The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-23
Spaniards and Americans at
Loggerheads.
OUR KANSAS AND THEIR BAZAN.
How the DOnS Threatened Our War Ships at
Aspinwall on Account Of the Vifginius.
AND HOW THEIR GUNS WERE SILENT,
Interesting Correspondence Illustrating
Spanish Insolence and Yankee Grit.

WASHINGTON, July % 1879.
Diplomatic Qma nsIacs are perspiring over "a
rumor now on the street that we on the eve 'of
a rupture with somebody In Spain; whether the
Cure his fugitive majesty Carlos tho last person
at the republican helm ia not stated. The trouble ];
appears to be that an American steamer, the
vircinius, was conveyed out or the port OF
Assnwall by the United States manOrwar Kansas
and protected from Spanish interference. Barrels
81 ink and miles OF red tape viii probably be ex-
pended before Mr. Fish and the person or persons u
having Spanish Affairs in charge get through with
the discussion now inevitable. In the meantime~
the following correspondence, just received here,x
will be read with Interest,"
UNITED STATES STEAMER KANSAS,
AsPINwAAL, june ~, 1873 !
Hon. G. M. EOBEsON, Secretary OF the Navy
SIR have the honor to report the arrival here
the 2lst of the gnhed States steamer Kansas
Town, with Commander +. P. Lull, United States
Navy, and several OF the officers OF the Nicaragua
surveying Exteaition as PASSENGERS. ! found
aae runner, flying the United States nag, the same
vessel which in April 1872, was conveyed to sea by
this vessel at tire time the Spanish steamer Pizarro
threatened to seize her The evening OF the ed the
Spanish gunbOat Bazan arrived and anchored In
line with the Kansas and Vrginus. quite a coinci
on the occasion referred to, the Kansas keeping
her position between the virgnus.and the Spanish
vessel The next day l.recelved q letter in Span
ish from the commanding officer of the Bazan,
copy OF which is herewith enclosed, as well as the
from the United States Consul Oh the subject,
which have not had the opportunity OF answer
ing, and shall not before the Pacific mail steamer
leaves for New York; but j shall give the
protection requested, and for that purpose will
be obliged to remain here till the virginius is ready
to sail or until the arrival OF another United States
vessel, which, am informed by the Consul, he has
received notice Of being ordered here; then shall
proceed to carry out the Department order OF the
schooner
rugged gunboat, carrying two pivot guns, and ap.
parently quite fast She was built in England, and
New York Tor the Spanish government, but she
appears rather larger. do not anticipate a col
Very respectfally Sc AHpAN v e REEb.
United States Navy, commanding Kansas.
THE SPANISH ARGUMENT.
The following is the letter addressed to Comman-
der Reed by Lieutenant Autran, commanding the
Spanish gunboat Bazan:-
AsPINwALL, June %, 1879 |
SPANISH VRssEL-oFWAR BAzAN.)
On my ARRIVAL at this port yesterday evening
yon e ins
very much surprised ut seeing the United States
ensign hoisted from the enslgn's stan. This
the coast of Cuba, winch was composed
Of Cuhans in arms against Spain, Of
tons OF war. This deed was judiclally proved by
prisoners OF war captured in Cuba, some Of whom
had mad belonged to said expedition and testified "a
virgnus an accusation, proved by the Spanish
Courts OF having committed hostile deed against
SPAIN without any motive to justify the aggression
II Is true that the expeditioners affirm that the
landing took place under the Cuban nag but in
that case the Virglnlus cannot now hoist the
United states nag as everybody knows that vessels
under such an accusation as that pending against
or private party without the risk OF losing her
either by force in certain circumstances or by the
delivery Of the vessel to the offended power as
10 inform me II the steamer vrginlus is an Ameri-
can vessel, and II as such she has all her papers
according TO law; because II she has there will be
no doubt that in the United States the law OF ma
tons IS interpreted. at least IN the present case,
and therefore | will ask the Spanish Consul in
Panama TO transmit my remarks to the Spanish
Minister in Washington, In order that this high
Ofhcer may present to the American governments
the proper observations and claims, 80 that the
virginius may cease to ny the flag Of a nation at
that vessel with her nag will compel Spain to take
extreme measures or to ask the arbitration OF some
European Power in the fbuster question
ample OF arbitration we have contemplated
between the Union and England urges US to follow
1t: No DOUBT the Spanish government will soon
adopt that method OF adjusting the differences
which frequently arise between nations
definite manner II the Virgnus is a vessel OF your
nation, and only carries as a caprice the North
American nag, SO that l may adjust my future acts
to that definite answer. With assurances, &c,
To the Commander Of the United states Steamer
Kansas.
REED NOT SHAKEN BY THE WIND.
On the receipt OF this letter Commander Reed
Immediately addressed the following to United
States Consul Thorrington, at Aspinwall:-
UNITED STATES STEAMER KANSAS
AsPINwALL, June 20, 1873. I
SIR enclose herewith Q letter in Spanish, re-
ceived this day from the commanding oricer of
the Spanish gunboat Bazan, which arrived here last
evening; also translation into English, and re-
spectully request that you will inform to the
character OF the steamer Virglnius now anchored
here's whether her papers are all correct and If
she United States vessel and authorized to sail
under the American nag, SO that may furnish the
information desired by Lieutenant Commanding
Anfran and for my own guidance. Respectfully,
Commanding United States steamer Kansas.
THE CONSUL REPLIES.
To this letter Consul Thorrington made the fol-
lowing reply
UNITED STATES CoNsuLArE1
AsPINwALI, June "a 1873
CokhANDER A. V. REED, United States steamship
sIR-Your letter to me of yesterday covering
copies OF letter received nom the Spanish msn.o
war Bazan now at anchor near your shin in which
You request TO be informed whether the papers of
United States vessel authorized to sail under the
American nag, Is received. WV
her papers are all correct She ia Un,sed statess
vessel and authorized to sail under the American
JAMES THoRRNGToN,
United States Consul.
COMMANDER REED REPLIES.
Upon the receipt OF the ConEuls letter, Conman.
asa Reed addressed the following 10 the Spanish
Commander
UNITED STATES STEAMER KANSAS,
AsPINwALI. June "a 1873 Z
Sur have the honor to acknowledge the re-
Oeipt OF your communication OF the $50 Inst relab
iNg 10 the nationality Of the steamer Virrinius non
&C AaAchor in this harbor.
co jnquiring for the papers OF the virginius T.
toun0 that they were In the hands Of the United
Statev Consul, and ! wrote him letter enclosing
COPY OF yours, with request that he would
MORN me as to her nationality and the correctness
II her spers, that might reply to your communal
alton " 1th precision. His reply IL jusa at hand
md hasten TO send you copy oft, which is
herewith Enclosed.
You viii gee BY that she is considered entirely
and compl etely United States vessel and az
lhorzed to sail under the United States nag ]
shall leel mytef bound TO consider her so.
The grave charges which you have made OF her
having change her nag and performed an hostile
act toward the Spanish government have no
eno~ledge OF be ,Ond that contained In yonr letter.
HVNraa