The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-07-02
BROUGHT 4HHN 70 TERMS.
How a Plucky American Captain
Went to Gonaiyes,
THE CAPTURE OF THE OzAMAl
BY IegItime's Men at Haytl and Her
Quick Release-As Situation More
Iadicrous Than Dangerous,
An InteFesting Episode.

III NNN @NNS$N1ttHn AfNteNNNs ~
Nav YORE, July i, Captain Rockwell,
the commander OF the Clyde steamer
ozama, called at the office Of the Clyde
line this morning at 0 o'clock and Fe,
ported the arrival Of his vessel, Then
he left for his home in New Jersey, At
the office Of the steamship company II
was stated that the captain had made no.
report whatever as yet, and probably
would not until tomorrow when the.
events Of his passage and the trouble
with General Legitime's gunboats at
Pcrtap'PHpce would be fully entered
into.
An evening paper gives the following
as result pf m interview with Captain
Rockwell; The ozama left this city on
June 9bound for Gonaiyes, Hayti. She
carried acargo Of provisions, but no arms
or ammunition Of any kind, On the
morning Of June 8, when the ozama was
about thirty.two miles from GonaiYes,
three Haytian gunboats were discovered
rapidly approaching. Captain Rockwell,
not Wishing to be delayed by any OF the
whims towhich the Haytian war vessels
are constantly subiecting American yes,
sells, piled on steam and forged ahead as
fast as he could. The gunhoats he soon
made out TO be some Of legitlme's ships.
They were the Defense, the Marseilles
and the ToussiRnt u Overture.
The 0zama had not gone far whensud
denly from the long gun on the bow oil
the defense came q fash, and cannon
ball whizzed across the bows OF the
0zama. That settled matters, and Capt,
Rockwell hove 10. The Defense was
now alongside and a boat was lowered.
II was pulled alongside OF the 0zama
and the first officer clambered up the
side. "
"The captain Of the Defense wants
you TO come aboard his vessel,
"Tell your Captain answered Capt,
Rockwell, "that II he wants to see me
he can find me on board my yship.n The
officer saluted, returned To the Defense
with Capt. Rockwell's answer and soon
returned with an official known as the
Secretary Of the Defense. This individ-
ual asked to see the 0zama's papers.
They were shown him.
"Conaives is blockaded,n he told Capt.
ROCKWELL land you cannot 80 there.
You will have to 30 with US either 10
Port au Prince, Jerimie or Aux Cages.
You can 60 nowhere else"
Capt. Rockwell protested against his
being detained, but he finally had TO
give in, and said he would got to Port
ap Prince.
Under escort OF three gunboats, the
ozama arrived in the outer harbor OF
Portau.P Prince at midnight that night.
Early next. morning the Ozama was
taken into the inner harbor and
anchored under the guns OF the fort.
Captain Rockwell Immediately went
ashore and sought out Minister Thomp-
son, who represents this country To-
Hayti.
The American Minister asked the
Haytian Government why the 0zanla
was detained and demanded her release.
Not the slightest attention was paid to
the letter and no answer was received
that day. Next morning the American
nan.of.war 0ssippee steamed into the
harbor with Captain Kellogg on board
As soon as she anchored Captain Rock
well pulled out 10 her and met Cap
tain Kellogg coming In. Both gigs
stopped and Captain Rockwell
told how he had been captured
and the Haytian Government would not
let him 60 out. Capt, Kellogg said he
could take her out, Both commanders
then went ashore and proceeded to the
American minister's house. The en-
trance Of the osippee into the harbor
had evidently stirred up the Haytan
dignitaries, for they were at the Amerif
can minister's house in full force. There
were three or four officials, Capt. Rock
well says, but he did not remember who
they were.
After being introduced the Haytians
were ready to argue the matter. "We
are very sorry that this happened,n
they said, all smiles and very polite,
''but, Of course, II couldn't be prevented.
The port OF Gonaives Is bloCkaded and
the vessel cannot proceed" 'pThere Is
no use Of all this palaverlng, said the
captain Of the United States man-oi-war.
'tThe ship has got 10 be released at
once. You have no right 10 detain her
and want you TO distinctly under
stand that as long as j am here you can.
not interfere with American ships.n
More arguing on the part Of the Hay-
tians, but their smiles had disappeared.
Capt. Kellogg then said: u will give
you until 8 o'clock, and II the ship 10