Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-03-22
OUR FLAG FIRED ON.
United States Mail Steamer Al
lance Attacked.
FROM A SPANISH CRUISER.
The American Was Not Hit, ana
Left the Spaniard BEHIND IN
Race at Sea-An lnternat-
ional Question May Ee
Involved.


Involved.
despa' Oh from New York says Inc
Amarican mail steamship Alliance. while pro-
caadno from Colon to New York, on Inc
morning OF the 9Th instant sighted barKen'
tine iooed steamer under the land OIL cape
Mays the cas- ern edge OF Cuba, which ne"ae"
directly toward her. At 7 O'Clock, wnen
about two and bal mil IS di-tant, she ho''po
the Spanish flag, which was salu'ed oy nois'-
ing the American ensign and dipping -
which act OF courtesy vas answered py tne
Spanlard. , ,o,oa
At715 she fir ID blank cartridge 10 lee
ward. which was so n followed py ano'h Z.
The American ensign was a;ain hoist~o ana
dipped. but the cour and speed Oh 'ne sup
was mt changed, as no hostile demonslra'
ion was anticipated as the Alnance was
more than six miles off the land at the 'ime'
The Spanish man-of-war was not sausneu'
however with even the double salute TO her
fac. but proceeded to chase the American at
her lull speed. Judging from the smoke mat
came from her funnel, and. seeing tEa1 tne
Alliance was drawing away, she yaweu 10
hrlno her guns to bear and fired solid snot'
which struck the water less than an eignih o.
n mile.away from the ship and directly IN
line This was followed by two more SOLID
abots which. fortunately, did not reach their
mark though they struck the water IN pIa'h
SIGHT OF the ship. At each shot, however,
tha snaniard waved TO get the range OF Tue
American ship before firing on her, plainly
showing the intention to hit her u she could
con.ain Crossman of the Alliance, know
Inc ha va9 more than two leagues from land
and on the high sea-, did not conslie: 1t MS
dutv TO detain his ship to find out the reason
for such an outrage, even Tor so su nmary d
demand, and 81 ordered full steam and grad
uallv drew out OF range. The chase was
kep: up for more than twenty-five miles,
however. before it was abandoned.
The AlliancI has been running between
this port and Colon for number OF years,
making one trip each month. She leaves
this port on the 26th OF each month anu
starts on her return trip on the 9th oil the ioi.
lowing month She carries the I'm ted States
mail and has passenger accommodations ioI
,5l cabin passen ;erz. Including the officers
she carries a crew OF GO men.
sEcRErARY GRESHAM NOTIFIED.
Immediately alter the steamer Alliance
reached her pier Capt. ]. A. Crossman sem
the following letter to the Secretary o; Stale
: at Washington
Columbian Line steamer AUianco, Pier 43
. North Riu =, Nelo York.-To the Hon. wal
ter @. Gresham, Secretary oil state, Wa'nins
} ton D. C.-Slr The American mall steamer
Allianca. under my command, while on hel
t homeward bound voyage from Coon, Il. q.
= to New York, wa, on the morning OF Marci
g. of the coast OF Cuba. AT 6.3) O'CLOCK
!, barkentiue-rlgged steamer was sighted unde
: the land. st aiming directly for US. She sc
= her colors proving to be spani'h gunboa
) Immediately I ordered the American enSig
t to the topmast and saluted the Spaniar(
N which salute was duly returned by her.
e. then salu ed once more AMI supposed th
matter was at an end.
4 But. about flvo minutes later, the Spaniaf
4 fred a blank cartridge and few momen
" Ia er another one, followed shortly aherwar
a BY three solid shots, all OF which fell short
"a the Allianca, but showing very conclusive
:, that the spanard was firing at US. Ibelr
n fulv six miles off shore and on the high sea
= pald no further attention to the SpaaIard, D
"a kept my cou So The Spaniard KEEP: up IL
/ cha g. although gradually dropping asteu
"a for fully 25 miles. desire to know II II
=, Span.ard has any right 10 fire on mpshi
= with the possible chance OF endangerlns Il
, Ives OF tho passengers and crew under Il
ID charge, or to compel me to heave to, as
,e probably intended. Respectfully ask ior
IA iormati)n on that subject, as ditsnot al
,e do not propose 10 heave to, thereby losi
m time on my voyage, to oblige tho Span
,e runb ats or any other except in case oil d
ut tress.
K Respectfully