The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-20
of the Commander of the
Spanish Gunboat that Fired on the
AlIianca Refuted by Affidavit.
FRESH OUTRAGE REPORTED
SCHOONER SAID TO HAVE BEEN
SUNK OFF THE FLORIDA COAST.
sinking of a Vessel in Cuban Waters
Confirmed-senator Morgan's View
OF Our Foreign Relations.

that the vessel he fired on off Cape Maysi,
Cuba, March s, displayed an English flag, is
vigorously combatted by Captain Crossman,
of the American steamship Allianca. The fol-
lowing dispatch from Havana was pub
lished here this morning: The name OF the
Spanish war ship that fired on the Amer
lean steamer All.anca is now known 1t
is the Spanish cruiser Conde de Venedito
This fact became public to-day when the
captain of the cruiser reported that he
bad tried to stop a strange steamer and
had opened fire on her when she persisted
in proceeding on her course. According to
the story of the vessels commander, while
cruising off the eastern coast of Cuba on
March g. he sighted a steamer heading
for Maysi point and shaping. her course to
the northeast. The cruiser hoisted a flag
and the steamer replied by raising the Eng
lish flag. The cruiser again sgnaled the
steamer to stop, but without effect AS
the steamer proceeded at full speed the
cruiser first fired two blank shots and
then two solid shots. The commander as
serts that he did not desire to hit the
steamer, but that he fred the shots mere
ly to cause her to heave to. He asserts
that the steamer was but one and half
miles off the coast when the firing oc-
Cured The authorities here have ordered
~o--
manders acts. 1t is reported that the AL
Iianca carried 24O00 rifles south the
trip on which she was fired at. 1t is also
reported here that there was landed on
the eastern end of the island some men
who were passengers on the Allianca. These
men, 1t is reported, were taken off the AL
Iianca in fishing smacks the night pre-
ceding the firing. The gun with which the
Conde de Vendto fired at the Ailianca
is fourteen and half feet long and weighs
&c tons. It throws an armor-piercing pro-
jectile weighing 531 pounds
When Captain Crossman, of the Allianca,
read the above dispatch, he at once PRE-
pared an affidavit. The affidavit is corrobo-
rated by a number of his officers, who
also make sworn statements that the Amer
lean and not the English ensign was fly
ing from the staff of the Allianca. The
Captains affidavit reads as follows:
Captain James A. Crossman being duly
sworn, depoaes and says that he has read
in the morning papers of this date Tues
the spanish ginboat eo1ide de Venedito has
made the statement that the steamship
Stl day of March, which was fired on by
his gunboat. hoisted the British ensign in
saluting him. In view of this statement
he does most solemnly swear that the flag
hoisted on the staff of the steamer AL
lianca. in salute to the Spanish gunboat
OH cape AldySl, tLDE, On the Stn Udy OF
March, by his order and in his presence
was the American ensign. This is the only
flag used for such purposes-the national
flag of America.
The others who signed a similar affidavit
were: Benjamin Corning, first officer; f.
w. Russell, second officer; w Fl. Churchill,
purser; a. S. Jussen, freight clerk; r. #.
Kingman surgeon. These affidavits were
forwarded at once to Washington. Regard
ing another cable dispatch from Havana,
which stated that report was current that
the A1lianca carried rifles on her south
bound trip, the statement was also en-
phatically denied by the representatives
of the Panama Railroad Company.
What the state Department. Says.
WASHINGTON, March 19.-There is rea-
son to believe there may be further inter-
esting developments in connection with the
Allianca affair. Informa ton is said to be
at hand that schooner which recently
sailed from Savannah, Ga, after having
been watched by customs officers, had on
board arms and ammunition concealed un-
der deck load of lumber. Her destination
is supposed to have been Cuba, and the in
formation concerning her is of such char
acter that Spanish glnboats are now on
the watch. Nothing is known here of the
reported action of the Spanish ships In
fanta Isabel or Arcedo firing on American
vessels. There is good ground however for
believing the ship sailing from Savannah
with Cuban arms aboard will furnish an
actual case of detection If she is over
hauled Careful investigation IS proceeding
to the cargo shipped by the Allianca al
Colon, allegations that arms We're taken
aboard under cover of darkness having
been made.
Combinations have been received in
Washington from Cuba that the Conde De
Venedito was the Spanish war ship firing
on the Alliance. The advices said the latter
ship was flying a British flag. There is no
further doubt as to the receipt by Secre-
tary Gresham of reply from spain to- his
demand, but there Is reason to believe that
the published reports have failed to state
some important reservations made by Srain
One part of Spains answer may consist in
calling attention to a charge that in No
vember last a number of Spanish Cubans
were fishing in the Gulf of Mexico when
they were fired on by United States reve-
nue. cutter, first with a cannon and later
with small arms The firing is alleged to
have occurred twelve miles from land The
Spanards were carried to New Orleans
where it is said the United States Court
for the Southern district of Louisiana re-
leased them. Spain has not thus far made
a protest, but may do so now that the
United States has protested against the
firing on the Allianca.