New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-13
THE ArIIANCA.

through the Windward Passage on March 3. fol-
loving her usual route. at the time Of the out
rage. She was more than four leagues from
shore and was showing her cOlors. The Allianca
Is vessel of nearly 1900 tons register. and could
not even by a stupid Spanish commander. have
been mistaken for vessel bent filibustering
enterprise. 1t was an outrage pure and simple
conduc, ell with lmpudcncc and total disregard
of international law or the natural rights OF ma
lions
PURSUING HER USUAL COURSE
The Alanca left Colon IN March with only
four passengers on board all in the steerage
ard three " those were stowaways. She had
large cargo consisting Of wines. bananas. mus-
iard seed and tropical roiucts There was moth
ing In her cargo or passengers % arouse any sus-
picion IN the mind of the Spanish Consul there
that she was going 10 give aid or comfort 10 the
Cuban insurgents. She followed the usual course
Of steamers OF the line. crossing the Caribbean
Goa and proceeding up through the Wndwhrd
Passage. This passage Is between Cape St
Nicholas. a. the northwestern extremity OF
Hayt. and Cape Mays. at the southeastern ex-
tremity u cuba
Captain Crossman knew that there was trouble
In Cuba and that a Spanish man-of-war had
been stationed near cap" Maysi 10 look out for
nlhusters Therefore. he kept well off shore
when ne sighted The Cuban coast not To-
be troubled hy any gunboat which might cause
MIN to lay TO II hc &, wNhin the three-mile
limit
SHOWED AMERICAN COLORS.
At G 30 O'clock on the morning OF March s.
last Friday. "a the Aancn was passing the
eastern end ~ cuba. "A brgantinc-riggcd Span
ish gunhoat was seen lying under Cape Maysi
The eunboat steercd toward the Alianca. which
AZ once showed her colors. and salutcd the
Spanish flag by dipping them. The gunboat
acknOw lodged the courtesy by dipping the
Spanish flag which she was dying and few
moments later frcd n blank cartridge from one
Of her guns It signal for the American yes
sci to hcavc to- captain Crossman paid no
attention 10 this and the gunboat fred another
blank cartridge. The Alinnca continued her
course north. and the g,mboat began To chase
her. firing solid shot at her. some OF which
nearly hit her.
The gunboat chased the American ship for
twenty-five miles. nut was gradually dropped
astern the American merchant vessel being the
faster bont one Of tn, solid shot fired by the
Standard came within between eight and
"A quarter OF a mile OF the Allianca. Some OF
the officers judged the first distance ana some
the second. The smoke was pouring from the
tunnels OF the gunboat and she was seemingly
trying her best 10 overhaul the Ahanca. She
evidently had no bow chascrs, for every ume
she fired she had To yaw In order 10 pring her
guns to bear. The Alanca slightly increased
her speed after the gunhoat began To fire. and
had no difficulty In getting away from her.
AS the Spaniard was dropped astern she hoisted
"A get OF signals but she too far away at
the time for them To he made out
NOTICE SENT TO GRESHAM.
As soon rs the Allianca arrived at her pieF
yesterday Captain Crossman sent to the sec
retary Of State the following letter which ne
had prepared
To the Hon Walter O. Gresham. Secretary OF State STATE.
my command while on her homeward bound Voy-
age from Colon, Il. e.. TO New ork was, o" Inn tne
At $40 o'clock a barkentine- -rlgsed steamship was
sighted under the land bearing, directly for ii. us
gunboat / immedately ordered the American en-
Sign hoIs'ed on the AanGr v nnd rrrned Sv her.
! then sauted once more, and supposed the matter
hut about aye minutes later the spanard fired
blank cartridge and few moments later another t,,
shots ali Of which Zen short OF the Allianca, but
showing very concusiyely that ne sLanlard WAS WAS
the high seas. paid no further attention TO the
spaniard but kept to my Goury, s,ay 5ropp,pg
astern. fully twenty y-fve miles. desire to know
II the Spaniard had right 10 Hre on my snip
with the probable chance of endangcrng the lives
OF the passengers and crew under my charge or
compel me to heave to. as he probably Intended
! respectfully ask for Information on that SUBJECT
as did not and do not propose TO heave TO-
thereby losing time my voyages TO oblSe span
ish ginboats or any others except In cases OF dis
JAMES A. CROsSMAN, Commander.
CAPTAIN CHEESEMAN'S STORY.
Captain Crossman sent this letter In order to
bring the matter officially before the Government.
When seen on the Allianca at her pier yesterday
he said: I'VE were from six to eight miles Off
shore when the occurrence took place, and not in
Spanish Jurisdiction at all We were 10 the
southward of Cuba when we first sighted the
gunboat and far away from Guantanamo. where
I understand they have been having the trouble.
We first sighted the Spaniard at G:30 o'clock In
the morning | had seen In the Panama Star
and Herald" OF February 2s. before sailed from
Colon. a dispatch from Paris which said that-Ad-
vices from Madrid stated that n considerable