Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1895-03-17
Capt. orossman,s Statement.


 NEW YORK, March 15.-The follow ing is the text of the affidavit of Capt James Crossman of the steamer All fanea sent to the state department at the request of Acting Secretary Uhl:
 The American steamship AIlianca, of the Columbia line, running be- tween the points of New York, United States of America, and Colon. republic of Colombia, under my command, was on her homeward voyage on March S. At 6:30 a. m. of that date, Mr F. w Russell second officer. was officer of the deck and at his station on the bridge. Mir Russell reported to me that there was a steam er under land to the west, steaming eastward. 1 went on deck from the bridge, with the aid of my marine glasses, l made her out to be a barkentine rigged steamer, and shortly afte ward I decided that she was war vessel. We con- tinued our course, although this voy- age I was steering trifie more eas ter ly, so as not to approach the coast of Cuba within less than miles, owing to the fact that had read a dispatch in the Panama newspaper called the Star and Herald that there was troub ble in the island of Cuba and that Span ish gunboat was patroling the waters around the east end of the island.
 1.-The steamer set her colors--the Spanish ensign-about 7:15 a. m. immediately gave orders to set our colors-the American ensign-aft on faH 1T7f al Iaa a,-A dipping our colors. This salute was answered by the Spaniard. I then dip ped again, acknowledging the salute, and l supposed the matter was ended. as the Spaniard had ap- parently slowed down, and had, after saluting, headed up more toward the north or toward land. He was then about t1 or miles from us, on our port beam and dropping abaft that bearing, as we were continuing our course north-northeast to north by east, having the idea in view to keep outside the distance of a marine league o& the land.
 About five minutes, or possibly a little less, after the salute l heard gun fired, and l turned to see what it meant. At the same time Mir. Russell reported that the Spaniard had fired blank cartridge. I simply answered that as l was on high seas 1 did not in- tend to stop, so he could fire away, which he did, firing another blank shot about three or four minutes after the first. Shortly afterward, at intervals of few minutes three more guns with solid shot were fired at us, all though all fell short, two of them off the port quarter and the last astern, off the starboard quarter, striking the water about quarter of mile dis tank omitted to state that upon looking at the Spaniard, after hearing the first gun, I found that he had altered his ships course again. He was heading directly for us and, without doubt, steaming at his best speed. I judged that we were steaming faster than he, so l did not give any orders to increase our speed. I found that we were gradually gain ing on him, and at about s:30 o'clock he was fully 5 miles astern. 1 saw that the gunboat was heading to the west apparently giving up the chase. We had Cape Maysi light house bear iug west, distant Al miles fully, at TSs B. m., ships time.
 'sTyAe outline chart inclose you is a correct account of the courses, etc, as shown on the United States chart, of tMe eastern part of the Bahama islands. with parts of Cuba and the nortA coast of San Domingo, dated 2g6s.