Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-01-18
Cuba and the eubans-Nagnitnds OF Inc
RebeIloa-BOstsa sings Out,
The Case Of General Thomas IOrdaa-A
NolIs Pros. That Shows How the
Wind Blows.

United States beng the sensation Of
the day, and likely to lead 70 war OF
the humiliation Of Spain before tRe
world, we compile from our ex'
changes its origin, together with
items of interest in regard to the pres
ent status of the civil war which has
so nearly decimated Cuba, and the
case Of the United States vs.. General
Thomas J. Jordan.
ORIGIN OF THE TROUBLE.
The following is the sworn state
ment of the officers and crew of the
American steamer Florida. This clear
testimony will set at rest the doubt
thrown upon the statement of the
owners by the authorities at Wash
ington:
United States of America, State of South
Carolina, City and County Of Charles
ton
Be 1t known that on the ninth day
OF January, In the year OF our LORD
1872, before me, William Z. Herlot,
a notary public, duly admitted, COM
missioned and sworn, under the au-
thOrity OF the said State, and dwelling
and practiciug in the CITY Of Charles
ton aforesaid, personally appeared
George Mitchell. master Of the steam
ship called the Florida, Of New York,
of the burden Of five hundred and
fourteen tons, or Whereabouts (Of which
vessel Francis Dsrr, Of New York, Is
the registered owner who brings with
him James f. Mitchell, first mate;
John Wilmington, second mate; Jeth-
70 Wiblin, steward; George Simmons,
cook: William Howard, Ephr1am
Andrews, and John Burns, seamen,
all of and belonging to the said steam
ship; and the said appearer5 being by
me, the said notary, duly sworn, &c
cording to lSw, did ~severally declare
and say for the truth, as follows, VIZ:
That on Thursday, the 14th day Of
December, now last past, they, the
said appearers, in their respective
capacities above named, together with
the rest OF the ships company, did
depart under sail (the propeller being
broken of, could not use the englne)
in and with the said steamship, from
the port OF st. Thomas, West Indies,
laden in ballast, and bound for the
port Of New York.
That on that day, at five o'clock
am. they hove short and set fOTeSa1l
and mainsail. at six O'Clock am.
steamship came alongside and took
the ships hawser, when they weighed
anchor and proceeded to sea. At
seven am. steam tug cast of their line
and they made all sail. At eight
O'Clock am. the Spanish war vessel
Vasco Nunez de Balboa, which had
beeen watching the Florida while in
port, was then seen passing Water
island under steam and sail, directly
in their track. At h~alf-past ten a.
the war steamer, which bore east
northeast, distant three miles, cleWed
I'D her sails and bore down on the
Florida. At I0:40 am. smoke Of a
steam vessel was seen TO Windward,
when the war 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 FlOri-
da, with her crew at quarters and
her guns run out ready for action.
When the war steamer was in speak
inc distance, she fred a blank shot az
the Florida and lowered a boat nearly
to the waters edge. The said master
had the United States flag hOisted on
the Florida, and took no further
notice of the hostile demOnstra-
Ten minutes after firing the
first gun the war steamer fired a
gun, and appearers saw the
shot ricOchet aStern of the Florida.
The Florida was then hove to and a
cutter from the war steamer came
them, the Western Isle of the
group, bearing southeast
Iu~arter-esst, distant ten miles. On
Friday, 18th, st seven minutes past
nautical time) a boat from the
.sscO Nunez de Balboa came along
tide. and an officer and interpreter
on board the Florida and re-
luested to see her papers, which were
'hoWn to them by said master, and, |
.fter examining, the officer returned
hem, He then asked permission to
"a through the betWeen-decks, and
he said master, considering that 1t
gould be useless to contend against
he superior force, acqulesced. The
aid officer then went from the cabin
trough betWeen-decks and came out
4 the fore hatchWay, having gone
Trough the ship from aft forward.
laid officer and interpreter then went
way, telling said master he could
,roceed on his voyage. They then
all possible sail on the Florida and
,roceeded on their course toward New
FORK, At two O'Clock in the evening
Ight winds from the eastward and
ne weather, the war steamer keeping
hem company. At four O'Clock in.
be evening slowed anchors and boat,
he Vasco Nunez de Balboa still in
At nine O'Clock in the
yeniDg lost sight of the Vasc0 Nunez
e Balboa's light astern.
That thereafter they proceeded on
q the diligent prosecution of their
aid intended voyage, without any,
ming worthy of note occurring on
aid vessel until Thursday, the 2lst
av of said December, shortly after
Midnight, when in q heavy squat
-om the northwest the chip gave a
cry heavy lUrch and plunge, which
away their 1OretOpmast. AT
70 O'Clock in the morning they had
very heavy sea, the ship laboring
nd strainiDg greatly, and making
1ater; the pumps properly attended
}. They succeeded in saving the
rrsck and rigging of the fOretopmast.
he weather became m derate, but
nth 4 heavy sea still running. They
ore ship to the westward.
That Friday, the 22d, commenced
-ith a moderate breeze and a very
sea running; ship labOring and
fling greatly. at one O'Clock in the
yening, finding the ship was quite
nmanageabIe in her disabled state,
IRE avay for Nassau, where they ar
we'd on the morning of the oath Of
i'd December, being tOwed into port
. account OF bad winds.
Having repaired damages on Satur-
the Both of said December, they
lied from Nassau and proceeded on
leir intended voyage to New York,
Spanish gunbOat DescubridOr fol-
wing the ship out Of port. At half
ast nine O'Clock am, when distant
ne mile from the Florida, the gun {
rat Aired q blank shot. The national
40 was then holsted on the Florida. {
& forty minutes past nine o'clock {
M, the Spanish gunboat fired a shot
.hich came Whistling through the air
ross the Florida's stern, falli0g in .
le water some two or three hundred !
ards distant. We then backed the j
retopsail and hove the ship to. at
teen minutes past ten am, an |
ncer from the said gunboat came s
opgside the Florida in a boat, with I
boats crew, all Harmed. The officer
me on board the Florida and re- {
tested to see her papers, which were I
own him. He read them and re-
them to said master. He then
Iked permission to go through be- ]
Veen decks, to which the said mas I