Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-02-21
ANOTHER INSULT.
This Time the Portuguese Disre.
gard Our Flag.
AN AMERICAN VESSEL SEARCHED ON
THE HIGH SEAS

s'e@A s"S -h@ohc AHAshus ny farty o.
Armed Portuguese Government Onicials
Who Claimed the Customs Laws Had
Been violated-The Captain Imprisoned
and Fined.
NEW BEDFORD, Mass, Feb S.-Anothel
insult to the American flag has been offered
this time by the Portuguese The informa
ton has just reached here, although the Incl
dent occurred October last.
The whaling vessel Mary Frazer, of Edgar.
ton, while on the high seas, was overhauletl
and searched. Later it was seized and was
taken in port TIE captain was for time
and still is, as far as known, virtually pris.
oner and has not the means TO return to this
country. The story, told on good authority,
is that the Mary Frazer landed members Of
her crew at Calditas, Pico, where their fami-
lies were.
The sailors were natives. While ashore.
Capt. Lapham was asked how much tobacco
he had slowed away on board the bark, and
stated innocently that he had eleven boxes
containing one hundred pounds, possibly
more. The bark was at this time on the
high seas Capt. Lapham returned to his
vessel and cruised about, awaiting the return
Of his men from the island. He was several
miles off shore. Then the Portuguese ap-
peared. An armed crew boarded the Mary
Frazer, and declared they must be informed
how much tobacco was in the captains pos
session. The captain, upon investigation,
stated that he had eleven boxes weighing two
hundred pounds
he entered strong protest against the
action of the Portuguese officials. He de-
clared that the vessel was outside of the
jurisdiction of any Portuguese man-of-war.
Then, being miles out at sea, he pointed to
the flying American flag and asked the au-
thority of the boarding party. The armed
Portuguese gave no reply, but searched the
vessel, only to find that Capt. Lapham had
told the truth about the tobacco.
One of the sailors on the Mary Frazer told
the Portuguese officials that near Flores some
of the tobacco had been sold by the Americans,
Capt. Lapham explained that the sale was
made on che high seas, far from land, and
that it was none of the business of any Port
uguese official
In reality he was placed under bonds, and,
being unable to furnish them, was kept on
the island. The civil proceedings were out
rageous under the circumstances: First, the
Mary Frazer was fined $500 Portuguese
money by the customs officials. It was held
by these officials that the false manifesto had
been given by Capt. Lapham; fine of $500
Portuguese money! was inflicted upon
CaT1f 1har oE
on the high seas, of which the offic ials were
informed by one of the sailors ON the Mary
Frazer. The place Of seizure was off the
Azores, some ten miles from Pico. An ap-
peal to the officials at Lisbon was sought by
the United States consul, but it was of NO
avail.
The armed foreigners then left the bark.
1t was not long before they returned. The
Portuguese gun boat Acor seized the Mary
Frazer, manned her with armed men and
towed her into the harbor of Fayal Capt,
Lapham has been prisoner or practically
prisoner OF war ever since. For several
days he was confined aboard. Then he was
allowed to go ashore under guard at the per-
mission of the Portuguese commander, and
security Of S400 was demanded to insure the
appearance of the captain when wanted.
Permission to appeal would only be
granted on deposit of $1,000 in cash. The
consul general saw no other way than to let
the local officials take possession of the bark,
md then seek redress through the govern
nent he represented. That he has done At
asst accounts the Americans We're still on the
sland. They have suffered loss of money
md time, and many indignities, and the YES
'el has been detained much to the loss of her
owners. The captain and his men are with
lut means,