Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-01
MERCHANTMEN TO FIGHT.
American Vessel Owners, Will Resist
Seizures IN Colombian Waters.

The Philadelphia Press this morning con-
tains New York special stating that the firm
of L. Scheff 4 Co., importers, has sent an armed
vessel to Colon and the coast of Panama with
instructions to make forcible resistance il the
Colombian gunboat La Popa, which recently
seized several trading vessels, should attempt
to interfere with her. Matters have been
brought to this crisis, the special says, by the
high-handed action of the Colombian author
tiles with reference to the American trade
along the San Bias coast Merchants in New
York, Philadelphia, Boston and Baltimore have
trade amounting to several millions annually
with the Indians OF the Isthmus 100 to 200
miles south of Colon.
The Colombian law requires vessels which
desire to trade at the small ports along the
isthmus to enter the port of Colon first and, for
statistical purposes. to take out a license. The
cost OF the trading license is about $50. Amer
lean trade has been increasing OF late years
along this coast and has been driving ont the
slow Spaniards of Carthageha and other places.
These Spanish merchants resurrected a long
obsolete law which they construed to require
all Constructing vessels to go frs: TO Cartha-
gena their discharge their cargo and pay heavy
duties, and then reload and retrace their course
to the San elias or other trading points along
the isthmus. Such requirement would of
course mean death to American trade. No no.
traders. and the seizure of vessel was the irst
knowledge they gained of what was on foot.
THE FIRST SHIP SEIZED
was the schooner Pearl. belonging to James
Heron Of IA Water street. New York. She was
captured by La Popa on the San Bias coast on
October 2. She was taken to Carthagena and
held subject to confscation for smuggling. She
IS still at Carthagena, but Mr.. Heron expects
to secure the release of the vessel if not of her
10 has, ,s,ll l.
on the best terms possible. He has not applied
| to the State department to secure redress. be-
cause the vessel sailed under the English flag
Application was made to the English vice con-
| sui at Carthagena, who has been in CORE
| spondence with his superiors, but nothing has
| been done yet.
TWO scHooSERs.
The next victims were the schooners Julian
and Willie, both owned by Foster 4 Co., i'm
porters, at 1874 Front street. The Willie sailed
| under the American flag and the Julian under
the Dominican. The latter is an American
built vessel and is engaged solely in American
trade.
On learning Of the action of the Colombian
| authorities Foster & Co. sent the schooner
Edith b. Coombs under the American flag to
bring home the perishable goods from San
Bias which the Julian would have taken. The
Coombs went to Colon for her license and she
| is held there by the authorities for what reason
TOsttr sD 20. are unable 10 learn. Inc facts
were laid before the State department at Wash
ing;on several days ago aud application was
made Tor the active interference of the govern
ment.
THE GUN BOAT.
La Popa is not formidable gun boat She is
more properly an armed steam yacht of about
100 tons. 1t is said she was formerly a pleasure
boat owned by Washington E. Conner OF New
York, and that he sold her to the Colombian
government to be used as a coast cruiser.
l.. Scheff x Co. have promptly taken the law
into their own hands. On Saturday last they
dispatched the schooner George W. Whitford
| to Colon, and thence TO the San Bias coast
The Whlttord Is equipped with two small cam
non, rifles and revolver5 and plenty of ammu-
milton. She carries picked crew of eight
men and her owners regard her as fully abb, to
cope with the gun boat ordinarily manned
The captain, William Foster, Is instructed 70
proceed first to Colon to procure the usual trad
| ing license and thence to the San Bias coast,
and to resist TO any extent any attempt at cap
| ture after the usual requirements have been
complied with. The WhItford carries the usual
miscellaneous cargo and sails under the Ameri-
| can flag.
The Columbian minister. Senior Hurtado.
when asked about the seizures said he knew
| nothing OF them, no report had reached him
| from his government. He thought il probable
| that the vessels reported seized had
violated the laws of his country and
lldl wien MI tue lacls were known the
| action OF his government would not appear to
| to have been unjust or arbitrary. .'Our gov
eminent" he said, lis anxious to extend her
| commercial relations. We do what few other
countries in the world do; we allow foreign YES
sells to trade along our coast precisely our
own vessels do, with exception, of course, that
| they must properly enter their goods. You
| will find that IN every case where seizures
| have been made it is because foreign vessels
| attempt to trade on licenses without paying the
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