Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-11-28
sEIznRr ID 4 scnOoNhR.


vestigatIou Ordered by the Treasury De-
partmept-
The schooner james W. Foster,
bound from Philadelphia to Tampa,
Fla, was detained in the Delaware
Bay on Friday by Deputy Collector
of the Port Eli X. Sharp Of Lewcs,
pending an examination to ascertain
whether or not she was carrying men
and arms to Cuba
Deputy Collector Sharp acted under
instructions from Collector Townsend,
who had received q telegram from tho
Treasury Department Collector Town
send was directed to report il the
schooner James w. Foster was in his
district, and 10 detain and examine
her.
She left Philadelphia on Wednesday
night, ostensibly bound for Tampa,
with a cargo OF coal. She was
expected to embark men, arms and
ammunition for Cuba, TO DO trans
ferred to her by tugs Thompson 8
Point, opposite Chester, was given as
the place from which she might en-
deavor to had dynamite.
In a letter 70 Secretary of State
Olney under date Of November 2lst,
the Spanish minister, Il. Dupuy de
LONE, says he has sufficient grounds
TO believe that the men and implements
were to DO transferred to the Norwegian
steamer Leon on the high seas. This
steamer has already carried an OK
petition to Cuba, aud belongs, as the
Laurada and Horse to Hart & Co.
Minister de LONE asked that orders
be issued for the examination of the
Foster at the Delaware Breakwater in
order to ascertain whether she has
embarked dynamite or cargo of such
nature that may imply a violation of
the customs laws and regulations.
Upon this letter was based the in
structions to Collector Townsend, and
they We're also sent to tho collector of
the port at Philadelphia. AS already
stated Collector Townsend directed
Deputy Sharp to dotain the schooner.
Friday morning Collector Townsend
was informed of the capture of tho
schooner The Foster was found at
anchor about IS miles up the Delaware
hay at o'clock Friday morning.
Deputy Sharp detained the vessel
and placed two mon in charge lie
preferred to wait till daylight for the
examination of the vessel
John y. Hamel, Jr., agent for the
James b. Foster, Friday denied that
she had either arms or men for Cuba
or that she would take them on board
at any point down the bay. He termed
the story a cRnard.
1t was reported that arms were TO be
transferred to the schooner at New
| Castle.
The Philadelphia customs officials
say that the vessel was regularly in
spected and that nothing contraband
was found on her.
Deputy Collector of the Port Sharp,
acting under instructions from Wash
ington, boarded the schooner Joseph
| w. Foster, in the Delaware bay, on
Saturday, but did not find anything
contraband. 1t was thought that as
soon as the customs officials were salts
| fed that nothing contraband was
aboard, the boatwould DO released, but
instructions to detain her were received
from Washington. Capt. Wheeton be-
came indignant and threatened to bring
action against the government.
Capt. Wheaton had not taken any
action as yet, and it is presumed
that he was satisfied with the action of
the authorities when he learned that
the boat was to be released.
Collector Townsend telegraphed the
authorities at Washington for instruc-
| tions
The steamer Leon, which was also
suspected by the Spanish authorities
as being Interested in an expedition to
| Cuba, grounded Just below this city ON
the New Jersey shore ON Saturday, and
late in the afternoon was towed to this
city for repairs. As far as can be
| learned, there is no cause for action
against the Leon, and there will be no
interference by the officials. The Leon
| will go into the dry dock at the ship
yards of the Harlan & Hollingsworth
Co. as soon as convenient.
THE FOSTER RELEASED.
An Associated Press dispatch from
Washington says: In view Of the
statement from the deputy collector OF
customs at Lewes, Del, to the effect
that thorough search had failed to
discover arms, ammunition or mon
aboard tho James W. Foster, the Sec
rotary of the Treasury, to-day, ordered
the vessels release.
| George w. Fennimore, member of
| the firm of j. b. Hamel & Co., OF
Philadelphia, agents for the Foster,
said he thought Cant, Wheaton would
be justified in bringing suit for
damages. ut is great wrong" he
said, that a vessel should be seized
and detained on mere suspicion.
The Spaniards have boats patroling
tho COASTS of Cuba, and if they capture
q ship trying TO land munitions of war,
of course she is liable; but we contend
that the Federal government has no
right TO seize a vessel here. The mat
ter is coming 10 crisis, and tho
people want to know whether this
country is being run by Spanish agents
or not. The Foster is engaged in the
coastwise trade, yet she is seized on
suspicion Of carrying arms for the
Cubans. 1t will soon be impossible
for any vessel to leave Philadelphia
without being at the risk Of being
seized. -
:. Assistant District Attorney w. W.
Ker OF Philadelphia said, in speaking
Of the Foster; "buch an occurrence as
that should only be possible in coun-
try that IL an absolute monarchy or a
despotism. Whom vessel receives hor
clearance papers from the Custom
House after being properly inspected,
the captain is master Of her. He can
shoot any one that attempts to board
her against his will. No customs OIL
Ger has any right to come on the ship.
A marshal can seize the vessel with a
warrant from commissioner or the
proper COURT
In referring to the prominent part
played by fruit steamers in the aensa-
tional stories about the Cuban revolu-
ton, no said that none of those
steamers would ever be captured by
the Spanish cruisers, because even il
they could catch them they would never