Daily Kennebec journal., 1883-04-27
Insult to Naval Officers.
TREATMENT OF Two OFFICERS OF TIL
TALLAPoosA At ST. AUGUsTISE.

A Washington despatch 10 the New York
Times says An evening paper published in
this city has given publicity on two succeed
ing days to grossly unjust attack, printed
in an obscure jacksonville Journal. upon
Ensign Tappan and Assistant Engineer
Reeves, of the Tallapoosa. The story, as
furnished to the jacksonville paper, was to
the effect that the officers named had gone
ashore at st. Augustine in a partly intoxi
Gated condition, had outrageQusly insulted
Two ladies who were walking with gentlemen
on the plaza, and that one Of the gentlemen
accompanying the ladies had knocked En-
sign Tappan down, and had only been pre-
vented from doing him further harm because
some bystanders had interfered. The version
of the affair as printed added that $50 far as
we can learn. public sentiment is set strongly
against the naval officers, and many good
people applauded the action of Canova the
man who was reported to have struck Mr..
Tappan. To all the other misinformation
given. the paper added that Mr.. Chandler
had looked into the matter and that no
decision had been reached, and it was
probable the officers would be suspended
or dismissed. 1t was true that
in st. Augustine public sentiment
was 'set strongly against the naval
officers" and the .alors as well 1t
was not long after the Tallapoosa anchored
in Matanzas river and her men began to come
ashore that they discovered a feeling setting
strongly against them. The old rebel hatred
of the Federal power manifested itself in con
temptible ways. The crackers ANNOYED the
blue jackets with taunts. and one of them
jeeringly told a man uf the rallapoosa that he
knew the ship had been brought to the port
because there was fear the rebels would shoot
the President. No attention was paid to the
inhosptable reception by the natives of the
old stock, the men behaving admirably under
considerable provocation. Early in the even
ing Ensign Tappan and Assistant Engineer
Reeves came ashore, both perfectly sober. and
bound for the Magnolia Hotel, where a num-
Der of the officers were gathered to hear the
concert given in honor of the President. Mr..
Tappan is a genial. courteous gentleman, and
Mr.. Reeves. slight and modest man, is the
last person in the world one would expect to
find promoting street brawl. There were
many persons on the street. and among them
were n Mr.. Canova and Mr.. Irwin walking
with two ladies. Canova in passing the Off
GERS, suddenly turned upon them and accused
Mr.. Tappan of using indecent language
to the ladies, and in bullying tone threat
ened to thrash him. In few moments Mr..
Canova had the reputation all over the town
of having beaten half the Tallapoosas crew,
and had given a bad name to the ships com
pany.
Commander Kellogg heard :he story early
on Monday morning. Taking correspond
ent with him, he Immediately found Mr..
Canova, but not until he had learned that
person SO named had a reputation for being
quarrelsome. Mr.. Canova admitted that he
had assaulted the officers. but that he had
been mistaken in supposing they had insulted
the ladies who were with him. Commander
Kellogg, not satisfied with this explanation,
went on board the Tallspoosa, called Mr..
Tappan and Mr. Reeves into his cabin, and
questioned them. They both denied the re-
port that they had insuited the ladies' on the
street, said that at the time they were assaulted
by Canova they had not seen any ladies, and
that they were both astonished at the sudden
and unexpected attack on them. Secretary
Chandler knew of the whole matter. and
he was at times accessible to everybody in
ST. Augustine and nobody had made any
complaint to him he was bound to respect the
statements of the officers, and to consider
them wholly blameless. As Commander
Kellogg entertained the same view the mat
ter was dropped, and Ensign Tappan was
sent on shore to report for duty with the
Presidents party.