Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1872-01-17
THE FLORIDA OUTRAGE.
How and by Whom the Vessel was
Searched.

| Searched.
We gave on Sunday the principal facts
connected with the searching of the Flori-
da. We give below fuller details sent from
| Washington:
The reception by the Navy Department
yesterday of the affidavits of the captain,
officers and crew of the Florida, giving in
| full detail with dates, names, &C., the ac-
count of the search of that vessel on the
high seas by two Spanish men-of-war,
created not little comment in that quarter,
| as the silence of all of our naval officers in
the Gulf squadron had led the Department
| to believe, ON negative evidence, that the
outrage was mythical.
The affidavits put the search of the Flor
ida, however, in most serious light. They
show that when that vessel was first
brought to on the ocean by solid shot
from the Spanish man-of-war, she was
without the marine league restricted by
international law, and OH the highway of
nations while the armed vessel that
ordered her search had her guns run out
and her decks cleared for action. In fact,
the evidence shows thai the Spaniard fol-
lowed the vessel outside Of the marine
league, and then searched her. The sec
ond search was after the Florida left Mas
sau, and by Spanish gunboat, whose
captain had been in Nassau for six days
while the Florida was there, and therefore
knew of the search off st. Thomas and
the innocent character of the latter vessel
Yet he put to sea, and again searched the
Florida -zs +. rr.Fn@ G --s.e
The first search was made by the Span
ish war steamer Vasco Nunez de Balboa,
which had been watching the Florida in
port at st. Thomas. She fired blank shot
and lowered a boat. The United States
flag was then flying on the Florida. Ten
minutes afterwards the Spaniard fired a
second shot which was seen to TicOchct
astern the Florida. This was ten miles
from the western isle of theNirginia group.
An officer and Interpreter then came on
board the Florida and requested to see her
papers, which were shown them 10y the
master, and after examining them the
officer returned them. Hethen asked per-
mission to go through between the decks,
and the master, considering that it would
be useless to contend against such superior
force. acquiesced. The officer then went
through, from the cabin, between the
decks, and came out of the fore hatchway,
having gone through the ship from aft to
forward. The officer and interpreter then
went away, telling the master he could
proceed on his voyage. All possible sail
was then put on the Florida and she pro-
ceeded on her course towards New York.
The Florida was caught in Il storm, and
becoming disabled, put into Nassau De-
cember 24th, repaird damages, and sailed
OH the 30th. The Spanish gunbOat Des-
cubridOr followed the Florida and fired a.
blank shot. The Florida kept on her
course, and another 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
backed the foretopsail and hove the ship
to. At 1:15 an officer from the gunboat
came alongside the Florida in boat, with
crew, all armed. An officer came on
board the Florida. and requested to see
her papers, which were shown him. He
read them and returned them to the mas
ter. He then asked permission to go
through between decks, to which the mas
ter, having no power to resist, assented.
At 80 the officer left the Florida, which
made all sail and proceeded on her voyage
towards New York. These sworn state
ments are made in Charleston, S. c., Jan.
9, by George Mitchell. master of the FIori-
da ; Jas. +. Mitchell, first mate; John
Wilmington, second mate; Jethro IVib-
lin, steward George Simmons, cook
VIM. Howard, Ephraim Andrews and
JnO. Burns, Seamen.
Hits stated that the government, adher-
ing to the principle re-established in the
Trent case, will demand of Spain, first, an
apology for its repeated outrage on this
vessel; second, the punishment of the Of
ficers who committed it, and third, indem-
nifty for damages sustained. 1t is believed
the apology will be made, and that there
will be no war, though there is a pretty
stiff war feeling here, outside of official
quarters.