Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-04-17
r1.c: AND RAKGE sAlL

Tho tu- Underwater and the barge
Lone Star, having on board Il 4uahtltS
Of wreck:lye from the Maine. which ar
rived here las, Sunday direct from
Havana harbor, cleared yesterday
at the custom house and sailed in the
afternoon for New York on orders
AS partly related in Yesterdays
paper, there is an interesting story IN
connection With the detention OF the
Underwater and Lone Star iof lWen-
ty-four hours.
AS stated in this column. DR.. W. j.
Petus, the national quarantine officer
at the Capcs. came here yesterday
and objected TO Collector OF Customs
Elliott against the granting OF Gieil
ance papers to Captain Wiley, charg-
ing that the master of the tug violated
the quarantine laws by passing by Old
Point without submitting TO the usual
formality. IN other words. Dr. Pet-
tus claimed that Captain Wiley ignor-
ed him by coming to Newport News,
and lie stated his determination to re-
port the case to the department, hold
| ing the ship i'll the meantime. with
view to having 4 fine Of $4,000 impos-
| ed.
| Dr.. A. c. Jones, the state quarantine
| officer at this port VINO has had thr-
| teen years experience in the service.
! part or which time was spent under
| the government, claimed that DR.. Pet
tus had no right to hold the ships, as
they had gone into quarantine here ana
had complied with the law in every
respect. Captain Wiley came In fly
ing L yenow AZ; 4; s,I,Esa;,-showinE his inten-
| ton of gong Into quarantine -Ihe
| reason he did not stop at Old Point is
| found in the facts that he was bound
| here for coal and passed by in the dead
! of night.
DR.. Pettus argued his position and in
| no uncertain language stated his de-
termination to hold the master respon-
sible.
DR.. Jones claimed that the treasury
department would not hold the ships
and would permit them to clear for
New York when the particulars We're
known.
DR.. Pettus denied this and tried to
assert his authority as 4 national
| quarantine officer.
Or. Jones offered to wager 500 on
| the result of q telegram to the depart
| nent, but DIR. Pettus would not take
it up. simply maintaining his authority
| to act.
Collector Elliott photographed to Wash
inston in the afternoon and later in
the evening received the followoing re
ply, Which is in the nature OF a victory
| for DIR. Jones and settles a question
| that had long been disputed and may
come up in the future:
| Collector Customs, Newport News:
Tug Underwater and barge Lone
Star with Maine wreckage from Cuba.
| may be entered on certificate Of State
| Quarantine officer.
| This Is in accordance with recon-
mcndation Of Marine Hospital service
| 40. L. SPALDING
| Assistant Secretary"
! It is not believed that this decision
was given because the Underwater
and Lone Star are yet in the service
OF the government 1t is possible that
| the same privilege would be given any
1 n CT, OF NJ,
Newport News is the coaling point and
| 1t is wholly unnecessary and unjust to
| hold a vessel at Old Point in quaran-
tine and then make her coal here after
wards. when much time can be saved
| by coming here directly and fulfilling
| the obligations of the law