The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-02-26
INSULT TO OUR FLAG.
THE FIRING UPON THE VALENCIA
At Curucoa-Ths Amda,Its Of the Oriesrs and
Pa,,sDsers Describing the Oeearrsnee-Nar.
row Escape from a Solid Shot at
: Short Ranse-AetIon to DO Taken.

81 sea on DOaru OF tne NaieuClh ny hI'
Hora.io N. Beach, United States Consul at
Puerto Cabello, who was passenger on
the ship, bound for New York, The Sec
retary OF State to-day directed instruction
to be sent to Consul Barnes at Curacao to
make the proper representations under the
circumstances and report Immediately the
result OF bis action. As there-is no cable
communication with Curacao the CORES.
pondence will have TO be carried on by
mail. It is probable that Consul Barnes
has already acted in this matter and that
the next steamship from that port will
bring his statement and the result OF his
communication to the proper authorities.
Following are the atfidayits Of the mas
ter and officers and passengers on the Val.
encia filed at the State department: :
AFFIDAVIT OF THE MASTER.
Samuel Hess, OF Brooklyn, N. Y, master
OF the United States mail steamship
Valencia, being sworn deposes and says
that the ship under his charge entered the
harbor Of Curacao on the morning Of Feb
ruary 0, from Puerto Cabello, and remained
until the evening OF the 18th. During the
stay Of the ship cargo was taken on board
for New York. In all respects my papers
were perfected as usual, and there were
no irregularities whatever. About half an
hour before the departure Of the ship an
officer, representing the authority OF the
port, came on board and stated that the
ship was all right and 10 proceed to sea.
The mails were on board; the agents Of
the ships had left their papers. Consul
Barnes and the pilot were present to so
out with the ship, and after the customary
signalling by blowing the steam whistle,
the ship, in charge of the pilot, proceeded
out OF the harbor. While the ship was
passing through the narrow channel
between the forts, ! observed the
soldiers stationed there loading gun.
when the pilot informed me that they
were going to fire into us. told him TO
tell them not to fire, as the papers were all
right and that the fort pass had been de.
livered. The pilot raised his hand, called
them, and said all was right. The ship was
going at half speed, the wind was blowing
strong, and the channel being narrow the
ship could not be stopped, as, stopping
would have endangered her safety, the
rocks being on both sides Of the channel.
As soon as we got clear OF the entrance the
ship was stopped. While laying in this
condition and saluting the fort with the
United States ensign solid shot was fired
at the ship from the fort. The ship was
then from six to eight hundred yards from
the Tort. The ball was fired directly at the
ship and struck the water few feet from
the ship in a line about forty feet forward
Of the propeller on the port side. ..
Having discharged all my duties in the
customary manner, and having no knowl-
edge or intimation OF anything wrong lam
at loss TO account for the extraordinary
course pursued in firing upon the ship.
(Signed) SAMUEL Hess.
Subscribed and sworn 10 before me, Feb
ruary IA 1888, at sea.-HoRATIo N. BEACH,
United States Consul at Puerto Cabello. .
AFFIDAVIT OF FIRST OFFICER AND DoArswAIS.
William woodrick, OF Philadelphia, first
officer, and George Smith, Of New York,
boatswain, being sworn depose and say:
That they are employed on the steamship
Valencia; that on the afternoon Of Februa-
ry l2, 1858, about 8 o'clock, an officer from
the fort came on board, inquired for the
chief officer and informed that officer that
the ship was "all right 10 20, "'the notice
being given in the customary manner.
About half an hour after the notification
was received the ship started out OF the
harbor. WILLIAM WooDRIcK.
GEORGE SMITH.
Subscribed and sworn to before me at
sea, February "A, lSSS-HoRATIo N. BEACH,
United States Consul at Puerto Cabello.
AFFIDAVIT OF PASSENGERS.
Alexander G. Donnelly, OF New York, a
passenger, and Alfred Brotherton, British
shipmaster, residing in Baltimore, pas
senger, being sworn, depose and say, that
they were passengers from Puerto Cabello
to the United States by the United States
steamship Valencia. Said ship entered the
harbor OF Curacao on the morning OF Feb
ruary 8. When the ship had passed out Of
the harbor and was about eight hundred
Yards from tho fort we were standing at
the after part OF the smoking room near
the bulwark on the port side. The engines
had been stopped and the ship was headed
for tine south. A solid shot was fred from
the tort, which had not been proceeded by
blank shot, and which struck the water
about sixteen feet from the side OF the ship
and in direct line with the place where
we stood. The water displaced by the
shot or the shot struck the ship, causing
sensible vibration.
ALEXANDER G.. DoNNELLY.
ALFRED BRoTnERToN.
Subscribed and sworn TO before me at
sea, February IA, lSS3.-HoRATro N. BEACH,
United States Consul at Puerto Cabello.
STATEMENT OF CONSUL BEACH.
To The STATE Department.
The undersigned, Of Brockport, N. Y,
United States Consul at Puerto Cabello, a
passenger by the steamship Valencia, re.
spectfully states that on the afternoon Of
February 70 there occurred ut Curacao the
usual signal oi departure by the steamship
Valencia; that the agents Of the steamship
line made parting visit; that Consul
Barnes came on board to accompany me
out OF the harbor; that the ship, in charge
OF local pilot, proceeded on its way; that
In passing the forts there was some appar.
ent excitement on them; that on the ship
fears were entertained that the ship was 10
be tired into. / witnessed the firing OF the
solid shot toward the ship, which was the
only shot fred. The firing upon a mer-
chant ship carrying passengers Is assuredly
a grave affair; and to throw some light
upon 1t l have taken the accompanying
aitidavits, which have the honor respect
fully to submit.
United States Consul at Puerto Cabello
On Steamship Valencia, at sea, Feb. IA, 'S.
The ChandIer.Gorringe Letters. p
WAsuIyGroS. February 24-Comment