The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-05-20
BOARDING AND sEsRcRESG AMERICAN YES
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Captain Howe ~ the schooner MsAdie which arrived
Tuesday complains that has vcssc and himself ~ase
made the subjects u serious Outrage the part VI
British vessel. whiio his voyage hither nom MO
bile, and while passing Key West Cspts'n Howe has
furnished our reporter the following statement II the cir
cups~nocx
On the 2sth Wit ~as about - 80 miles south Of
Sand Key Light; there good strong breeze rom T.
N. e. and choppos sea; my schooner Wac under doa
bic reefc mansail whole foc and three ills; II WAS
perfectly clear Judged Of my situation from the iact
that sighted Sand Key Light about three hours after
falling In with the steamer the vessel Was oo the star
board tack, aud heading 10 the nofthwMd hrst saw
the steamer about noon, a long way 10 windward,
but could not make out what she was; at o'clock, p
M took my glass and discovered she was a steamer,
and was apparently running my bows told the
mate II might be American naval steamer from some
port in Cuba. bound TO Key West. Having taken my
observation and got dinner went below and turned IA,
thinking more aboutit.
Between and o'clock, p M, my Oldest daughter
came and walked me, Captain Howe had his wife and
two children with him. she asking what is that vessel
doing got up and looked out OF my cabin window,
(the cabin is deck, and saw the vessel was running
down to me, il to cross my stern My impression was
that she intended to speak me, and went on deck To
answer the hail in she did so. ordered the mate
at the time to set the ensign. The mate said, al
believe English steamer He had been looking
at her with his glass The steamer (Which rugged
baque) rounded to within muskc shot of my weather
quarter when he had the British ensign flying
He then within mailing distance The schooner's
not changed. AT that moment heard
two reports, OF musket in quick succession, and
instantly ball came whizzing between two
who were at work the rigging. then ordered
the mate to haul the forestaysail sheets to wndwad
the wheel put down. and the schooner was hove TO-
after this had been done tro shots Jrd one ball
struck the vessel abaft the fore chains, and the other
passed the main deck amid ships.
The second mate and two men were at work on the
jumper stay sitting bales of cotton amid ships they
said they felt the wind the ball passed their
heads also heard the whizzng Of the ball 1t passed
stood with my glass in hand observing the movements
on board the all the time and them clear
ing away the boat if to board 1t is the universal
custom at sea- if armed vessel wishes to board AN
other to fire gun, and if it is not Needed to fire
second and last resort to fire shot across the vcs
sells fore-foot was at loss to conjecture what the
steamers treatment of could The proceeding
suggested to my mind that she might be pirate. My
family heard the firing, and what was passing, and
were very much alarmed My little girl who is only
five years old wanted to deck but her mother
would let her She said "Mother, if was father,
/ Id get of Mr. Hopkinss awful guns and kill en-.
Mr.. Hopkins my mate kept two loaded guns on board
confess felt mad at the conduct of the steamer The
boat with six and lieutenant came alongside and
without saying a word, the officer deck, and,
| addressing one in particular, asked
| O. Where is this vessel from
answered from Mobile Has1atla
O. Where is she bound? 80
| A. New York
O. Where is she ownedl 4f
A. She is owned in New York. I,then thought It
O. Why did you fire into us Did you take for a
SLAYER? W.
| Officer. No didn't you see o'war to wind
| ward
| A. How should know you o. WARP
Officer. Diin you see pennant
Captain didn't 1t and, besides, we very often
American and Spanish men owar with their colors
\ flying, but they interfere with me- have been
going up and down the Gulf for twenty years. and this
Is the first time nterfered with The officer
with head erect and with daughter manner, deigned
reply, but asked what is the number Of your crew. I
| answered ten men and also have one passenger my
| wife and two children
Officer. i want to your papers.
went into the cabin followed by the lieutenant and
taking out my enrolment and license, handed them to
| him, keeping my manifest in my hand.
/ Officer. Where is your registerf You ought to have
| register.
answered s.g vessels do not have registers
they sail under coz sting license j then handed him
my manifest saying here my clearance from Mobilein
regular form. He examined it. and laid it the table
I asked 'Have you got through If you have i wish
| to proceed 1t is very strange you should commence
boarding vessels in this way.
| Officer. We have orders from government to
board every vessel fall in with passing up down
| the Gulf
The officer then got into his boat and went board
his steamer and filled away and made sail my yoy-
| age. The steamer continued hove to- noticed two or
three oregnIoolng vessels passing, which he paid no
| attention to-
The whole proceeding was unusual, uncalled for,
gentlcmany, unofiicer like, and the whole I'M
mitigated outrage
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