere with me. have been going up and down the Gulf for twenty years, and this is the first time was ever interfered with. The officer, with head erect aud with hauty manner, deigned no reply, but asked what is the number of your crew? l answered, ten men; and 1 also have one passenger, my wife aqd two children.
 Otfcer-l want to see your papers
 went into the cabin followed by the Lieu tenant, and taking out my enrolment and license, handed them to him. keeping my mani fest in my hand.
 Officer w here is your register? You ought to have register.
 l answered, our coasting vessels do not have registers; they sail under a coasting license- then handed him my manifest, saying, here is my clearance from Mobile, in regular form. He examined it, and laid it on the table. then asked, have you got through? If you have, wish to proceed. It is very strange you should commence boarding vessels in this way
 Oflicer-We have orders from our govern ment to board every vessel we fall in with in passing up or down the Gulf
 The officer then got into his boat and went on board his steamer, and l filled away and made sail on my voyage The steamer con- tnued hove to. I noticed two or three foreign looking vessels passing, which he paid no at, 1 tention to.
 The whole proceeding was unusual, uncaled for, ungentlemanly, unofficer-Hke, and, on the whole, an unmitigated outrage
 No one reading the above account, can en- certain other than the deepest feelings of indig- nity. If it is true, the British governn ent will be called upon to make ust reparation, and dis miss from position man who has not only dis graced hlmself but cast stigma upon the Bri- tsh naval service. Our government, it $ hoped will strictly investigate this matter, and demand a prompt explanation.
 Whilst we record this outrage it gives us pleasure to credit the praise worthy fact that the British screw steamer Saladin, with sixty one of the officers and crew of the American frigate Susquehanna, who had been sufferers from yellow fever, arrived at New York yes- terday, landing them in safety. These poor fellows had undergone untold hardships, and for the act of kindness here recorded we cheer. fully bestow all priase. However palliating so