The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1892-02-04
Previous Ultinatums.

Just now, when the Gillian cOntfov
ersy is hanging so prominently over the
public mind and there is so much talk Of
for our Government to pursue towards
an outcome, the New York San says, it
not altogether irrelevant to consider for
a moment few cases scattered over orr
naval history where Uncle Sam, in his
search for peace, has felt called upon to
assume a belligerent attitude. Forum
ately enough, the United States has not
had many occasions where it has been
regum. 1t is interesting to note, more
over, that in the few cases which occur
to mind where such course has been
deemed necessary to maintain the mas
tional dignity, the warike declarations
were only speedy means to a peaceful
termination of the difficulties.
Cne of the most attractive cases oc-
CURED during Jackson's Administration
that part of Italy known at that time as
the kingdom of Naples. During the
years from 1909 and 1912, the Neapolitan
Government. under Joseph Bonaparte
Piles, had confiscated numerous Ameri
can ships and cargoes. The total amount
the American claims, as filed in the State
Department. against Naples when Jack
IYni nictra aCcn1nnI control
WIS 81, 1874 1914. They were held by vas
rious insurance companies and by clti
zens, principally of Baltimore. Demands
for the payment of these claims had
from time to time been made by our
Government, but Naples had always re-
fused to settle them.
Jackson's Administration took a. de-
cided stand. The Hon. John Nelson, of
Frederick, Md, was appointed Minister
to Naples and ordered to insist upon a
settlement. Commodore Daniel Platter
son, who aided in the defence OF New
Orleans in 1915, was put in command OF
the Mediterranean squadron and ordered
to cooperate with Minister Nelson in
enforcing his demands. When Naples
persisted in her refusal a warlike demon
stration was decided upon and Commo>
dore Patterson laid his plans, The entire
force at his command consisted of three
Slogan frigates and three 20-gun cor
vettes. So as not to precipitate matters
too hastily the plan was for these vessels
to appear in the Neapolitan waters one at
time, and instructions were given &C
cordingly.
The Brandwine, with Minister Nelson
on board, went first. Mr.. Nelson re
peated the demands for a settlements,
and they were refused There was
nothing in the appearance of Yankee
envoy and single ship to trouble King
Bomba and his little kingdom. The
Brandywine cast anchor in the harbor,
and the hunbed envoy waited patiently
for few days. Then another flag APP
peared on the horizon, and the frigate
States floated into the harbor and came
to anchor
Mr.. Nelson repeated his demands, and
tASf WClC eASdlA lGIonCO. Oui otoJ .
slipped away and the Stars and Stripes
again appeared on the horizon. King
Bomha, looking out from his pa sssssSc <Tin-
dows, saw the fifty gun frigate Concord
sail into the harbor and drop her anchor.
Then signs of uneasiness and alarm be-
gan to show themselves Forts were re
paired, troops drilled, and more cannon
mounted on the coast. The demands
were reiterated, but the Neapolitan
Government still refused. Two days
later another warship made her way into
the harbor 1t was the John Adams.
When the fifth ship sailed calamity in,
the Bourbon Government seemed almost
on the point of yielding; but three days
later Mr.. Nelson sent word home that he
was still unable to collect the bill.
Just as the sixth sail showed itself on
the blue waters, King Bomba and his
Government announced that they would
negotiations were closed, and interest
was guaranteed on instalments. The
entire squadron remained in the Bay of
Naples from August 20 to September Is.
Then the ships sailed away and sep
arated.
Another demonstration, perhaps less
imposing than the one just referred to,
but quite as spirited and equally sue
cessful, occurred at Smyrna in 1858,
when Captain Duncan Nathaniel Ingra-
ham, with single s'oop of-war, trained
his broadsides on fleet of Austrian war
ships. The story was talked about last
October, when Captain Ingraham died.
but it cannot be too often repeated.
When the revolution of Hungary
against Austria was put down, Kesseth,
Koszta, and other leading revolutionists
fed to Smyrna, and the Turkish Govern
ment, after long negotiations, refused to
give them up. Koszta soon after came
to the United States, and in July, 1859,
declared under oath his intention of be-
coming an American citizen. The next
year Koszta went to Smyrna on business,
where he remained for time undis-
turbed. He had SO inflamed the Austrian
Government against him, however, that
plot was formed to capture him. On
June 81, 1884 band of Greek mercenaries.
hired by the Austrian Consul, seized
him in Smyrna and carried him off to an
Austrian ship of-war, the Huzzar, then
lying in the harbor. On board the YES
sci Archduke John, brother of the Ems
peror. was said to be in command.
Koszta was put in irons and treated as a
criminal.
The next day an American sloop-of-
war, the st. Louis, commanded by Cap
tain lngraham, sailed into the harbor.
Learning what had happened Captain
Ingraham Immediately sent on board
the Huzzar and corteously asked permits
sion to see Koszta. His request was
granted, and Captain Ingraham assured
himself that Koszta was entitled to the
protection of the American flag. He
demanded Koszta's release of the Aus
trian commander. When it was refused
he communicated with the nearest Uni
ted States official, Consul Brown, at
Constantinople. While he was waiting