Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-01-04
HERE'S A cAsus BELL.

HERE'S A CASUS BELL.
American Sailors Fired Upon by Domini'
can Soldiers-Two of Them Dangerously
Wounded-The Unacceptable Reception
of the American Schooner Henry Crosby
at Old Axua-A Circumstantial Accounts
of the Affair.
New YORK, Dec. 29.-The steamship
C. W. Clyde, from Turk IS island, which
arrived here yesterday, brings the re-
port of an outrage inflicted on the crew
of the American schooner Henry Cros-
by, which lost her bearings and put
into the port of Old Aqua, San Do
mingo.
The agents of the Crosby. in this
city, Messrs. Smith, Gregory & Win
tiers. received the follwing letter, which
came also on the steamer George w.
Clyde, from Capt. A. S. Stubs, OF the
schooner, dated December 10, at Aqua:
We arrived here yesterday, the 9th at p
M. and as we had not had any visit from Gus
toms officers up to to-day at IL m, told FIRST
Officer Brooks to take two men in the boat anc
60 in near the beach. where I saw two men.
and ask il this was the port OF Aqua. As there
was not house to be seen from the ship,
thought might be mistaken in the place. lie
went in where the two men were, within 2OO or
800 feet OF the beach. and asked the men II
thatswas the port of Azua AS he understood
them to say Yes he started to come back TO
the ship as had ordered him not to land un-
der any circumstances There had gathered
on the beach some twenty men and women
and when he had got some distance on the
soldiers. which the men proved to be, com.
menced to shoot at the boat and vessel. They
shot Carl Smith in the thigh. The minnie 6aD
struck him in the fore part OF the thigh ana
came out about two inches above near his
backbone. The mate received a flesh wound
In the hip and his face was
wounded by sp1inters from the boat.
which had three balls pass through
her was on deck when they commenced to
fire. The shots were flying about my head so
thick that got into the cabin as quickly as
possible. should think there were at least
$50 shots fired have dressed Smiths wound
and stopped the bleeding, but I know 1t will
prove fatal without doubt thought they
had a dozen guns apiece, the way the bullets
were flying around my head. Why they did
not kill all in the boat and myself, and the
second mate of the vessel, I don't know. I
think some OF the balls went within o foot Of
our heads. by the noise they made. They
did not have chance to get second shot at
me, for got down below as quick as God
would let me.
Our flag was flying at the mizzen at the timc.
and at once got signals "B. W." (for doc
tori; but suppose we may fly them till dooms-
day before we get one. / hope this trouble will
get to the American consul, that he may hurry
things up little for this man. have done all
I can for the poor fellow. and don't know as
anyone can do any more-doctor or anyone
else So all can do is to await coming events
You will please let my wife know Of our arriv-
al. as may not have chance to write before
another mail.
had good time out to San Domingo city,
and was two days from there here. was
within thirty miles of here on the thirteenth
day. Passed Bermudas the third nday. The
Lavendar must have made good passage.
Since writing this the mate tells me that he
saw only one woman in the crowd on the
beach, and that there were at least twenty-five
thirty men, all soldiers. My sailors were
frightened out of their wits, and wanted me to
weigh anchor and get away from here. will
be glad when I get back into Gods country.
Will close for tonight.
b Since writing the above. we have had a visit
from twelve or fifteen soldiers and pilot from
Azua. We are about six miles, the pilot
says, from Azua came in from Port Salinas,
as was told, and found the mouth of two
rivers. one going to Aqua. All the captains In
New York told me that Aqua was northwest OF
Port Salinas. Now learn that it bears north
northwest instead of northwest. Some men
are fools and always will be-
I hear the steamer sails tomorrow and
hope to get this on her, as we get there early
tomorrow morning.
"a. m.-We are getting under way to pro-
coed to Aqua.
Arrived at AZua at noon. I have sent for a
doctor. Shall wait till he comes. Smith seems
nicely to-day. Hardly any fever, but my! what
a wound he had; as near as can measure it. 1t
is seventeen inches from where it went in to
where it came out. It was made by o 44-calibre
bullet.
12.-Steamer sails this evening. have taken
my sick man on shore We had to carry him
about five miles a stretcher. Will get to
discharging tomorrow.
I-would not take my chances in such another
affair for all the money in the United States
treasury. 1t is great relief to get that man
OF my hands. Will write by next mail.
At the Dominican consulate, 81
Broadway, it was said that no infor-
nation had been received of the affair,
and pending it's arrival no opinion
could be given. It was limited about
the maritime exchange that the peo-
pie of the Crosby have been guilty of
violation of some port or customs reg
ulation.
It is believed that the speedy de-
parture of the United States ship
Kearsarge on December 81 from this |
port for San Domingo was due to the
governments receipt of the news of
the firing on the Crosby. 1t was given
out at the time that she was to look
after American interests during the |
local imbroglio there.