Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-02-23
AN AMERICAN SHIP FIRED AT.
Strange Conduct of the Dutch AuthOri-
ties at Curacao.
Neag York Times

Captain Samuel Hess, master of the
steamship Valencia, which arrived
at this port late ON Monday night
from Curacao, reported that the
steamer was fired at while pass
ing between the two forts at the entrance
into the harbOr at that port. The Valen-
ella is an American vessel carving the
United States mails, and was loaded with
cargo of coffee consigned to BOultOn,
Bliss g. BALLET, whose office is at No. 1875
Pearl street. She sailed from Puerto
Cabello, Venezuela, on the Sth
instant, and arrived the next morning
at Curacao. On the evening of the 18th she
left for this port, among her passengers
being the United States Consul 10 Puerto
CabellO, HOratiO n. Beach; Alexander
q. Donnelly, a mining engineer, and
Capt. BrOthertOn, whose ship had found
cred off one of the Venezuelan Islands.
Mr.. DOnnelly said yesterday he was
aboard the Valencia when the shot was
fired. When the ship started down the
narrow channel, on each side of which
was fort, he took his position near the
flagstaff on the hurricane deck. "As we
approached the forts looked forward to-
ward the bridge andssaw the Captain and
the Dutch Government pilot at their posts
There was also a sailor standing near the
flagstaff ready to dip our cOlOrs when we
should pass the Dutch forts. Suddenly,
noticing startled look ON the Cap
taIn's countenance, l turned toward the
fort and saw a company of soldiers
shOtting cannon which they had run
out on the parade ground. 1t was of
large calibre. The Dutch pilot then
shouted to the soldiers, but their reply l
could not understand. At this time the
sailor dipped the ensign, and the Captain
shouted back; Raise that flag and don't
you lower it again. We then saw that
they were going to fire, and were all more
or less excited at this demonstration
against a merchant vessel. Suddenly we
saw the smoke leap from the cannon, and
in another instant the shot struck the
water about 16 feet from the side of the
ship in direct line with the point where
we were standing. The water was forced
up, and there was vibration against the
ship, either by the water or the ricochet
of the shot. then went forward and Joined
United States Consul Beach and United
States Consul Barnes, of Curacao, who
came on board to see Mr.. Beach off,
asked Mr.. Barnes what it.meaat, and he
replied, with strong emphasis, i do not
know; | cannot understand it, We had
now got below the forts, and the Dutch
pilot was in trembling manner getting
ready to leave the ship, while its crew
nearly forced Mr.. Barnes into the sea in
getting INTO the boat. AS Mr.. Barnes left
the ship Captain Hess shouted to him.
Remember, Mr.. Barnes, ! have nv fort
pass all right, and my papers are regular
We afterWard searched the ship, and
there were no political refugees on board.
Consul Beach then took the dispositions of
all the officers and passengers on the
steamer, and will present the papers to
the State Department at Washington"
Captain Hess, in his depoaition, con-
firms all that Mr.. D0nne1ly stated, and
said that there were no irregularities in
the papers. Half an hour before sailing
an authority of the port came on board
and stated the ship was all right, and to
proceed to sea. There was the customary
signaling on leaving the port. $When 81
saw the men loading the guh,D continued
Captain Hess, ~ told the pilot to tell
them not to fire, and that the fort pass had
been delivered, He then called out that
all was right, but the shot came. The
wind was strong and, the channel being
narrow, the ship could not be stopped, as
it would have endangered its safety, for
there were rocks ON both sides. We were
800 yards from the forts. The shot Came
in line about forty feet forward of the
propeller. HsTihg had no intiuaf,on of
anything wrong, an at a loss to account
for the extraordinary conduct pursued in
firing on the ship.v
United States Consul Beach said he
knew of no reason for the action of the
hutch authorities. # anything had been
wrong, they should have fired a blank
shot first across the bows. He also said
he should present the papers at Washing
ton at once, and those of Mr.. Barnes
would be sent by the next steamer.
Mr.. II, G. Burlage, Consul General for
the Netherlands, thought that If the va
lencia was tired at, she probably did not
eoInp4y WITH the quarantine regulations
and attempted to escape them. The vel
low fever regulations were very strict,