The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1872-01-19
.THH FLORIDA.
Account of Her Detentions by Span.
ish War Vessels.


ish War Vessels.
New YORK, Jan 12.--The Tribune
has the following:
George Mitchell, Master of the
steamship Florida, has made sworn
statement of the circumstances at
tending the departure of the Florida
from the port of st. Thomas. His
statement which is corroborated by
the first and second mates, and
others of the crew of the vessel, is
as follows: On the 18th Of Decem-
Der the Florida set sail from St.
Thomas, laden in Ballast and bound
for Norfalk. At eight o'clock in the
morning of that day the Spanish
war vessel Vasco Nunez de Balboa,
which had been watching the Flori-
da while in port, was seen passing
Water Island under steam and sail,
directly in the track Of the Florida
At 1890 A. NJ, the war steamer,
which bore east northeast distant
three miles, clewed up her sails and
bore down on the Florida. The
smoke of steam vessel WAS sent to
windward when the war steamer
hauled to the northward in a paral
lei course with that of the Florida.
Strange steamer proved to be the
Halifax and St. Thomas mail boat.
The war steamer then bore down on
the Florida, with her crew at quar-
ters and guns run out ready for ac-
ton. When the war steamer was in
speaking distance she fired a blank
charge at the Florida, and lowered
boat nearly to the waters edge.
The United States flag was then
hoisted on the Florida, and no fur
ther notice was taken Of the hostile
demonstration. Ten minutes after
firing the first gun the war steamer
fred a second gun, and the shot was
seen to ricocheJ astern of the Flori-
da. The Florida was then hove to
and cutter from the war steamer
came toward her. A boat from the
Vasco Nunez de Balboa came along
side, and an officer and interpreter
came on board the Florida and re-
quested to see her papers, which
were shown to them by the
master, and, after examining the pa
pers, the officer returned them. He
then asked permission to 60 through
between decks, and the master con-
sidering that it would be useless to
contend against superior force, ac-
uuiesced. The officer then went
from the cabin through between
decks, and came out Of the fore
hatchway, having gone through
from aft foreward. The officer and
interpreter then went away, telling
the master he could proceed on h's
voyage. The Florida then proceed
ed on her course to New York. On
the 2Ist of December she became
disabled in gale, and was obliged
to bear away for Nassau, where she
arrived on the morning of the oath
of December. Having repaired
damages, on Saturday, the Both of
December, the Florida sailed from
Nassau and proceeded On her inten-
ded voyage 10 New York, the Span
ish gunboat Descu0ridOr following
the ship out of port. When distant
about a mile from the Florida the
gunboat fired blank shot. At $40
A. NJ, the Spanish gunboat fired a
shot which came whistling through
the air across the Florida's stern,
and falling in the water some two or
three hundred yards distant. The
master then hove the ship to. An
officer from the gunbOat came along
side the Florida in boat, with a
boats crew armed. The officer
came on board the Florida and re-
quested to see her papers, which
were shown him. He read them
and returned them to the master
He then asked permission to 90
through between decks, to which the
master, having no power to resist,
assented. At 1920 the officer left
the Florida, which made all sails and
proceeded on her voyage to New
York.