The New York herald., 1875-12-10
ALABAMA CLAIMS.
DECISION OF THE COURT or COMMISSIONERS IN
THE CASE OF TIE BARK RIcHMoND-AN INTER-
EsTING sTATEMENT-AwARDs MADE AND

DECISION OF THE COURT or COMMISSIONERS IN
THE CASE OF THE BARK RIcHMoND-AN INTER-
EsTING NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. MADE AND
CASES PRESENTED.
WASHINGTON, Dec 0, 1875
In the Court of Commissioners of Alabama Claims to-
day, in the case of William Phillips Tho United
States the opinion OF the Court delivered by Judge
Jewell, as follows:-
This Is claim made by the owners of the bark Rich
mond for compensation for the OF the said VESSEL
and damage for consequent loss of the 'catch Of the
same IL appears that the bark Richmond was in the
month OF June, 1865 IN the Northern Pacific Ocean,
near Behrng Straits, pursuing the whaling bust
The Confederate cruiser Shenandoah had
captured large number OF whalers, and
among them the bark General Pike Tho
others had been burned, and the General Pike spared
and the officers and of the other vessels, TO the
number of 252 were placed on board Of her for con-
veyance to the nearest port which they might be able
to reach The last OF these captures was on the 2sh
day OF June On the lst day Of July the captain Of
the Richmond felt himself compelled TO take board
of his own vessel portion OF the officers and men
from the General Pike, under circumstances fully de-
tailed by him in statement annexed to the pctition
which is as foows he also added the statement ofthe
master.
We left Honolulu in the bark Richmond, bound on q
tion ofsuch arrival in the vicinity Of Behring straits
we IP with snip on r ne y N9t a .hs e
wreck As she had drifted into the ice and her mast falling
the Of my bark and as the wind was against me
was not losing much time by 50 doing. While, doing
steering southwark hailng he passed by and
time adysng me 70 nee % as he was doing @ for probably all
tion, determined leave for would quickly lose
the ship 70 80 without oil came to the conclusion
usual at such times Of the year, and take
sSe srss spite Of the Shenanaoah as proved 20 So
M experience IN those waters would enable me to do this
raised sail in the north coming toward us few hours
and in pursuit Of Coming alongside was surprised
70 many faces Of shpmaers They had been taken
! by hp Shenn ON
They stated they crowded and suffering from want
the sake d, humanity 70 relieve them, went
on board Of the General Pike to see @ for myself
to my vessel consulted with my ON
then told the hipmasers and prisoners that i they sti
ms On aRng & P95Tn bs a@a wSSS gave
and signed BY all the shpmasers, dare not do other
wise Under such conditions had 20 submit They put
hoard % d aDd wiz 9ss wK sd M ono
| STATEMENT OF THE MASTERS
We the undersigned do soemny swear thai our Il rs
@ y S me- % spa s @
all told, and being afraid Of sickness account Of The
crowded Of the ship requested Captain Weeks Of
kindly consented g DO ont Of humanity sake.
us6S W,Sslo3 3"pa% Captain Sss Ssff S'RsS 56ea
MILAN i. PHiLLITs, bark caiharino.
y. 5. REDFlELD, brig Susan Abigail.
JAMES n. CLARK. bark Nimrod
william BGNJRMfN JAN rhp ship q General ss Williams
HEBRON NJ. CRowELL bark General Pike
OPINION OF THE COURT
The conduct OF the Master of the Richmond as shown
in this statement in refusing flee from the Shenan-
doah, saying no would as quick lose the ship to
without oil, supporting his declaration by his action
in remaining, and IN finally yielding to the considera-
tons OF humanity what he would yield to fear,
is worthy OF the highest praise. His desire Of making
cargo OF oil greater than his fear OF capture
I by the Shenandoah What fear could not constrain
him 10 do feelings OIL humanity did. After careful
animation Of the necessity he voluntarily abandoned
his adventure to the lives Of the officers and
men put in peril upon the overcrowdcd General Pike
! Nothing more honorable praiseworthy has been
shown IN all our hearings Can the Court make compcn.
satiOn for the loss thereby nCurrcdf are compelled
ing this court end authority SO to DO. The
claims admissible before must be such as directly
result from damage caused by the socalled nsrgenf
cruisers In two cases heretofore considered by US,
where vessels were captured by the Alabama and tho
OF other vessels put for trans ortation
10 a port Of discharge, have awarded COMPENSATION
had been cually captured. Here there cap
ture.
The petition must be dismissed
MADE.
Awards were then made as iollows:-Case 892 "a
Daniel Mcfarland, 1854 90; case 1908 TO Reuben W.
Robes al, S2,Sl2 90; case g5s TO Catherine sails
chard and Blanchard So 3l 81 case ISL Alfred Tirrel
ct al, So, 500 49 Erastus M. Nash et a. "a D4g 7g
744 John H. Adden, 2,6O5 80; 1885, William II. Bar.
ney, case dismissed; 74l Franklin Classon at al adj.
ministrators 81, ST5 142 Seth Whilmorc ST. $50; 761
william Conroy, S625; I62 Lemuel Whitnorc ST. 25O;
| LAS, Chamer 5. Doves, $2, 424 90
on motion OF Alexander Porter Morse John n Sci.
don was admitted 10 practice.
CASES PRESENTED.
The Following cases were presented to the Court upon
the evidence ana oral arguments or counsel on the reg
ular second call:-Case No. 745-Wales b. Wentworth
vs. The United states Payson T. Tucker for claimants
and John A. j. Crcswell Tor the United States No.
! Sll-John y. Hallock VS. The United states; william
H. Warng for claimant and John A. J. Creswe for
the United states. No. 1035-Willam II. Barnes ct al.
VS.. The United States claim for tho shnGencral Will
iams. outfits, a.. destroyed BY the shchandoah. 4