The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-19
A Case for piplomatists.


! Il is announced that Secretary Blaine is
deeply engaged at present in trying to set
/ tie a little difficulty of an international
character that grew out of a hasty act of a
Florida sheriff. If he finds Sir Julian
Pauacefote, the British minister, peaceably
| inclined he may win diplomatic triumph.
The story Of the difficulty is an interesting
| one. The British yacht Rosalin, commanded
| by Capt F. s. Dugmore, retired officer
OF she British army, arrived in Tampa
Bay sometime before April l. She had a
rather distinguished party on board, among
them the captains wife, VINO is sister of
Lord Bronghal- il seems that son of
the captain had been in Florida some
months before, and had been
very much impressed with representa-
tons relative TO town lots which certain
real estate men had made to him. The
captain listened to his son and came to the
conclusion to iavest little of his money in
town lots that appeared 60 be increasing in
value very rapidly. Without seeing the
lots be purchased some of them, and to show
that he was in earnest he placed in the hands
of real estate agents quite large sum in
cash. After making his purchases he con-
cluded to take a look at his town lots. He
had some difficulty in finding them, and
when he did find them he was not so sure
that he wanted them. There was not,
according to the current story, any town
in the vicinity of them, and they
appeared to be valuable only for sand. AS
sand is rather cheap in Florida, he de-
manded the return of his securities The
real estate men not Only refused to return
them, but insisted upon having cash for
them, and also the balance of the purchase
money. The captain was obstinate and the
real estate men were shrewd They had an
attachment sued ont for the captains yacht,
ana the sheriff of Hillsboro county went
out into the bay to seize her. The sheriff
took along number of deputies, as he ex-
pected to have trouble. He was not disap-
pointed. There was an old soldier
in charge of the yacht. and he was
fighter. He told the sheriff that ne
couldn't come aboard, as the vessel was
British one. and had no room for boarders.
He even intimated that the sheriff's head
would be in danger if it came within reach
ing distance The sheriff wasn't afraid.
He knew his business, and he told the old
soldier to Just watch him." With the
agility of a cat he reached the yachts deck,
and he was followed by his friends Then
pistols were drawn and fired by both Sides.
but evidently they were not fired to kill,
because no blood was split.
Having captured the yacht, the sheriff
proceeded to take possession of her in the
name OF the law. He nailed to the mast
notice of the attachment and seizure Then
he and his friends returned to the shore
When Capt. Dugmore heard of the mat
ter, which he did within very few hours,
he was very mad, and he communicated
with the British consul at New Orleans.
That official laid the affair before the
British minister at Washington. and there
it rests for the present. There is no danger
of war probably between the United States
and England, but there is no doubt that
Capt. Dugmore, who has visited nearly all
parts of the world, is willing to admit that
it would be hard to find sharper traders
than there are among the real estate agents
of Elorida