Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-01-13
THE FLORIDA OUTRAGE.
Twice Brought to by Spanish Guns
And Searched on the High Seas.
CircumstanfIal Details of the Master
of the Vessel

NAA NAAOuAnSeaAtdaA "Details OF the Master
Of the Vessel.
NEW YoRB, Jan. 1--we are indebted
to the Tribune for the following:
Geo. Mitchell, Master of the steamship
Florida, has made sworn statement of the
circumstances attending the departure of
the Florida from the port of ST. Thomas.
This statement, which is corroborated by
the flrst and second mates and others of
the crew Of the vessel, is as follows:
On the 14th Of December the Florida set
sail from st. Thomas; laden In Ballast and
bound for New York. At O'Clock of the
morning Of that day the Spanish war YES
sci, Vasco Nunez de Balboa, which had
been watching the Florida while in port.
was seen passing Water Island Under steam
and sail, directly IN the track of
the Florida. At 1920 a. m. the war steam
er, which bore east-northeast, distant three
miles, clewed up her sails and bore down
on the Florida. The smoke of a steam
vessel was seen to the windwerd, when the
war steamer hauled to the f1orthWard in a
parallel course with that of the Flsrida.
the HALIFAX, a ST. Thomas mail
boat. The war steamer then bore down on
the Florida with her crew at quarters
and the guns run out ready for action.
When the war steamer was in speaking dis
tance, she fred blank shot at the Florida,
and lowered a boat nearly to the
waters edge. TAe United States
flag was then hoisted on the
Florida and no further notice was taken
OF the hostile demonstration. Ten minutes
after firing the first gun the war steamer
fired a second gtin and the shot was seen
to ricochet astern of the Florida. The
Florida was then hove to, and cutter from
the war steamer came towards us. A boat
from the YaSco Nunez De Balboa came
alongside, and an officer and Interpreter
caJue on board the Florida and requested 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 the between
decks, and the master considering
that it would be useless to
contend against a superior force,
acquiesced. The officer then went from the
cabin through between the decks and
came out of the fore hatchway, having gone
the ship from aft forward. The officer and
interpreter then went away, telling the mas
ter that he could proceed on his voyage.
The Florida then proceeded on her course
to New York,
On Dec. 21 she became disabled in a gale
and was obliged to bear away for Nassau,
where she arrived on the morning of the
2Sth December. Having repaired her dam
ages, on Saturday the 30th of December,
the Florida sailed from Nassau and pro
ceeded on her intended voyage to
New York, the Spanish gunboat Desiouri-
dar following the ship out of port. When
distant about mile from the Florida, the
gun boat fred 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 POO or 800 yards distant. The
Master then hove the ship to. An Off
Ger from the gunboat came along side
the Florida in a boat with the
boats crew armed. The officer can Q
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 go through between
decks, to which the master, having no pow
er to resist, asSented. At 1880 the officer
left the Florida, which made all sail and
proceeded on her voyage to New York.