The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-20
ARGENTINA A CASUS BELL.
armed FORCE IN POSSESSION OF
THE STRANDED VESSEL.


The Bark Claimed to Have Been
UnIawfuIIy Seized on Warsaw by
Rival Bidder for Her Cargo-Thc
Norwegian Consul and COnsiGnee
and Couple of Deputy sherifTs
Displaced the Party of Negroes on
Board and Took Charge-The YES
sci IL said by Those Who Seized
Her TO Have Been Deserted and
Was Taken as n Prize.
Though disabled by storm. the Norwe-
gian bark Argentina Capt. Iversen, came
iear figuring In a naval battle off Warsaw
Island yesterday morning when she was
approached by the tug II. NJ. c. Smith.
m which an armed force from Savannah
was on the lookout for party claimed 10
aave unlawfuily taken charge OF the YES
el On board the tug was Mr.. Chr. @.
Dahl. agent for the owners of the strand
ID vessel; Col Thomas S. Wylly, a pros
pective purchaser of the cargo; Deputy
Sheriffs Hanley and Hartigan and the
Jugs crew. on The Argentina was sup
5osed to be several men under instructions
10 resist 10 the last any effort to board
her.
1t all came about in a round the corner
way. AS has been stated in the Morning
News, the agents for the owners of the
vessel and Mai. J. T. Stewart, agent for
Lloyd's. in which the cargo is insured,
have been trying to settle its affairs ever
since the vessel was officially condemned.
~, .t,1.l
the vessel were Joseph L. Graham & Co.
and r. S. Salas. The contract was award
ed TO Graham & Co., and a force of men
was sent down TO take charge of the YES
sci. Under the law a vessel left derelict
or deserted by her owners or crew be-
comes the property of the first person who
takes possession, and hence the necessity
of keeping constant guard over a wrecked
vessel
The place where the vessel Is lying Is
exposed, and the vessels situation is some
what precarious. Mr. Graham. who I'M
dertook the work. found rough weather
prevailing, and the job an unsatisfactory
one. He decided to throw up the con
tract and abandon work, which he did,
leaving Frank Burke, a white man, and a
negro cook In charge
Wednesday night Burke arrived in the
city and reported to Mai Stewart that on
Wednesday morning a party of men had
landed on Warsaw, where he and the
cook were camped having found the yes
sci unsafe. All In the party were ne
groes, Burke said, except one, who gave
his name as Cohen. The latter informed
him that there was no longer any need
of his services, as the ship and cargo had
been bought at auction by Mr. r. S. Salas
and that they had been sent there to take
charge
Burke said he left for the city as soon
as he could obtain boat, accompanied by
the cook.
Maj. Stewart said that he at once con-
cluded that an underhand attempt was be-
ing made to get possession of the wreck
and her cargo, on account of the large
salvage to be obtained, the cargo being
valued at $4,000. Mr.. c. G. Dahl the con-
sgnee, and Mr.. j. L. Rankin the Norwe-
gian consul, were notified, and the party
proceeded TO the office of Justice Samuel
Reynolds, where warrants for trespass
were obtained against parties unknown in
possession of the vessel These warrants
were placed in the hands of Deputy Sher-
iffs Hartigan and Hanley. The tug Smith
was chartered and the party left for the
scene early yesterday morning.
AZ the wreck two negroes were found in
possession, the other members of the
boarding party having departed. The ne
6Iotss were gwen tne cnolce OF coming
aboard Inc tug peacefully or being taken
there under arrest. They chose the former
alternative. Capt Iversen of the Argen-
tina, who accompanied the party, and
Deputy Hartigan were left in charge The
negroes were brought to the city and re-
leased, they being evidently innocent par
ties. Nothing could be learned of the idon-
tity or whereabouts OF Cohen ahe white
man who is said by Burke to have worked
the scheme Burke and the negro cook
have made affidavits of their version of
the matter.
The departure of the tug and the rumors
OF trouble was the talk of the Bay. Eff
forts to see Mr.. Salas failed, but 1t was
understood he insists MS position is cor
rect, and that he had right under marine
law 10 take charge OF The Argentina