Pointe Coupee Democrat. [volume] (False River [i.e. New Roads], Parish of Pointe Coupee [La.]) 1858-1862, 1858-05-29

OUTRAGE BY THE BRITISH STEAMER
STYY

OUTRAGE BY THE BRITISH STEAMER
STYX
LIE AMERICAN SCHOONER MOBILE FIRED
INTO, BOARDED AND SEARcHED--NARRow
ESCAPE soF THE OFFICERS AND CREW
fRoA RIFLE BULLETS.
; captain Howe, Of the schooner Mobile,
winch arrived on Tuesday, complains
thae his vessel and himself were made
| the subject Of a serious outrage on thu.
part of a British war vessel, while on
his voyage hither from Mobile, and while
passing Key West. Captain Howe has
furnished our reporter the following
statement of the circumstances
"On the Goth ultimo, I was about 25
or 80 miles south of Sand Key Light !;
there was good strong breeze from E.
N. H., and chopping sea my schooner
was under a double reefed mainsail
whole foresail, and three jibs; it was
perfectly clear judged from my situa-
ton 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; I first saw the steamer
about noon, a long way to windward,
but could not make out what she was
at o'clock, NJ, took my glass and
discovered she was a steamer and was
apparently running across my bows |
told the mate it might be an American
Naval steamer from some port in Cuba,
bound to Key West. Having taken nv
observation and got dinner, I went be-
low and turned in, thinking no more
about it.
Between 8 and 4 o'clock P. NJ, nv old
est daughter came and walked me iCapt,
Howe had his wife and two children
with him, she asking what is the ves-
sci doing? | got up and looked out of
my window, (the cabin is on deck,) and
saw the vessel was running down to me-
az if to cross my stern. Ny impression
was that she intended to speak to me, I
and | went on deck to answer the hail /
in case she did so. l ordered the mate
at the same time to set the ensign. The
mate said Il believe she is an English
steamer" BE had been looking at her
with his glass. The steamer, which
was rugged as a bark, rounded to within
musket shot ofmy weather-quarter, when
I saw he had the British ensign flying.
He was then within hailing distance.
The schooner's course was not CHANGED
At that moment I heard two reports, as
Of Eusket, in quick succession, and
ball came whizzing between I
two men who were at work in the rig {
ging. then ordered the mate to haul +,
the forestay-sail sheets to windwark; the t
wheel put down, and the schooner was {
hove to. after this had been done, too more Q
shots acere fired, one ball struck the vessel
abaft the fore chains, and the other pass h
ed over the main deck amid-ships. The S
second mate and two men Were at work e
N the jumper stay, sitting on bales of s
cotton amid-ships-they said they felt o
he wind of the ball as it passed I
,ver their heads. [ also heard the wIriz- e
ing of the ball as it passed. stood Il
With my glass in hand, observing the Il
movements on board the steamer all the 81
ime, and saw them clearing away the 81
,oat as if to board me. It is the univer- r;
al custom at sea, if an armed vessel
yishes to board another, to fire one gun.
nd if it is not needed, to fire second n
nd as last resort to fire shot across tt
he vessels fore foot. I was at loss ia
0 conjecture what the steamers treat to
lent Of me could mean. The proceed m
ags suggested to my mind that she in
,;pht be pirate. NY family heard the or
ring. and saw what was passing, and G:
rere very much alarmed. Ny little ju
irl, who is only five years old, wanted th
, come on deck, but her mother would 81,
OF let her, She said, Mother, if was pr
1ther. I'd get one of Mr. Hopkins, awful of
uns and kill en-" Mr.. Hopkins, my pu
ate kept two loaded guns on board. to
confessI T felt mad at the conduct Of AT
,e steamer. The boat with six men ou
nd a Lieutenant came alongside, and dr
ithout saying a word, the officer came Iof
4 deck, and addressing no one in par on
cnlar asked: alb
O-Where is this vessel from? tn:
I answered from Mobile. ~re pa
O-Where is she bound aly
Anew York cat
il she owned
A-She is owned in New York. /
en thought it was my turn, and said tor
did you fire into US? Did len
n take us for aslaver? prt
Q-No didn't you see a man-o'war a +
windward Me
A-How should I know you was it T
an-o'war?
Oficer-Didn't you see our pennant
Captain i did see il, and, besides, We at
~ often see American and Spanist, hv
en-owar with their colors flying, but hin
ey never interfere with me. I have mo
on nnInr nm and down the GnIf FIR --~