The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1894-01-06
HERE'S a EASUS BELLI.


American Sailors Fired Upon bv Dom!ni-
can Soldiers-Two of Them Dangerously
wounded-The Cnhospitable Reception
of the American Schooner Henry Crosby
kt Old Azua-A Circumstantial Account
of the Affair.
NEW YORK, Dec. 29.-The steamship
c. W. Clyde, from Turk 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 Azua, 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. $. Stubbs, of the
schooner, dated December 10, at AZua:
We arrived here yesterday, the 9th. ut p
m. and as We had not had any visit from Gus
toms officers up 10 to-day at l2 m, told First
Ofiicer Brooks to take two mcn in the boat and
go in near the beach. where l saw two men.
and ask IL this was the port OF AZua- As there
was not 4 house TO he seen from the ship,
thought might be mistaken in the place. He
wen: in where the two men were, within 2OJ or
8 0 feet of the beat h, and asked the men IL
that was 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 tOat and vessel. They
shot Carl Smith in the thigh. The minnie faU
struck him in the fore part OF the thigh and
"a nT1n ont nI,n ir,.b NJ nnnr
backbone. The mate received Il flesh wound
in the hip and his face was
wounded by splinterS from the boat,
which had thrre balls pass through
her. i was on deck when they commenced to
fire. The shots were flying about my heal so
thick that got into the cabin rs quickly as
possible should think there were at least
$50 shots fired. l have dressed Smiths wound
and stopped the bleeding. hut l know 1t will
prove fatal without a doubt l thought they
had \ dozen guns apiece. the way the bullets
were flying around my heal. Why they did
not kill all in the boat and myself. and the
second mate of the vessel, | don't know. 1
think some of the balls mt within n foot of
our heads. by the noise they mIde. They
did not have a chance to get second shot at
me. for got down below as quick as God
would let me
Our flag was flying ut the miZzen at the time,
and at once got signals ''B. w" tfOr a doc
tor; 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
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 gool time ou: to San Domingo city.
and was two days from there here l was
within thirty miles OF here on the thirteenth
day. Passed Bcrmudas the thirl day. 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 leas, twenty five
or 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 | get back into Gods country.
Will close for tonight.
Since writing the above. We have had 4 visit
from twelve or fifteen soldiers and pilot from
AZuI. We are about six miles. so the pilot
says, from AZua. l came in from Port Salinas,
as was told, and found the mouth of two
rivers. one going TO Azua. All the captains III
New York told me thlt Azua was northwest OF
Port Salinas. Now learn that ii bears north
northwest instead OF northwest. Some men
lre fools and always will be.
/ hear the steamer sails tomorrow. and I
hope TO get this on her, we get there early
to morrow morning.
"a. m.-Wc are getting under way to pro-
coed to AZ:Ia.
Arrived at AZua p: noon. | have sent for q |
doctor. Shall wal. till he comes Smith seems |
nicely to-day Hardly any fever, but my, whit |
4 wound hr had; AZ Qcar a. l can III assure it, 1t |
is seventeen inches from where it went in to |
where it came out. II was ma lie by n iicali5re |
bullet.
l.. Steamer sails this evening. l have taken |
MY sick man on srcre. We had TO carry him |
about five miles on 4 stretchcr. viii get to
dis charging to-mOrruH.
would not take III; chances in such another
affair for all the mcscy in tn" United States |
1t Is great relief to get that man |
OF my hands. viii S-tc by next mail.
At the Dom'nican consulate, 81 |
Broadway, it was said that no infor-
nation had been received of the affair,
and pending its 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
llation.
1t is believed that the speedy He-
parture of the United States ship
Kearsarge on December 21 from this
port for San Domingo was due to the
receipt of the news of
the firing on the Crosby. 1t was given
put at the time tina; she was to look
after American interests during the
local imbroglio there.