New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-12-11
british RAIDS UPON AMERICAN
FISHERMEN.

The Seizure of n Gloucester Fishing YES.
sci mt Prince Edwards Island.
Correspondence of the Boston Traveller
I'promised in my preceding letter to ac-
quaint YOU with any further developments
Of our present fishing troubles, anu men
TONED that the Clara +. Friend, owned by
Charles Friend, Of Gloucester. was lying
here as prize to her Britanlc Majesty
steamer PlOver. The suit has been delayeo
a long time, and the Plover, last Thursday
noon, left for Halifax with bowling north
weSter.
The Friend lay at both anchors, about
mile from shore and a little above the town.
Three armed men ''kept watch and ware,
or were supposed to be doing so. The main
sail had been unbent and slowed away,
but the foresail and .jib had been dried and
refurled the same afternoon: Al midnight
as nearly as can be ascertained, the owner
and part of her old crew, together with sew
eral volunteers (amOng them a relative oi
Hon. Joseph Howe), boarded the vessel and
intiInidated the guard. One cable was cut,
the cables having fouled, and the schooner
got under way for Gloucester. The guard
we're sent back i'll the boat borrowed to
arms, traps, etc.
The schooner Foam, also prize and
guarded by an aged individual named
Traverse, lay about half mile from the
scene of action. The aforesaid yigilant
Cerberus srored peacefully until daylight.
when, like Hanlets ghost, thought
struck him: ..Methinks / smell the morning
deck The Friend had disappeared, and
he dismissng the OdOr of morning breezes,
at once "smelt rat" He rowed ashore and
sought the domicil Of Pates, the Marshal of
the Admiralty Court, and, with the aspect
of that frightened individual who drew
"Priam's curtains at the dead OF night
communicated the awful news.
The intelligence spread like wlldhre, and
elected - loud and continued lafture" on
every hand. The daring and skill displayed
in the recapture were generally commended.
and the unfortunate marshal must look
upon the twenty-fifth of November as one
Of the most unpleasant days of his insig-
nificant existence. A few (amOng them the
American ConsuD stigmatized the act as
piracy" and condemned the course of Mr..
Friend as desperate and felonious; but the
majority of the citizens have wished her
crew every success iii the most hearty
manner But, alas. the scheme SO well
began was too daringly pursued, and III {.
lull OF wind in Canso they were recaptured
by the PlOyer on the evening of the twenty
fifth brought in here Sunday, and are now
undergoing examination. The boat, with
the captain and five or six others, escaped,
but Mr.. Friend and four others are now i'll
custody.
write in haste and must close in time for
the mail. The protection of the fishermen
is being agitated in your midst. The Ma
tional honor suffers here because our gov
eminent seems to have lost sight of this
important branch of our national industry,
and the manly efforts Of General Butler to
obtain justice for his hardy New England
constituents are laughed to scorn. because
political opponents Of his among you forget
the justice of his cause or truckle to the in
terests of IA dominion founded in wrong
and bitterly hostile to republicanlsm and
the United States. Tonight a brave old
man must sleep behind the CRATES OF a
prison because the manufacturers and rail
road men are too busy legislating to make
money to attend to the rights and protec-
ton OF our shipping interests, and the
honor OF our flag. More will be furnished
as the trial progresses.