Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-02
THE OZAMA'S RELEASE.
Capt. Kellogg's Bold Way Of Dealing
With the Haytiens.

/ Inc captain OF the OZama Tells the FOLLOWING
story of the seizure of his vessel by the Hay.
ten gunboats: On the morning Of June
when the Ozama was about thirty-two milel
from Gonaives, three Haytien gunboats wer.
discovered rapidly approaching. Capt. Rock
well, not wishing to be delayed by any of the
whims to which the Haytien war vessels are
constantly subjecting American vessels, piled
on steam and forged ahead as fast as he could
The gunboats he soon made out to be some OF
Legitim IS ships. They were the Defence, the
Marseilles, and the Toussaint rOverture. The
Ozama had not gone far when suddenly, from
the long gun on the bow Of the Defence, came
| a fash and a caunon-ball whizzed across the
| bow of the OZama. That settled matters, and
Capt Rockwell hove to- The Defence was now
| alongside, and a boat was lowered. It was
pulled alongside of the Ozama and the first
officer clambered up the side.
| The captain of the Defence wants you to
| come aboard his vessel at once" said the
| officer.
Tell your captain" answered Capt. Rock
well, THAT if he wants to see me he can find
me on board my ship"
The officer saluted, returned to the Defence
with Capt. Rockwelfs answer, and soon re-
| turned with an official known the secretary
| of the Defence. This individual asked to see
| the Ozama's papers. They were shown him.
''Gonaives is blockaded," he told Capt Rock
| to go with us either to Port-au-Prince, Jacmel,
| Jeremie, or Aux Cages.
YOU CAN GO NOWHERE ELSE"
In vain Capt. Rockwell protested against his
being detained, but he finally had to give in,
| and said he would go to Port-au-Prince. He
knew he would be more likely to meet an Amer
lean man-of-war there any anywhere else.
Under the escort of three gunboats, the Ozama
arrived In the outer harbor of Port-au-Prince
at midnight that night. Early next morning
the OZama was taken into the inner harbor and
anchored under the guns of the fort. Capt.
Rockwell Immediately went ashore and sought
| out Minister Thompson, who represents this
| country in Hayti.
The American minister communicated with
| the Haytien government, asking why the Oza-
| ma was detained and demanding her release.
Not the slightest attention was paid to the let
| ter and no answer was received that day. Next
morning the American man-of-war Ossipee
| steamed into the harbor with Capt. Kellogg on
board. AS soon she anchored Capt Rock
well pulled out to her and met Capt. Kellogg
| coming in Both gigs stopped and Capt. Rock
| well told how he had been captured and that
| the Haytien government would not let him go
out.
Capt Kellogg said he guessed he could take
him out.
Both commanders then went ashore and pro-
ceeded to the American minister's house. The
entrance OF the Ossipee into the harbor had
evidently stirred up the Haytien dignitaries,
for they were at the American minister's house
In full force. There were three four officials,
Capt. Rockwell says, but he did not remember
who they were. After being introduced the
Haytiens were ready to argue the matter.
I'VE are very sorry that this happened"
they said, all smiles and very polite, ''but of
course it could not be prevented. The port of
Gonaives is blockaded, and the vessel cannot
proceed"
CAPT. KELLoae's PROMPT ACTION.
"There is no use of all this palavering" said
the captain of the United States man-of-war
The ship has got to be released at once. You
have no right to detain her. and want you to
distinctly understand that as long as l am here
you cannot interfere with American ships
More arguing on the part of the Haytiens
followed, but their smiles had disappeared
Captain Kellogg then said: Il will give you
until o'clock, and if the ship is not released
by that time will come in and take her by
force"
1t was then 10 a. m. The doughty captain
by this time had his dander up, and his anger
was increased when one of the officials said:
well We will release her, but she cannot go to
Gonaives."
by God. she will go to Gonaives. and she
will go tonight, and am going to take her,
too"
This settled the matter, and the Haytiens
withdrew, Capts. Kellogg and Rockwell went
to their respective vessels. About noon a
formal release was sent by Legitime to Min
lister Thompson, and the latter sent 1t to Capt.
Rockwell.
The latter Immediately weighed anchor,
holsted the American flag, and with his whistle
screaming defiance. sailed out from under the
guns of the port and anchored alongside of the
Ossipee. Three hearty American cheers were
given by the crew of the warship, and they
were returned with a vengeance At sunset on
the same day the Ossipee and the Ozama pro-
| ceeded to Gonaives without further molesta-
ton. Capt Rockwell went on board of the
Ossipee after they arrived and thanked Capt.
Kellogg.
The report that $1,000 in gold had been de-
manded and paid to Capt. Kellogg as an in
demnity by the Haytien government is not
true. and nothing whatever was said about an
indemnity. Capt. Kellogg, however, gave the
Haytien officials to know that the release of the
Ozama did not relieve them from a demand
being ma de for an indemnity.
ALL QUIET ON SUNDAY.
The legation of Hayti to the United States
are in receipt of cable dispatch dated Port
au-Prince Sunday to the effect that the govern
ment lines Hmans unchanged, no advance
| whatever having been made by the insurgent
forces, and that Hppolyte was still at Cape
Haytien. The capitals in the departments of
the south. southwest and west were in a state
of pprieet trauuuIlity