The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1895-03-22
SPAIN Fires on OUR FLAG.
An American Mail Steamer Chased
by IL Man-oi. War on Cuba

|
by IA Man-ofWar on Cuba.
The American mail steamship AL
liancia, while proceeding from Colon
to New Nork on the morning OF the
Sth instant, sighted Il barkcntinc rig"
gcd steamc' der the land off Cape
Maysic, th eastern edge of Cuba,
which headed directly toward her. At
! o'clock when about two ANA Il half
miles distant. the stranger huistcd the
the Spanish flag. which w;lS -alutrd By
hoistlng the American ensign and dip
ping IL, which act of courtesy was an
swcred by the Spaniard. AZ 40 she
tired Il blank cartridge to lccward.
which WAS soon followed by another.
The American ensign WAS again MOIST
cd and dipped, but the course and
speed OF the ship was not changed, as
no hostile demonstration was anti
cipatcd, as the Alliancia was more
than six miles oil the land at the time.
The Spanish man of war was not
satisfied with even the double salute To
her llag, bat proceeded 10 chase the
American at ncr iuli speed. Judging
from the smoke that came from hcr
tunnels, and seeing thaL the Ntti;ncta
was G,'' wing 2wIy '"siA i.C., snG'. 'UVU'
to, to brlnS tine guns TO bear and irru
IL solid shot which struCk the water
less than an eighth of mile away from
the snip and directly in line. This
was followed by two more solid shots
which fortunately did not reach their
mark, though they struck the water
in plain sight of the ship. At each
shot, hOw'Ht", q; =, ~. ..".I wed oil,
to get th" r:'L,-c q tn, .Np = can ship
before hrins un her, pi;,. .h.y showing
the intention to hit her II she could.
Captain CrOssmun, Oi the \ iiGncia,
knowing he was moro tIan !" q lea. .InS
from land ana on the high -c;!-. dc |. II
| consider it his duty to dctaln his ship
to find out the reason for such AN out
rage, even for SO summary Il GC"l&ud
and so ordered full steam ard gradually
drew out of range. The chase w.s
| kept up for more than Twenty live
miles before it was abandoned. + j"c
| Spaniard had had more speed or trr
| gunncrs been better marksmcn. ~
doubt the incident would not nave
ended so fortunately for tho A.Irl j.
can.
This outrage has bcrn reported %
| the Secretary OF State by Capl;.,u
| CrOssman, and no doubt IL prOmp5 Il =
mand will be made on the Spanish
government for an CXl an;ttIOn Of the
| insult, and II reason II lulrcd 10" the
attempt to stop an American mail
steamer on the high seas in time Of
peace. CAPTAIN Crossman has written
Il letter to the Secretary q! State at
| Washington giving Il full statement Of
the Spanish warsnlp's conduct.
President Cleveland has been absent
on Il hunting expedition in North Car.
olina, and Secretary Gresham has been
quite sick. which delayed attention u
| nj Tho \ \n,n,.i,,.In n.,tr
On the 10Th inst. SccrctarypG Gresham
cabed the following dispatch TO our
minister at Madrid:
| Taylor, minister, Madrid. This
department is informed that, on the
Sth inst. the United States steamship
! Allianca. ON her homcward voyage
from Colon to New York. when six
miles from the coast OF Cuba, oil Cape
| Maysi, was repeatedly fired upon by IL
Spanish gunboat, with solid shot,
which fortunately fell short.
The windward passage, where this
occurred, is the natural and usual
highway for vessels = yin" between
ports of the Unitcd States and the ca
ribbcan sea. Through its several rcg-
ular lines Of American mail and com
mcricial steamers pass weekly within
sight of Cape Muysi. They are we'll
known and their voyage embraces no
Cuban port Of call. t'Jrcibic iutcrfcr'-
cncc with them cannot but be claimed
as IL bcl!igcrcLt act, whcGhCr they pass
| within three miles of the Cuban coast
or not, and can, under no cIrcum-
stances, he tolerated, when no state OF
war exists.
" This government will expect
prompt disavOwal Of the unauthorized
act and due expression Of regret on tho
part Of Spain, ana it. must insist that
Immediate and positive orders bc given
to Spanish naval commanders not 10
Interfere with legitimate American
commerce passing through that chan
mel and prohibiting all acts wantOnly
impcriIling life and property lawfully
under the flag of the United States.
" You will communicate this TO the
minister for foreign affairs and urge
the Importance of Il prompt aud salts
factory response
"A new railroad, uniting the At
lantic and Pacific, is nearly completed
1t crosses the Andes, and brings
BuCnos AyrC@ within forty hours trLvc
| of VnlDaraisp