The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-03
THE ST. LAURENT LIBELLED.
Seizure of a Steamship Of the
Transatlantic Company.

Transatlantic Company.
National Companies : Proceedings in
CouTt-Ehe Vessel Is Bonded and Sails.
The dificuqty between the National ana the Gen.
erai Transatlantic Steamship companies bids fair
to become eternal 1t was originally started in
consequence OF the extraordinary statement made
by Captain Lernare, OF the Europe regarding the
manner In which he was saved by the Greece, and
the latest phase OF the misunderstand ing took
place yesterday when the steamship st. Laurent,
OF the Transatlantic line, was seized az pier so
North River by United States Marsnaa Harlow, OF
the Eastern district. Great was the surprise and
the CONSERVATION OF Captain Lachesnex. when Dep
uty Marshal Hawley went up to MIN and served the
papers upon hlm, taking at the same ttmc posses.
sion OF the vessel. Steam was already. up, and
some OF tho passengers were already abusyd.
Many were under the impression that she would
not sail on Saturday. Among the French sailors
the excitement was very great, and they all
seemed TO be under the impression that they would
be conveyed to jail
The following Is the libel upon which the PROCESS
for the attachment was issued on Friday after
noon by the United States District Court for the
Eastern district. Judge Benedict presidtng:-
To the Hon. CHARLES L. BENEDICT Judge Of the United
states District Court for the Eastern District OF New
The libe! Of the National Steamship Company of Liver
81 s
OF scton civil and and maritime. alleges.
onsd they Were the sole and
n xc and that the said wss nSF s
ana run Dy sa1 m s one o. regular line Of
the Guy Of rS New Yor x. ;,
ya' rom tss s ss
cargo and csSi" and stssrass p.ssn Hases
YORK hsyns Sossd (: s.T as , and
the SAID Europe dying Signals q
TrdIhst al ne earnest request Of the the
NAMED BY the Europe twcnyfou hours or therea-
Of said speanship Greece transferred to said eamshp
from the Europe all the enoers. crew passengers and
mails Of the SAID steamship Europe, being voyage OF
foM@fh at the time such services were rendered
high 80 that the transfer Of said crew and
ana with tSs loss ships SS.s. and hsli
or said Transfer ana 0ner properly
NmIhat the said Greece conveyed al the
he said city Of New York passengers and supported
.s1A1fhst the SAID steamship, Europe belonged. and
81 a h sS ans
and SS 81 q re-
laws Of the republic o. France
'ssSs Ne Ssss
S s ss Inc as
ship Europe at the request Of her MASTER and saving
re ssia steamship Europe ana i carrying them rom
s or my sSsS on ss
ACCOMMODATIONS while 50 earrying them, and for the
81 s 5 81 o ssr
abou.s which sum the respondents have negeosed and
a the ssS s. the
Sns n hs Tie % S Court EOrk and within the
~ srf
sn .na s the wh d HsT Ss HreSn
tic Ss the 70 AND and rs.
they be not ,ounq then thar their w.t. the
sss and &
would Dc pleased decree 70 the ,Dsil.nts
wise right and Justice to administer in the premises.
Managing Agent Nationa, Steamship 81 i COMPANY
sTorn e P me s o4 Ii any Of MAY
John Chetwood, proctor Tor hbcliantA T. D. Bene-
dict, Of counsel.
Statement Of Mr.. Mackenzie.
HERALD reporter called upon Mr. George
Mackenzie, or the French Transarlanttque line, to
ask him the reason OF the sudden change OF frout
Il M0Ckeus
zie seemed to feel the position in which he was
placed very keenly. and said that this lbeling OF
the st. Laurent was quite unexpected to him.
He sao that the National Line at hrst simply pre-
scented bill Tor $l6400, and that at the time he
wrote Mr. Hurst . letter, saying that he would be
but that It would be all right ultimately II he
would walt little time. Nothing further was
him. He neeved the SUIT Was
result OF malice and desire to give trouble
TO the company Mr.. Hurst knew that
or security, aud that there was danger IN leav.
Ing the matter IN a0eyance ior some time. He
1 mere S o Us 1 70 ae Laurent
the suit and release the vessel before the time for
her departure. Mr.; Mackenzie added that the
refused to pay the sum demanded was false. as in
his letter he distinctly said that he must submit
the bill to the company in Paris; but tnis would
not anect the nnal settlement
STATEMENT OF Mr.. HURST.
- reporter OF the HERALD also called upon Mr..
Hurst and asked him MS object III selling upon
the ST. Laurent. Mr.. hurst said he was. OF
course, sorry Tor the mislOrtuneS of the
French line VT L they did not pay Their bills the
way OF dong this was to seize any property the
debtors owned This bill to the lransatantique
MIR. Mackenzle's first letter acknowledging It's re-
ccpt and saying 1t would be sent to Paris he had
@ % % ~ ns mere me was no
kenze had probably forgotten there was such q
thing as telegraph across the ocean, which could
have been used. ON the other hand, what GER
tainty had he that there would always
be an opportunity to seize upon avail
able property OF the French company
II they continued to neglect to pay TINS biIR As Tor
the reason OF The charge OF $4,000 instead OF
$4,000 the first price had been merely that for
carrying the passengers But when one came to
consider the danger that was incurred and the de-
lay In the midst Of a storm, mourning risk and
many other items OF actual expense which had
not been at first calculated in the original BILL and
considering on the whole the conduct OF the
orlcers OF the Europe and persons belonging to
the French Company he thought there was no
reason why any release should DO made to them.
The National Line was indebted TO the Transatlan-
they should grant any. The libelling OF the St
Laurent was not done 70 prevent her sailing or In
that Mr.. Mackenzie should get sureties, which he
can easily do Immediately.
The solicitor OF the National Line states that Mr..
Mackenzie was informed Of the proceedings IN time
Tor him to bond the vessel; that securlty for her
entire value was waived and much smaller bond
tak that the Justification n aure tiaa which