The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-05-08
TODAY IN HISTORY
...,+v =, the Alabama Claims.
MAY 8, 1910.

One OF the conspicuous legacies OF the
civil war was that known az tne AN an
British government for damages because
that country permitted the ConfederaIe
government to build vessels In her snip.
American merchant vessels, which the
north claimed was against internatiohal
law, at least international courtesy
English shipyard Of Laird sons, OH tls |
Mcrsey river. There was law pasSsu |
by parliament long before foroidding ang
vessel TO be built or equipped lor use |
minister In London, Charles Francis
Adams, called the attention OF the gu
deferred until II was too late, The '29O.
as the vessel was known, had been
finished and had escaped A.,
It was I'm August. 1862, that the Als-
| bama began It's wonderful tour oi inc
world. the most remarkable OF It's KIND
| In history. It was not a pirate ship nor nor
object was 10 weaken the north oy de-
stroyIng northern shipping. ana IL cap"
| tured slxty-nine vessels, Including inet-
chantmen and whalers, A,,,.,.
| The vessels captured by the AlanaIls
| were often burned and the passengers anu
crews carried 10 some port ana sga sIe,,a ~.
1t was in June, 1864, that the AIspalIh,s me
reached Cherbourg, and here II met t.le
| Kenrsarge a United states cruiser OF
about the same size. 1t was dealn uuni: l'iri;
in neutral waters, and tho kearsarse SUNK
1 "a
career OF this famous vessel. ,,,,
When the war was over the BrlIlsn
| government was politely lniormeo tUae f
she would be expected to pay damages lof
the destruction OF American shipping, out
the English ignored the request In tres.
ident Grants annual message IN leI1 ne
made reference 10 the subject %hlCu
awakened the British public 10 the real
ization that there was something q9IIe
serious between the two countries. Inc
English minister at Washington proposed
| {oyn i-r m
city and arrange to adjust the relations
between the two countries. the com :
mission met and produced me- tne 5rGay hv the oe
senate on May 6. 1871. 1t provided for
settling several points OF dispute and the
most important OF these vas the Ala. IA,
bama claims. It was provided that TINS
be settled by tribunal or jury oi nve
J men TO meet at Geneva, Switzerland.
, Only one OF the five was TO oe an Amer =
can and one an Ensltshman- The III
bunal met, the case was argued, and the
American claims won. and IL was decided
that the British government pay the
cold I'm settlement OF the Alabama claims
and the money was paid 10 the last uoi-
lar. 49,.
government OF the United States was rep
!. resented by Charles Francis Adams. the
{ British by Sir Alexander Cockburn, lord
chief Justice Of ENGLAND; Italy named s.9,e
a juba and Switzerland Jacques Steampni
These men all were OF great eminence
They began their sittings on DecenoeI
S Is, 1871, and did not hnish until the iol'
lowing September.
On May S. 1886. occurred the battle o
Palo Alto in the Mexican war. and ms
bnttle of Spottsylvenia Court House, va.
In the civil war Cs64. II is the dat'
e on which the northern coast Of Creenlan'
o was discovered by Lieutenant Peary II
1900 II Is the birthday OF Alaiu Rem
e lie Sage. author of ''Gil Bias" 166S)
1 James Hamilton. the southern statesman
. Q7S6); William II. Vanderbilt hnancle
Z GS2D; William Walker, the fllipuste
G (1S2D; Louis M, Gottschalk GS29l, an'
Augusta NJ. Evans, the author GS35).