The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-07-31
THE FLAG INsULTED.
An American Schooner Searched by
the Spantards.
THE GRAPHIC STORY OF CAPTAIN PARSONS, OF
THE GEORGE wAsHINGTON--A CLEAR CASE
FOR THE STATE DEPARTMENT AT LAsT-THE
CAPTAINS AFFIDAVIT.
baltimore American ]

baltimore Americana
| Captain OZIas M. Parsons, OF the schooner
George Washington, who arrived at this
port on July 9th from Manchioneal, Ja-
maica, reports that on his outward passage.
when of Cape Moyzi, the eastern point OF
Cuba, he was boarded by Spanish gun
boat, the officers OF which made a forced
/ search of his vessel Ia the same manner as
/ in the recent cises OF the schooners Ethel
! A. Merritt, Of Philadelphia. and Eunce p.
Newcombe, OF Boston. AT the time he was
fifteen miles from shore, or nine miles be-
yond the extreme limit Of jurisdiction
claimed by the Spanish Government I'm
Cuban waters, and In the direct course OF
the West India traders. Manchioneal, to
which point he was bound, Is at the eastern
end Of Jamaica, about twenty miles east of
Port Antonio, and on the opposite side Of
the island from Kingston. II is small by
port, only frequented by vessels in the
fruit trade.
! Captain Parsons's affidavit, which is given
in full below, contains circumstantial
statement OF the affair, and will be sup
ported by affidavits OF the mate and crew
should the United States authorities desire
them. His account is the m )st clear and
circumstantial that has yet heen furnish
ed in regard 10 the outrages by Spanish
cruisers on American vessels, and most i'm.
portant from an official standpoint, owing
TO the fact that his vessel was so far beyond
the limits OF Spanish jurisdiction, as de-
fined by the Spanish Government them
selves. The following is
CAPTAIN PARSONs's AFFIDAVIT.
State Of Maryland, city Of baltimore, SS. I:
Ozas NJ. Parsons being duly sworn ac-
cording 10 law, saith: | am captain OF the
schooner George Washington, owned by
Stephen G.. Hodgdon. Of Booth Bay, Me-,
'and on June 23, 1880. cleared from this port in
ballast for Manchionea Jamaica, for cargo
of fruit. On July 5, 1880, about II O'Clock,
when off Cape MoYZi, AT the eastern point OF
Cuba, and about fifteen miles from shore.
saw, with the aid Of my glasses, the smoke
of q steamer apparently lying of the Cuban
coast, about ten miles distant from me. In
a few moments after l first made him ont
he altered his course and steamed for us as
though 10 cross our bow. When he bad
come within three miles lie again changed
his course and went 10 windward OF US,
aero g our stern, about one and half miles
of. When | saw that he was making for us,
ordered my colors TO be run up TO the top
mast truck.
Up 10 this time the stranger, whom
made out TO be man.of-war, had
shown no cOlOrs. After crossing our
stern he Kept off, parallel with us until
he got abreast, when he set The Spanish flag
ana pennant at the same time. He was then
within hailing distance, and | could see
that his ports were open and his guns man.
ned-one forward and one aft. This was
about l O'Clock in the day. He then steamed
ahead about a quarter Of mile, stopped,
lowered boat, and put off for us. On see
ing his purpose l ordered the schooner to
hove to, and went TO the rail to receive him.
AS the boat came alongside | saw that it
contained two officers and ten men.
The officers carried their swords. and the
men carried their bayOnets ia sheaths and
had their muskets piled up in the bottom
Of the boat, which was an ordinary launch.
The officers came on board, accompanied
by the coxswain. As they came aboard the
commanding officer beckoned me towards
the cabin, and by signs gave me TO under
stand that be wanted TO see my papers. We
then went down into the cabin and l hand
ed him my papers. and as did so, asked
him in English whether he could read them.
At first he said 'Oui," aud afterwards in
English, Yes" | then asked him II he
could speak English, and he replied, Every
little" Meanwhile the secOnd officer, by
direction OF his superior officer, had gone
into the hold, and after remaining there
about ten minutes joined us in the cabin. |
After he had finished reading the papers, |
and appeared satisfied that they were all |
right, he gave them back 10 me, and we
went on deck again.
The commanding officer then directed the |
second officer to make another inspection OF |
the hold, which only contained a few bar
rels Of flour, which were among the stores. |
He was gone on this inspection ten minutes |
more. asked him by what authority | was |
thus boarded and my vessel searched, but |
he made no answer that could understand. |
The two officers conferred together for some
minutes, but as they talked Spanish / was |
unable TO understand what they said. FL
nal!y they went forward, as il celebrating |
whether to 20 down to the forecastle or not.
and then turning around The superior officer
said to me, in perfectly plain English,
'' How many men have yOuY" replied |
that had five, and called them up, so that
he could satisfy himself about 1t. He then
waved his hand in the direction OF the coast
Of Hayti, which bore about southeast from
Us, and, without a word Of explanation
whatever, or Of courtesy, reeutered the
launch and put back to the steamer, after
having been on board about three quarters
Of an hour.
The commanding officer was about five
feet seven inches high, wore slight nous
Lache, and did not appear 10 be over twen-
ty-fye years old. The second officer was
much larger man, wore heavy moustache,
and appeared to be about thirty-fve years
Did. The officers were in undress uniform.
The steamer appeared to be about 500 or
500 tons burthen, about l75 feet long, and
was a side wheeler. She was full brig
rugged, and carried $50 far as | was able TO
make OUT four guns. She came on us in
such a way that | could not make out the
entire name on the stern; but was able to
see the last four letters were GARY"
After the officers left me / resumed my
course, and arrived at Manchionea, Jamai-
"a, on the morning of July 7th. There
being no consul in that place, was unable
20 report the affair to the United States au-
hOrIties.
| left Manchioneal on my return voyage
July l4th, and, encounteIing no further in
arrived at this port on July
18th with a cargo OF fruit consigned to Dix
WNkins, Of this city, and discharged at
dock.
[Signed] o. NJ. PARSONS.
Sworp and su bscribed to before me this
9th day OF July, A. d. 1880.
JOSHUA NJ. MYERS,
Justice OF the Peace.