New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-01-17
TIE SEIZURE OF THE STEAMSHIP.
OCEAN BIRD.
TO ne Editor Of The n. y. Tribune.

day mornings Herald 5 go eAtraoToa7ry ia ils h1auio
that think il right to say few words in reply to IT.
Capt. Vadeuonte has, it seeut to me, endeayored to
avsi himself of the improbability of my statement
contained in your impression OF Friday ast 10 deny
that he did 80 voluntarily, upon my demand surrender
the steamship 10 few facts will perhaps relieve
that statement of its apparent lmprobabh'ty.,
These fact- are a. fellows: went 10 Cuba in the
Winter Of 1886 with the steamship St. La Trenee TOT
the purpose Of selling her, or portion or hec, 70
Company before that time formed at that place for tho
purpose OF establishing a line Of steamers from New
York, Cadiz and Mexico, via Havana. The plan was
10 PAL all three of my seamshps into thu lne and 70
effect this was either TO sell the whole OF one OF
them or portion of all of them ID this Com any.
The result was that sold the whole Of the " Ocean
Bird for the sum OF $685. and was to receive
$4,000 in cash, with whish | intended 10
paw off the loan had received from Meyer Stuck
en- This loan from Meyer 81 Sucker, though
The bargain was that they should loan me 800 MO- for
four months and to receive s2o,OOO for the nse
OF the money--yet in fact had never received from
them I'D 10 that tine but abont 500 0O0 The SlloOVO
therefore, was an ample sum for THE purpose AiteE
completing the sale Of the Ocean Bird, started tor
New-York where she was then lying, and at which
place was 10 deliver her toJ. NJ Saugronez the Agent
o! the Company, Capt Viademonte and ether officers
and O crew. 1hese gentlemen and their crew were 10
receive the ship at NewYork and sail her 10 Cuba.
While at Cuba, shd while negotiating this sale, wIs
greatly annoyed by the Agents of Meyer & Stueken,
the purpose, as it was appGeat to the Com
pany az well as myself, being to thwart
sale These efforts were Of 80 extravagsnt
character TO give me the entire synolthy OF all
dsineres ed persons with whom came IN contact
believe Capt Viademonte deeply synpatbzed with mo
through il ALL even after the COmpauys agent had
pudi4ted the pnrcbase of me and bought of Meyer &
StucseD all three of my vesses at sum of over
800 less than the Company had coDtraced 70 give
me for of them. think no one will doub' IN y
the agent Of the Company, when he took title Of these
vessels from Meyer Il Stucben, relied very much upon
the warranty Of : lie Contained in their bills OF sale
Meyer 4 sueken, although they have since gone into
liquidation then reported TO be persons of
great wealth. IL ia not improbable that the present
severe depression IN the value of steamship property
had the effect 10 make II an object for this Company to
be put into position in which they could fall back
npon this warranty as 10 recover Hereunder Of
Meyer & stucken the va ne of this aud The other two
steamships; aud il s not impossible that it was not
until after Capt. Niademonte had learned Of the in
solyency of that house, that he changed his mi
and desired 10 regain possession OF the stea nshIp
However this may be. it IL true that he did surren-
der the ship TO me ON my demand and th Is placed
il out of my power 10 raplevy. In witness Of this
/ herewith send you an affidavit made by the
four gentlemen who were with me az the time
which viii speak for itselG When l was 10 q1iet
possession Of the vessel thought as much my duty
10 retain possession OF her OF any other article OF
my property. So thought Capt Rynders-for when
be came up to execute the process sued out by the
cbaniGs against the vessel he served the process
and informed me that he would place two deputies on
board who might remain With n1e--and that when the
processes were secured by bonding il would be his
duty leave her il my possession he fOnud Der. H.
s true tba. have lost possession of the ship. IL was
my purpose TO resiit no ono in possession, auy cue
having legal process or an apparent right 10 dis
possess me. This well known TO the deputies on
board as we'll TO Marshal Rynders-for on several
occasions in the night, Capt. Rynders with gang OF
persons all unknown 10 me- attempted 10 get out Of
possession of the ship. On all Of these occasions |
called Capt. r. on board and wheu asked for his
proeess which be loud in proclaming he had he
on every occeson failed 10 produce it, IL thus became
~ IN - -. L
tshen upon this point. And be had recourse to
deception, which have only TO blame my Difference
10 legal functionarss for being successful On Thurs
day. ao6nt O'Clock il the afternoon, Capt. Rgnders
ca ne on board with Mr. Geo. w. Morton the Deputy
CLERK Of The u District Court and stated t. that
he had an order from the Court which required |
me 10 go ON shore and yield up exclusive posress,on
of the ship to him. not satisfied with this t.te-
meni, and turned to Mr.. Norton and said to him: |
90 You are the Clerk Of tho Court; tell me if this is So"
lie rerled, Capt. Graham il IT," He then drew |
from his pocket paper, and read as near "a can
recoleet, "Laah Rynders yon are hereby Commanded
ing, Read for yourself" i took { le paper in my
bands, and before had time to glance at il, Capt.
Rynders ssid "Now, Capt Graham, 60 on shore; |
receive the ship from you" and taking my hand, he
we are both members, and added, with the
most solemn appeal 20 his maker, 81 will |
hold this, ship for you-no man shall Pnt be
foot board, save yourself and yonr friends,
ender her TO you soon as my process ID secured
which W II no doubt be to-mOIrow--as The question ia |
hen 10 be argued" To all this Mr.. Morton asgented
'ir. Morton then took my arm and said; Now Capt.
3raham obey the Court; get into my carriage and ] |
will drive you anywhere you wish TO 90 in town." /
hen ordered my crew shore, and LEFT with my |
riends got into the carriage with Mr.: Norton and
anne down 10 the Hall with him, where soon learned
hat had been sadly imposed upon, and that such
rider or any order, had been entered, and thai the
yhole was u device 10 got Capt. Vademonte and his
rev in possession OF the ship. j soon discovered that
Iapt II. had placed number of armed men on board
With one OF two cannon, with orders 10 shoot down
ne or any person in my employment if they attempted
20 on board.
This idle brava9o of course could have no effect az
had before determined 70 resist no law apparent
light. j waited on Friday TO know whether the Court
would make any order as to her possession. When 1
earned on Friday at II o'clock that the Court had alb
oluiely refused 10 interfere between the Spanish
laimant and myself, ! went on board; but was met
y several OF the Deputy MARSHALL, and al least four
evolvers were pointed al nay head, threatening to
boot dead if did not 90 on shore. went on
bore ana thus the vessel was kept possession of by
be Deputies during the day, and az night returned TO
~ home IN Connecticut. On saturday afternoon,
,hen returned 10 New-York, learned that NJ ssrs.
warts and RyndeIs, with l7J policemen, specially de-
lied for the purpose, had at 10 oeock,on that day,
scorted the reluctant Capt. Viademonle, with HIS
zen, and small bevy OF Deputy Marshals TO hold
lem in possession-tbs captaln protesting that he
-ould not res.t If should again demand possession
N account Of his was thought prudent by Messrs.
vars and Rynders 10 withdraw the captain and
lace the mate in charge, under Deputy Aarahal
Keefe and other Deputies, placed on board by
apt. Rynders, with the twelve special police
en-, det;ilcd by the Board OF Police Comui-rioners
Ihad been told that The Counsel for Capt. Wade
onte we've quite willing / should rePlevy the chip
pom giving good sureties, and that she would not
ave this port for three dsys Having had enough Of
o United States Marshal and Deputy Clerk, ] inme-
aeIy Get ss0pt having papers prepared In the So