Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the First Session Thirty-eighth Congress, Part I
Mr. Seward to Mr. Stuart.
Sir: Recurring to Lord Lyons’s communication of the 17th of July last, so far as it relates to the charge of harsh treatment of the officers of the British [Page 700] steamer Victor by those of the United States cruiser Juniata, I now have the honor to enclose a copy of a letter of the 7th instant, from the Secretary of the Navy, and of the reports to which it refers, repelling the accusations brought against the officers of the Juniata.
I seize this occasion to offer to you, sir, a renewed assurance of my highest consideration.
Hon. William Stuart, &c., &c., &c.
Mr. Welles to Mr. Seward.
Sir: Referring to my letter of the 31st of July last, addressed to you in answer to a note from Lord Lyons, relative to the seizure of the English steamer Victor, I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of a report from Commander J. M. B. Clitz, commanding the United States steamer Juniata, dated the 22d ultimo, and copies of reports from other officers of that vessel, repelling the charges made against them, of having ill treated the officers and crew of the Victor.
Very respectfully,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c.
Commander Clitz to Admiral Lardner.
Sir: In compliance with your order of September 21, I respectfully submit the reports of the various officers of this vessel in reference to the seizure of the English steamer Victor and the alleged ill treatment of her officers and crew.
The Victor was taken on the evening of May 28. I assumed command of the Juniata on the 30th, and found the officers and crew on board at that time. On the 9th of June, by order of Acting Rear-Admiral J. Bailey, the master’s mate and senior engineer were sent to Fort Taylor, at Key West, the remainder of the crew were allowed to go at large, and were landed at the city of Key West. In regard to the ill treatment of which they (officers and crew) complain, I would state that they were not confined as prisoners, but were generally unrestricted in their movements about the ship, and that if they had causes for complaint, they were never made known to me as the commanding officer About their treatment while at Fort Taylor I know nothing.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Acting Rear-Admiral J. L. Lardner, Commanding West India Squadron.
Lieutenant Maxwell to Commander Clitz.
Sir: In obedience to your order of this date I make the following report:
On the evening of the 28th of May we left Havana, followed by a small steamer showing English colors, and when at least five miles from the coast of Cuba boarded and took possession of her. She proved to be the steamer Victor.
Received on board the officers and crew, with the exception of the second engineer and one fireman, who afterwards came on board at Key West.
The master, first and second engineers, were quartered with the steerage officers, were furnished with beds to sleep on, and, in fact, well cared for. The crew were quartered with our own men.
While at Key West, on account of their ragged appearance, I gave orders that the Victor’s crew should not be allowed the use of the topgallant forecastle; but in every other respect they had the freedom of the ship.
The master and first engineer complained of their want of clothing, which had been left on board the Victor. An officer was sent to the prize commissioner who had charge of the vessel with the complaint, and the answer returned was, that it would be attended to. On the 9th of June I was directed by Commander Clitz to send the master’s mate and first engineer to Fort Taylor, in charge of Acting Ensign Winslow, who was directed to deliver them to the commanding officer, and was to say to him that if orders had not yet been received, that Admiral Bailey had made all arrangements with the general commanding for their reception at the fort.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Commander J. M. B. Clitz.
Lieutenant Koutz to Commander Clitz.
Sir: In compliance with your order to state to you in writing the distance of the British steamer Victor from the island of Cuba at the time of her capture, I have to say that, in my opinion, she was between six and ten miles distant from the nearest land. I deem it proper to say, too, after Commander Stevens had decided that the vessel was some distance outside of a marine league, he took the precaution to call upon several of the officers for their opinions as to the distance from the nearest land; and that while the officers differed, none considered the distance to the nearest land less than five miles. I may say, too, that the master of the Victor did not seem to avoid this vessel; on the contrary, he seemed to be courting capture.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Commander J. M. B. Clitz, Commanding U. S. Steamer Juniata.
Acting Master Stimson to Commander Clitz.
Sir: In obedience to your order of this date, I submit the following statement, in answer to the charges made against me by the captain and chief engineer of the steamer Victor:
I am accused of using, unnecessarily, violent and abusive language to the officers and crew of that vessel when I boarded her to examine her papers and cargo; also, of breaking open the packages containing her cargo; and after the Juniata had taken possession of that vessel, on being remonstrated with by the chief engineer, replying, that “I did not care a damn; that Admiral Wilkes’s orders were to seize every damned thing going to the westward, and we would do so.” And also, when they requested to be allowed to take their baggage with them on board the Juniata, that I replied, “they should not take a damned stitch.”
