The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-12
A DIPLOMATIC INCIDENT
TIE Senate Considers a Claim Grow
ing Ont of the War of 1872.
I'm Effort TO Reimburse the Heirs of
Captain Reid for the Destruction
of the General Armstrong. an
American privateer Destroyed by
the British in Portuguese Waters.

Ulll mas been TepOTitu III AIt Sthdtt
providing for a payment of $4,000 to be
made to the heirs of Samuel C. Reid.
captain OF the American privateer General
Armstrong, which was destroyed by a
British squadron in the port of Fayal in
1914
The General Armstrong case is one OF
| the conspicuous incidents in the diplo-
matte history of the United States. Por-
tugal. and Great Britain. About noon of
| September 30, 1914, this brig, carrying
| seven guns and crew of ninety men. put
| into the port OF Fayal, in the Azores.
within the jurisdiction of Portugal. Her
purpose was TO obtain a supply OF fresh
water, and the Governor of the Azores.
| Elias Jose Ribeiro, readily granted per-
mission, at the same time ordering the
privateer to depart before noon Of the
following day. AS the sun was setting.
and while tn crew was taking on water.
a British squadron, consisting Of the IA
gun ship Plantag,net. Capt Richard Lloyd,
the 3S-gun frigate Rota, Capt. Philip Som
erville, and the 1S-gun brig-sloop Carna-
tion, Capt. George Bentham, appeared in
the roads
OF these vessels the Carnation -as me
first to enter the port. She anchored with
in pistol sf II of the little privateer and
was soon followed by the Plantagenet and
the Rota. Escape being impossible. Cap
tain Reid relied on the protection OF the
neutral Tort, Captain Reid, in his report.
said that his suspicion was aroused by
the exchange Of signals between the Eng
lish ships. and In apprehension Of an at
tack he cleared for action. While he was
thus employed he saw -four boats ap-
preaching. well manned and well armed.
Believing that they intended to board the
brig. he hailed them and warned them to
keep of, but as they continued on their
course he ordered his men TO fire, which
they did. killing and wounding a number
OF the men in the boats. On the privateer
a seaman was killed and the frst-class
lieutenant wounded. Captain Reid says:
The enemy, having met with warmer
reception than he expected. soon cried for
quarter and hauled off," Mr.. Dabney. the
American Consul at Fayal made repre-
sentations at once to Governor Ribeiro.
who in his turn made representations to
the British commanders.
Return 10 the Attack.
The English, 1t is reported. returned to
the attack of the privateer shortly after
midnight. They were in twelve boats and
the fight lasted twenty-eight minutes. The
American account recites that the English
numbered $50 and we're almost entirely
destroyed The British Consul reported
that the less in the small boats was 120
killed and wounded. In a note to the Gov
ernor Of the Azores after this encounter.
the British commander represented that
one OF the Piantagenet's boats was. with
out the slightest provOcation, fired on by
the American brig General Armstrong. in
rfr ryhfrh gFrn EiifaH
and seven wounded" This was in ans Ser
to the note of the Governor in relating TO
the first attack.
The British commander complained that |
the neutrality OF the port had been W. |
lated. and that in consequence of this |
outrage he had determined to take pos !
session Of the American vessel" and he |
hoped that the Governor would order the |
forts to protect the force employed for that !
The Governor did not make /
favorable reply. and the British COM
mander then threatened to knock down |
the castle and lombard F1yal. The Car
nation moved to the attack OF the priva-
teer and was repulsed. Captain Reid. |
that further resistance would te |
futile, scuttled the brig and the officers |
and crew went ashore. taking with them |
their baggage and part of the ships p-o
visions and rigging. Later the Carnation
returned TO the attack. and after cannon
aiding the privateer which was at that
time fast on the rocks, sent beats TO burn
her. In an hour she was destroyed. On
land some houses were damaged and three
persons wounded by the British fire.
Governor Ribeiro made a report to his
December rs. 1914, in which
be described the affair as "a horrible and
bloody combat, occasioned by the mad
ness. pride, and haughtiness OF an insolent
British officer, who would not respect the
neutrality maintained by Portugal in the
existing contest between His Britannia
Majesty and the United States of Amer
ca."
Consul Dnbney's Report.
Consul Dabney IL his report, dated oeto-
Der 5. 1914, says:
In the face Of the testimony of all
fayal. and a number of respectable
WHO happened to be in this place
At the moment. the British commander en-
ieavors to throw the odium Of this trans
action on the American, Captain Reid, as
'erting that he sent the boats merely to
the brig and without any hes
lie intention. The pilots OF tie port did
INFORM them OF the nature of the Ameri-
an brig the moment they entered the
'ort. To rec0nnoitrc an enemy's vessel IN
/ friendly port at night with four bolts
arriving by the best accounts, 120 men is
certainly strange proceeding"
In a report to Rear Admiral Brown. OF
he English Navy. Captain Lloyd sent the
ollowIng account:
"on the evening of September - I rut
nto this port for refreshments previous to
ny return to Jamaica. In shore was dis
covered suspicious vessel at anchor 1
ordered Captain Bentham, of the Carna-
ion, TO watch her movements and sent
he pinnace and the cutter of this ship
o assist him on that service. But on his
'erceiving her under way he sent Lieut.
Robert Faussett in the pinnace about
iclock TO observe her movements. On ap-
'roaching the schooner he was ordered TO
,eep of or they would fire into him. upon
which the boat was Immediately backed
fl. but. TO his astonishment, he received
broadside of grape and musketry. which
lid considerable damage. He then re-
'eatedly requested them TO leave of firing
IS he was not come to molest them; but !
he enemy still continued his destructive
ire until they had killed two men and
seven without a musket being
eturned BY the boat"
The agents of the privateer. Messrs.
Iavens & Jenkins, OF New York. on De-
ember 49, 1914. transmitted to Mr.. Mon !,
oa. then Secretary of State, copy of
'aptain Reids protest and certain other
apers. saying that they believed they had
n equitable demand against the Govern
lent OF Portugal for the loss of the General
Armstrong and setting the damages at
30 900. The claim was brought to the at
cntion of the Portuguese court, then tenn
orarily at Rio de Janelro. by the Ameri
an Minister, Thomas SumPter. ,,
Marquis de Aguiar. Minister OF Foreign
IfTars. brought the case 10 the attention .
( Lord strangford the British Minister to +.