The times., 1897-07-08
his in view they intended to sail up as

this in view they intended to sail up as
far as Care Haitisn.
Beth men were sailors who had drifted
to Hayti from New York during the years
1893 and 1894. 1t appears that Polten
had managed to save q little money by
doing some painting at Port au Prince,
and that the small fishing boat Yas his
property. Before leaving port the men
secured The usual papers issued from t,e
American cons ulate, which identified
them and established their American citi
zensnip The attempt to 60 in small
open boat from one Haitien port to another
did not succeed, and they were finally
driven by stress Of weather to- the coast
of Cuba.
Temporary landings were effected at
one or two POINTS along the Ha.tien and
Cuban coasts, and finally, almost destitute
OF fcoa and water, and after drifting aboat
fos several days, they reached Santiago
de Cuba.
They at once produced their papers for
inspection by the captain of the port. ex-
planned their distress and asked to be di-
rected to the United States consul.
notwithstanding these admitted facts,
they were seized by the military aurhor
tiles, on February 23. 1885, and thrown
into prison, from which they were hot
released until May 3, following. During
this imprisonment both men We're kept
iii close confinement mucn of the time,
and both suffered great injury to health.
Boiten contracted yellow fever.
The seizure of these men Is believed
hy the Committee to have been in viola tion
of article OF the treaty OF 1195. which,
hr the language OF Secretary Olney, pro
vides for the hosptable reception of .Amerf
can citizens who, through stress OF wea-
ther, are driver. upon Spanish territory -
It il further evident to the committee
that the proceedings inaugurated by
the military authorities against Holten
and Richelieu are a violation of the
protocol OF January Il, 1877. which
tagain quosing Secretary Olney). PRO
vides that citizens of the United States
taken without arms in hand shall be tried
by the ordinary civil tribunals 10 the ex-
ciusion OF any special tribunal, and when
arrested ana imprisoned shall be deemed 70
be arrested or Imprisoned by order of the
civil aut hority''
Both men were held by the military
authorities from February 90 to March 2t ,
when they were turned over to the civil
tribunal of the Province of Santiago
iliost rigid search at the time OF their seiZure
by the Spanish authorities failed to disclose
any arms or papers or other evidences OF
unlawful intent
Roltet and RieheIieu have each asked
for ar indemnity OF 81 G, 900 from the Span
ish government for the injuries resulting
from their sixty-two days of confinement
and also fer the confiscation of the fish
ing boat. A settlement OF this claim has
been pressed upon Spain through theproper
tsiplonatio channels OF our government.
This effort has been uuavaiiing and the
Spanish government has distinctly declined
''t0 discuss any further the present claims
and considers the incident ''to be definitely
ended
In view Of the foregoing the committee
Is of the opinion that 1t is the manifest
duty OF the United States to take such
prompt measures as shall be adequate nc.
obtain an indemnity fer all wrongs and
injuries suffered by tie two American
sailors, Beltrn and Richelieu