Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-13
CAPT. CHEESEMAN'S STORY
He Tells It in a Letter to Secretary
Gresham.
Synuts to Know What Right n Spanish
Vessel Has to Detnfn Him on
the High Seas.

Immediately after the steamer Alliance
reached her pier at New York yesterday
afternoon Capt. j. A. Crossman sent the
following letter to the Secretary OF State
detailing the firing on that vessel, as told
in yesterdays Star:
Sir: The American mail steamer Alliance,
under my command, while on her home
ward bound voyage from Colon, r. C., to
New York, was on the morning of March
off the coast of Cuba.
At 6:3O o'clock barkentine-rigged
steamer was sighted under the land, steam
ing directly for us. At 7:15 she set her
colors, proving to be a Spanish gunboat.
Immediately l ordered the American en-
sign hoisted on the Alliance and saluted
the Spaniard, which salute was duly re-
turned by her. l then saluted once more
and supposed the matter was at an end.
But about five minutes later the Spaniard
fired blank cartridge. and a few moments
later another one. followed shortly after
ward by three solid shots, all of which fell
short of the Alliance, but showing very
conclusively that the Spaniard was firing
at US. /, being fully six miles off shore and
on the high seas. paid no further attention
to the Spaniard, but kept my course The
Spaniard kept up the chase, although grad
ually dropping astern, for fully twenty-five
miles.
l desire to know If the Spaniard had any
right to fire on my ship, with the possible
chance of endangering the lives of the pas
sengerS and crew under my charge, or to
compel me to heave to, as he probably in
tended.
I respectfully ask for information on that
subject, as did not and do not propose to
heaye to- thereby losing time on my voy-
age, to oblige the Spanish gunboats or any
other. except in case OF distress.
. Respectfully,
j. A. CROSsMAN, Commander
Capt. Crossmnn and His Vessel.
ha
der of the Alliance. came into public notice
in the fall of 1893. when he was put in COM
mand of the cruiser America, formerly the
Britannia, which had been purchased by
Flint & Co. and fitted out as a war vessel
for the Brazilian government during the
late troubles there.
The crew for the vessel was recruited at
New York, and all enlisted for service in
the Brazilian cause
On the voyage to Brazil the America met
with an accident to her machinery, which
delayed her. and later Capt. Crossman
slipped and fell down the steps from the
bridge. breaking one of his legs and in
capacitating him for further service He
left the America and went to his home in
Jersey City. Capt. CroSsman was born in
Hudson, N. Y, fifty-five years ago He
has been a seaman twenty-five years. He
served in the United States navy during
the civil war.
The Alliance is a screw steamship of 2 80
tons. She Is half-brig rugged, and was built
at Chester, Pa, in 1886 by the Pennsylva-
mia B. and E. Works.
The Spanish consul general, Arturo Balda-
sano. said yesterday at New York thai
he had not heard of the firing on the
Alliance by the Spanish gunboat, and con-
sequently was not in a position to make
a statement. He presumed. however, that
the Alliance, sailing in Cuban waters, re-
fused to obey the commands of the gun
boat and in consequence was fired upon.
An Investigation Needed.
Gen. Newton, president of the Panama
Railroad Company. said at New York last
night that he approved Of what Capt.
Crossman had done. He could not imagine
what motive the Spanish captain had in
firing upon the Alliance. The company
would not demand indemnity, he said, for
the ship had suffered no damage.
! The Spanish consul general, Arturo Bal
6asawo, thought the captain of the gun