The evening times., 1900-01-26

Senator Lodge, from the Committee on
Foreign Relations has presented favor
able report on the claims Of August Boil
ten and Gustave Riehelieu for an indemEi-
ty Of $1,000 each from the Spanish Gov
ernment.
These men, who are naturalized Ameri-
can citizens set out in small open boat
/ about fifteen feet long from Port au Prince
on February 5, 1895. Their object was to
{ fish for green turtles and with this in
view, they intended 10 sail up as far
Cape Haitien Both men were sailors
who had drifted to Haiti from New York
during the years 1893 and 1894. 1t appears
that Bolten had managed to save little
money by doing some painting at Port au
Prince, and that the small fishing boat was
his property.
Before leaving port the men secured the
usual papers issued from the American
consulate. which identified them and es-
tabIished their American citizenship This
attempt to go in small. open boat from
one Haitien port to another did not sue
ceed, 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 Haitien and Cuban
coasts, and finally, almost destitute of food
and water. and after drifting about for
several days. they reached Santiago de
Cuba.
The testimony discloses that they at once
produced their papers for inspection to the
captain of the port. explained their dis
tress, and asked 70 be directed 10 the
United States Consul. Notwithstanding
these admitted facts, they we're seized by
the military authorities on February %,
1895. and thrown into prison from which
they were not released until May fol-
lowing. During this imprisonment both
men were kept in close confinement much
Of the time and both suffered great injury
TO health thereby. BOlten contracted yell
low fever.
The seizure Of these men is believed by
the committee TO have been in violation
of article of the treaty Of 1875. which
provides for the hospitable reception Of
American citizens who. through stress Of
weather, are driven upon Spanish terri
tory
II is further evident 10 the committee.
says the report, that the proceedings fnau-
gurated by the military authorities against
Bolten and RicheIieu are a violation of the
protocol OF January r. 1877, which pro
vides that citizens of the United States
taken without arms in hand shall bs tried
by the ordinary civil tribunals. 20 the cX-
clusion of any special tribunal. and when
arrested and imprisoned shall be deemed
TO be arrested or imprisoned by order Of +.
the civil authority
Both men were held BY the military au-
thorities from the Esd of February TO the !
21st OF March. when they were turned over {
to the civil tribunal OF the province OF /
Santiago A rigid search at the time Of /
their seizure by the Spanish authorities /
failed to disclose any arms or papers or J
other evidences of unlawful intent.
The committee In its report recites that /
a settlement Of this claim has been press /
ed upon Spain through the proper diplO- /
matte channels of our Government. This /
effort has been unavailing. and the Span /
ish Government has distinctly declined 'tO |
discuss any further the present claims /
and consider the incident TO be definitely I
ended"
In view Of the above. the committee is 4
of the opinion that il is the manifest duty I
of the United States to take such prompt .
measures as shall be adequate 20 obtain
an indemnity for all wrongs and injuries .
suffered by the two American sailors Boil /
ten and Richelieu.