The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-28
STEAMER HoRSA NOW SEIZED.
THE GOVERNMENT TAKES HER IN
CHARGE AT PHILADELPHIA.

violation of the Neutrality Laws the
Charge on Which the Seizure is
Based-One of the Steamers Fire
men Makes Affidavit That She
Landed a FiIibustering Expedition
on the Coast of Cuba-The Captain
of the Vessel Rather NOn-COm-
initial.
Philadelphia, Pa, Nov. 27.-The Danish
fruit steamer Horsa, over whose reported
seizure for Cuban filibustering in Kings
ton. Jamaica, there has been considerable
talk. arrived her to-day and discharged
her cargo at the wharves of her agents,
the ]. d. Hart Company. The officers of
the steamer denied that she had been
seized at Kingston and complained of un-
true stories having been written about the
vessel. 1t was the intention of Capt. Wi
borg to clear either to-day or tomorrow,
but Collector of the Port Read, at the
instance of the district attorney. secured
the ships clearance papers. 1t is under
stood that the district attorney is acting
under instructions from the department
of justice at Washington, and the Spanish
government is the complainant, on the
ground that the vessel is violating the
neutrality laws. Until the matter shall
remain at this port.
The Horsa carried one cabin passenger,
William Dougherty. railroad contractor,
who returned to his home in PennsylVa-
MIA from Port Antonio, Jamaica. There
We're also seven deck passengers, all la
bOrers.
In speaking of the detention of the Hor-
sa, p. Gray Meek, surveyor of the port
expressed himself very decidedly on the
affair. He said. There is entirely. too
much seizure of vessels on suspicion.
Every ship that has left this port bound
for Cuban waters during the summer has
been closely watched, and everything has
been all right when they left here. Ihe
Horsa was cleared on the 9Th inst, by In
spector Edward +. Egan, and there was
not a suspicious article in her cargo. II
any offense has been committed, it was
done outside of the capes and not in the
jurisdiction of this office"
United States District Attorney Ingra-
ham was asked about the detention of the
Horsa and said; Il have been instructed
by Attorney General Harmon TO detain
the steamer Horsa on charges of having
broken the neutrality laws by landing a
band OF insurgents, arms and munitions
of war in Cuba. All investigation of the
case win be made at once"
Capt. Wiborg, the commander of the
Horsa, was shown a copy OF the affidavit
made by the fireman, Emit Fredericksen,
who sWore TO the landing Of filbusters
with arms and ammunition on the Cuban
coast. After reading it through, he said:
Il shall swear to the correctness of the
entries made on my log book when called
10 DO 50 DeIOre a court OF inquiry. Until
then I have nothing to say. The vessel
was searched at San Antonio and nothing
contraband was found on her. The Off
GERS even overhauled the coal in her bunk
ers.
Il had fireman on board when I left
Philadelphia. whose name appears on her
papers as E. Fredericksen. l suppose he
is the one who made this affidavit. On my
return voyage stopped at six ports on the
jamaica coast"
The Danish consul says that under the
neutrality laws the United States gov
ernment has the right to hold a vessel OF
any nationality If charges of this charac-
ter can be made.
The Danish consul at this port has call
ed a naval court of inquiry to meet to-
morrow morning to investigate the charge
against the Horsa.
Ship brokers and others interested in
the commerce of Philadelphia are prepar-
ing a protest to be presented to Secretary
Carlisle and Attorney General Harmon
against what they deem the unwarranted
detention of the steamer by this govern
ment at the instance of the Spanish min
lister. They claim that the action of the
picion is driving ships out of the West
Indian trade and injuring the commerce
Of the country.
Attorney General Harmon declined to
discuss the matter of the seizure of the
HOrsa. 1t is understood here that the
detention was made on the request of the
Spanish minister, Senior De Lone The
leotor Reed Of his action in seizing the
vessel and stated it was done at the III
stance of District Attorney Ingraham OF
Philadelphia. Outside of this information
treasury officials profess to be ignorant
in the matter.