New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-06-02
THE OUTRAGES BY THE BRITISH
CASE OF THE SHIP JOHN AND ALBERT
F,om The " O Pnayu.t Of May IS


Fyom The " O. PidyB.s Of May IS
Capt. Crowell of the ship John and Albert, which
arrived here this morning, reports that on the '1
inst, when between Florida and Cuba, his vesses,
with the American flag flying, was hred inso hve
times by British war steamer. The snot, he a.
leges, passed quite close to tae vessel, snd over
her and she was compelled TO heave-to, without
having time TO take in the canvas OF tue emp 80 a.
save her spars although i. was blowing very heavily
at the time, and she had everything set before inc
wind The last shot was fired after che he'd cone 70
the wind-rsssed rst overhead, aud was ey,aehty
intended TO dismast her. She then boarded from
the steamer and Capt. Crowell was required to show
his pspers Shortly after the British officer had .et
Tilted States steam rigate came to the rescue.
We have received from Capt. Croweu, OF the ship
John and Albert, the following account OF the affair:
May Il, 1853 at sea on board ship John and Albert,
of Boston, II. CIowell, master.
At noon, Stone Key Lighthouse Cuba, bore g. W.,
about u miles distance, great number OF vessels
sight steering different courses. Observed stwotop
sail schooner standing out from Cardenss, d sup
posed, and bound for Havana. as there sre tvo
schoon er propeller packets in that trade.
At2 oclock she was little forward OF our bean,
steering the same course, and rather going ahead Of
U.S. as the breeze was light, not more than SIX Knots
per hour. occasionally looked at her, but saw no
coors pennsnt fly ing The latter could not be scen
on account of her topgalant sails being holsted up
close under and her colors account OF her quartet
boat as afterwsrd found out. still took him to be
that packet and none other and had he chose no
could have come within hailing distance. Even Ne
could not he could have fired musket TO attract o
attention toward him. i should nave had the Amef-
flag flying as foon as possible Ia answer 20 any
nations flag, whether man OF war or not But 80 fsr
from doing he allowed his erogher looking schooner
to go along side and side for more than an hour, until
the breeze feshened to nineknot breeze and more.
We passed and left him about the same distance
asterD when he fired a gun. ] remsrked they w0e
having Jubilee on board or cleaning their signal
| gun This was about 3 O'Clock. In sbOut ten or hf-
teen minutes him swing herof, with his broad.
SIDE toward u.s. and fire again, the shot striking abou.
sixty yards astern Of us, nearly in a direct hDe |
| Immediately ordered the coors 10 be hosted. Hal
OF them b. Mt on, and hosting when he fired an
other gun, the shot falling further off than the hrst as
were leaving him very fast astern. When he Kept
of to fire the second gun caught sight OF blue flag
flying between bis quarter boat ard square mslusal
flag staff at her stern But TO tell wnG. i wa,
with the imperfect view could ge, was Impossible,
the distance being great. had the colors set Tor
ten or fifteen minutes, and thinking he was salts
fec, had them hauled down.
He again swung her off and gave US another shot,
which shet fell long way short Of w. The lsst one
was at about three hours fcrty-fve minutes. Soon
after him haul up his square mansai aud saw
smoke coming from his smoke stack. She was then
almOst hull down. a. she wss very deep and iow 10
the water.
After 4, the breeze began 10 leave US again, and he
getting up steam fst, and began to gain on rs.
had the American flag hos;ed and kept flying. At
s. went to supper. At Is minutes OF tue officer
of the deck reported that he keepiOg off to iire
again and that We had got a strong bresze, which
cssOn Of his coming up go fast. lie Tree his gaN the
shot striking close alongside 10 wiod ward.
had the chip brought 10 the wind Immediately,
studd, sails set below and aoiI on both sides. aod
the wind blowing a ten knct breeze with tacks Of
courses down. TIE royal and suddng sails, haly ards
ard tscks flying, courses half hauled up and every
thing starting enough take the spsrs out OF the ship
Aherward had TO cut away helyards and braces 10
get studdipg sails clear. While in that position, hove
TO the wind he closed to u.s. he fired another gun the
tbot passing heads aud striking 10 the water
cose TO Reward. il must have gone just over the
buwarks and forward Of the nainnast 10 have struck
in the water close to leeward She then rourded to
and sent boat with two Oficers on board
As they came aboard ore II the Officers extended
bis hand. / told him l did not shake hands with
pirates They said they no pirates but belonged
10 a British man of.war asked then II they called
that drogber man-Of.war. l saw tor the ffst time
she had pennsnt flying they were furlng ths top
gallant sails. They asked for the emp papers iooked
over the regster and crew list, noted down who're
from and bound, and then left without going or look
ing under deck. ! might have had the shp fall Of
negroes libusters and thev core the wiser. Toey
left looking very much a. II they had done very
uDgentsmaDly act, advising me always TO keep my
colOrs flying when 10 CON peLy with a British nan
iwar, and sold ought to thabk taem Tor their for
bearsIce in not dlsmastirg US, then went over me
eide, leaving their note book behind them. the
steward hsrded it to them. They showed OFT their
boat without telling ne might FL away, until asked
them as they were going past the sterc.
As filed away saw steamer ahead co mag
toward W tit Was about Z oClDck); shorty af,er
large steam-hgste passed close to Us, went little
way, and hove TO ard made sg0as with lights TO- the
schooner to come TO her, which -hs did, and rove 70
under biz lee; few moments sferE yard lnst sight
Of their lights expect the heard the firing
ID the Havana, as We were no more t6sn thirty miles
of, and came 10 the rescue.
Affirmed 70 and ,S sr.S Dy myself scsT. ard ss" on '''
HIGGINS CROWELL, M.s.er
NJ. y. CRONELL Firs. Mae,
GEORGE WILSON Second M.
Cook-Wiiam j. Philips stewsrd-t Itaiaul dou't under
stand English Sesnenyanes Walker Joseph MsTsns Fred
erick Glover VIM Gray, Elisha +. Bacon Alfred Mitchell
beiacloxs CnsIs Gsllasher, Thomas Kennedy, WIN Wes
Edward Sears Winthrop 5. Ctow.lL