Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-01-16
THE FLORIDA.
,fg 4 ,EfigiA II III ''A
IA sworn Statement from the Mas
ter OF the Outraged
Steamer.
r"II u y q q - = WI
She IL Fired Upon at 80. Thomas
and Again at Nassau.

NJ We are indebted to the Tribune for
the following. - IA IN y -
TtE New YORK, January IL.
George Mitchell, master Of the steam
ship Florida, has made q sworn state
ment of the circumstances attending the
departure OF the Florida from the port
of St. Thomas. This statement, which
is corroborated by the first and second
mates, and others of the crew of the
vessel, is as follows. ~ 3 gov an
3s2 is9 THE MASTERS STATEMENT.
On the l4th OF December the Florida
set sail from st. Thomas, laden in bal
last and bound for New York. AT 8
clock of the morning of that day the
Spanish war vessel Vasco Nunez de Bal
boa, which, had been watching the Flor
ida while in port, was seen passing
Water Island under stean and sail di-
rectly in the track of the Florida. At
10 80 a m. the war steamer, which bore
cast, css. " " northeast, distant three miles,
clewed up her sails and bore down on
the Florida. e The smoke of the steam
vessel was soon To wlndward, when the
steamer hauled to the northward in a
parallel course with that Of the Florida.
The strange steamer proved to be the
Halifax and st. Thomas mail boat. The
war steamer then bore down on the Flor
ida, with. her crew at quarters and her
guns run. out, ready for action. When
the war steamer was in speaking distance
she fred blank shot at the Florida,
and lowered boat nearly to the " ater
edge. 4 The United States flag was
then hoisted on the Florida, and
no further notice was taken of
the hostile demonstrations. Ten min
utes after firing the frat gun, the war
steamer fred second gun, and the shot
was seen to ricochet astern Of the Flori1
da. The Florida was then hove, to. and
a cutter from the war steamer come to-
ward boat, from the Vasco Nunez de
Balboa aud came along side, and an
Office. and interpreter came on board
The Florida and requested to see her pa
pers, which were shown 70 them by the
master, and after examining the papers
the officer returned them. He then
asked permission TO 90 through the ves-
sci between decks, and the master, con-
sidering that it would be useless to con-
tend against superior force, acquiesced.
The officer then went from the cabin
through between decks, and came out OF
the fore hatchway, having gone through
the ship from aft forward. The officer
and interpreter then went away, telling
the master he could proceed on his voy-
age. The Florida then proceeded on
her course to New York On Decem-
Der 2lst she became disabled in gale
and was obliged to bear away for Mas
sau, where she arrived on the morning
of the oath of December. Having re-
paired her damages, on Saturday, the Both
of December, the Florida sailed from
Nassau and proceeded on her inte ended
voyage to New York. the Spanish gun
boat Desiouridar following the ship out
of port. When distant about one mile
from the Florida, the gunboat fired a
blank shot. AT 9:40 am. the Spanish
gunboat fred shot which came whisI
Ting through the air across the Floridas s
stern, and falling in the water some two
or thfee hundred yards distant. The
master then hove the ship to, and an
officer from the gunboat came alongside
the Florida in boat with boats crew,
all armed. The officer came aboard the
Florida and requested to see her papers,
which were shown him. He read them and
returned them to the master. He then
asked permission to 60 through between
decks, 10 which the master, having no
lower to resist. assented. At 1880 the
officer left the Florida, which made all
sail, and proceeded on her voyage to
New York 4N q WAt5N