These statements are false in every particular. I did not use any violent or abusive language whatever, and I made no statement with regard to orders received from Admiral Wilkes.
I did not examine the packages containing the cargo of the vessel; but they were all opened by the mate of the steamer, his captain giving him orders to do so, at my request, as I wished to judge as to their contents, not being able to do so from the vessel’s manifest, the contents of the packages not being stated on that paper. I also beg leave to call your attention to the statement of Mr. Pollard, the engineer sent to take charge of the engines of the Victor, he having heard all the conversation which took place between myself and the crew of the Victor after I went on board to take charge of that vessel.
Hoping that this statement will prove satisfactory, I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Commander J. M. B. Clitz, Commanding U. S. Steamer Juniata.
Engineer Pollard to Commander Clitz.
Sir: I respectfully submit this statement of the facts in relation to the steamer Victor. I was sent on board of her by Captain Stevens to take charge of her machinery. On my arrival on board I proposed to the engineer then in charge to go ahead and assist in taking the vessel into Key West; that I would give him all the assistance I could. He refused to have anything to do with the vessel at all, unless he was ordered to do so by his captain, who was then on board the Juniata. On looking around the engine I discovered that the rods Were dismounted from the link; also that there were no tools on board, not even a screw-wrench, hammer, or chisel. I returned on board the Juniata, and reported these facts to Captain Stevens, when, after consulting with the chief engineer and his captain, the second engineer returned to the Victor and consented to work the engines himself. After trying in vain thirty minutes to start her ahead, I proposed to him to examine the expansive gear. On doing this he found that the valves had been screwed together, thereby closing all communication to the cylinder for the steam. At which discovery he seemed [Page 703] very much surprised, and denied all knowledge of how or why this was done, although he said that he alone had the whole management of the engine since leaving Havana.
After this difficulty was removed we had no further trouble with the machinery at all. That same night he himself found all the tools belonging to the engine, such as hammers, chisels, wrenches, oil-feeders, and everything requisite. In relation to the charge made against Prize-master James Stimson, I deny that any abusive or violent language was used by that gentleman; but, on the contrary, and under the circumstances, he was very cool and self-possesscd, and treated both officers and crew with consideration.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Commander John B. Clitz, Commanding U. S. Steamer Juniata.
Members of steerage mess to Commander Clitz.
Sir: Having read certain statements of the officers of the steamer Victor as to their being ill treated whilst aboard this vessel as prisoners, allow us respectfully to make the following statement on our behalf:
The captain of the Victor was taken into our mess, and treated with all the consideration and kindness which was possible. None could be more astonished than we were at the statements, which are entirely false.
Respectfully, &c.,
Commander J. M. B. Clitz.
Engineers of the Juniata to Commander Clitz.
United States Steamer Juniata.
Sir: Having read some documents made by the officers of the steamer Victor as to their ill treatment whilst aboard of this vessel, we respectfully submit the following statement on our part:
The senior engineer and his assistant were taken into our (the engineers’) mess, and treated as messmates in every particular, two of our number giving up their beds to the captain and senior engineer of the Victor, whilst the assistant engineer slept in the same bed with one of the engineers of this vessel. During their entire stay in this vessel, nearly two weeks, they were treated with courtesy and consideration, and not permitted to contribute a single cent towards the expenses of the mess.
Respectfully, your obedient servants,
Commander J. B. M. Clitz, Commanding Juniata.
Surgeon Schriver to Commander Clitz.
Sir: In relation to the treatment of the master and crew of the Victor during their detention on board of this vessel, I have to state that no instance of harshness or severity came under my observation. On the morning after the capture the master, Pearce, applied to me for medical assistance, which was promptly rendered. The necessity resulted from a want of his habitual stimulus, (brandy and water,) to the free use of which he stated he had been long accustomed.
One of the crew was treated successfully for ulcer of the leg during his sojourn on board.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Commander J. M. B. Clitz, Commanding United States Steamer Juniata,