Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-02-11
IMPORTANT FROM WASHINGTON.
ANOTHER "BRITISH OUTRAGE"
Visitation, Search md Burning Of an American YES
sci by a British Steamer on the Coast Of Africa.

~
Especial Despatch to the New York Times.
WASHINGTON, Tuesday. Feb. 5.
The Navy Department is in receipt oil DILL
cial adviccs from the Coast of Africa, annouhc-
ing the visit, search, seizure and burning OIL an
American vessel by 4 British cruiser. The
following correspondence, for which we are III
dcbted 10 the courtesy Of Secretary louce.y.
tells the whole story:
COMMANDER TOTEM TO THE SECRETARY or TIE
SAyY.
LIMITED 8 ,rEs SHIP ytscESS's, Dec. 10. ISIS:
Sir. | have the honor TO forward 10 the Ma
w Department the accompanying papers IN re.
lation TO the capture and destruction by lire OF
! the Rufus Soule, 4 brigantinc under American
colors, by Her Britannia Maje>ty's steamer VI
pcr. on or about the llth or 18th October, 1898.
AS am not to meet with Flag,Oticer Conover
before the latter part Of February, and Suppo-
sing it important that the facts aS appearing IN
these papers should be communicated TO the
Department AS early as possible. | forward CO.
pies of a report | have prepared for the Com
/ mandcr-in-Chief on this station.
trust that my reasons for this direct COLL
municat,on will appear sufficient to the honor
able, the Secretary of the Navy.
have the honor to be. very respectfully,
ID. %. b-N
TO the Hon. ]. TorcEY.
STATEMENT OF PETER chLpISA.
Skinned for the American brig Rufus Soulc.
CAPTAIN Anderson, at Matanzas, on Tue 'lh OF
.Julv. and sailed, as | understood, for Fernando
Po, Just sighted Cape de Verd Islands. and
the next land we made was the African Coast
near to Banda Point. Soon after we saw a
steamer coming towards us, and she sent a BOAT
The captain of the steamer Viper and another
officer with him came aboard: they asked
for papers, and mustered the crew AMI
questioned us al about where we peionG'
ed. was at the wheel anu heard ihe
Captain OF the Viper tell Capt. Anderson tha'
he would give him one hour to make up ms
mind, and If he did not deliver his vessel lie
would take her in tow; and the captain re-
turned on board his own vessel. leaving inc
other officer with us. In half an hour the or
der was given for the English to openthe hatch'
O.; ] then saw then for the first time tnat our
fac had been hauled down. The English officer
then waved his handkerchief TO the liper' and
the Captain of the steamer came aboard. Inc
matches were opened, and he then orderen Us
all to get our clothes ready to 90 on board inc
steamer. Afterwards they brought from inc
brig all her sails and small stores. Inc or'a
was set on fire about { o'clock in the evening
and was burning all night. In the morning
several shots were fired at her before she wen
down. | heard it said by some of the crew o
the Tiper that she was burned because they
had no men 10 send away in her, and that they
had orders 10 burn one ont of every three YES
sells taken. We got under way in TIC aiter
noon. and were landed on the beach nj haoe
ncla. IF the Fihcenn's had not come in'
don't know how we could have lived. | told
the English officer that | was an American
citizen" -.
This statement was made on board the Vim
ccnneS, in presence Of her officers.
]coMMASDEg TOTEM TILE COMMANDER oF TIE VI
PER.
l. ! ;urp yixcKSxts. Oct. -, ISIS.
Sir: have to ask that you will do ne th'
favor to furnish facts in relation to the capture
and destruction by fire of the brig Rufus Soult
on the llth and 18th of this month, to thu
southwark of kabcnda. | would bes ~lartlcu
larly to ask information on the following points
to wit:
F,rst-If she had the American iias Lying
when visited by your boat?
Sccond-Wcre her papers found correct:
Third-If the American flag was still hyin!
when her matches were opened. and II moi, un
der what circumstances, and when, II was haui
cd down
ask these questions because | have inlor
nation that the Rufus Soulc was captured b!
the Viper.
am rcspcctrullv, your obcdient servant,
b. |. TOTTEN. Commander.
tn the Commander of II. B. VI. steamer vi
per.
REPLY OF THE COMMANDER OF TIE VIPER.
s1 Part ps LoAxDo, II. u. ". Steamer Viper.
sunday, Oct, -, isis.
Sir-I have the honor to acknowledge thu
receipt of your letter, dated the 22d oil October
relative to the capture of 4 brisantinc calico
the Hvfnw Soule, and containing three ca,cgo
rical questions.
Firs,-IIad the veSsel. the American fla:
nying ut the time she was visited 10y the boat
Answcr-She had the American flag flying
and from information from the British Govern
ncnt, dated the Sth and 22d Of July last, there
was every just cause to believe that in this cast
a fraudulent use Of the flag was being made
and that the vessel was engaged IN the slave
trade; consequently she was visited.
Sccond-If her papers were correct An
swer-In my opinion they were incorrect
somc Of them undoubtedly so.
Third-If the American flag was still flying
when the matches were opened. Answer-Th,
American flag was not flying when the vessel:
matches were opened. The flag and papers
were thrown into the sea by the Captain, with
out even a suggestion on mv part.
have the honor to be. &c, &c,
AUSTIN B. H0DklNTON,
Lieutenant and Commander.
To Commander B. I. To,ten, L. S. ship I'm