Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session Thirty-eighth Congress, Part I
Bahama Islands, New Providence.
To all to whom these presents shall come: I, Ormond Drimmie Malcolm, notary public, by lawful authority appointed, duly admitted and sworn, residing and practicing in the city of Nassau, in the said island of New Providence, do hereby certify that the annexed paper writing is a true copy of a notarial declaration made before me by Theodore Cavillier, therein named, of the island of Eleuthera, as the same appears of record in my notarial register, book A, pages 13 to 16.
Declaration of Robert C. Fonte and Ivey Foreman.
Bahama Islands, New Providence.
Know all men by these presents, that on the 6th day of June, in the year of our Lord 1863, before me, Bruce Lockhart Burnside, a notary public, by lawful authority appointed, duly admitted and sworn, residing and practicing in the city of Nassau, in the island of New Providence, personally came and appeared Robert C. Fonte, at present of the city of Nassau, in the island of New Providence, gentleman, who did solemnly declare, such declaration being made in pursuance of the laws of Bahamas for substituting a declaration in lieu of an oath in certain cases:
That he, the declarant, was a passenger on board the steamship Margaret and Jessie which sailed from the port of Charleston on the 27th day of May last, bound for this port of Nassau.
That on the morning of Saturday, the 30th, a steam vessel-of-war gave chase to the Margaret and Jessie, and she was run for the land of Eleuthera, one of the Bahamas islands, in the territory of her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain, and about half past twelve noon, the Margaret and Jessie being then distant from the land of the island of Eleuthera about five miles, with the vessel-of-war astern distant about four miles, the latter vessel opened fire upon her with shot and shell. That the Margaret and Jessie was still headed for the land, the war-vessel continuing in pursuit, incessantly discharging shot and shell which fell thickly over and around the Margaret and Jessie until she arrived within five hundred yards of the beach, when, to prevent her going upon the land, her course was changed, and she was headed westwardly, coasting and skirting the land at [Page 789] a distance of between four and five hundred yards from it; that she thus continued for a period of an hour and three-quarters, during all which time the Margaret and Jessie never was further than five hundred yards from the land; the vessel-of-war continued the chase, being to the distance of about a mile from the land, and discharging shot and shell, by broadsides, which fell thickly around the vessel, and many of which passed over her and struck the land, and so near during all this latter time was the Margaret and Jessie kept to the shore, that she took the ground several times in passing over a reef which lies a short distance from the land.
That eventually a shell shot from the vessel-of-war struck the Margaret and Jessie, she then being not further than four hundred yards from the land, and passed through into her boiler, which so disabled her that she within a minute of time took the ground and filled with water not over four hundred yards from the beach, and the passengers and crew, fearing that boats would board from the vessel-of-war, quitted the vessel and went to the shore; and shortly afterwards two boats from the vessel-of-war quitted her and rowed round the Margaret and Jessie as she lay ashore, and then returned to their ship, in which boats were officers dressed in the uniform of the United States navy.
That the said steam vessel-of-war had flying from her main peak the United States ensign, she being brig-rigged, with a beam engine on deck, and propelled by side-wheels.
R. C. FONTE.
Declared to at Nassau this 6th day of June, A. D. 1863.
B. L. BURNSIDE, Notary Public.
Bahama Islands, New Providence.
Know all men by these presents, that on the 6th day of June, in the year of our Lord 1863, before me, Bruce Lockhart Burnside, a notary public, by lawful authority appointed, duly admitted and sworn, residing and practicing in the city of Nassau, in the island of New Providence, personally came and appeared Ivey Foreman, at present of the city of Nassau, in the island of New Providence, gentleman, who did solemnly declare, such declaration being made in pursuance of the laws of Bahamas for substituting a declaration in lieu of an oath in certain cases:
That he, the declarant, was a passenger on board the steamship Margaret and Jessie which sailed from the port of Charleston on the 27th day of May last, bound for this port of Nassau. That having heard read over to him the annexed declaration of Robert C. Fonte, he can personally testify that everything therein contained is just and true, this declarant having been an eye-witness to all the occurrences therein detailed and set forth.
IVEY FOREMAN.
Declared to at Nassau this 6th day of June, A. D. 1863.
B. L. BURNSIDE, Notary Public
Bahama Islands, New Providence.
To all to whom these presents shall come: I, Bruce Lockhart Burnside, a notary public, by lawful authority appointed, duly admitted and sworn, residing and practicing in the city of Nassau, in the island of New Providence, do hereby certify the foregoing to be a full, just, and true copy of notarial declarations duly made before me, the undersigned notary public, by the declarants therein named, as the same remains of record in my official record book, page 143 to 147.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office, at Nassau, this 9th day of June, A. D. 1863.
Declaration of Charles M. Morris, H. B. Clairbon, and Charles K. King.
Bahama Islands, New Providence.
Know all men by these presents, that on this 6th day of June, in the year of our Lord 1863, before me, Bruce Lockhart Burn side, a notary public, by lawful authority appointed, duly admitted and sworn, residing and practicing in the city of Nassau, in the island of New Providence, personally came and appeared Charles M. Morris, at present of the city of Nassau, in the island of New Providence, gentleman, who did solemnly declare, such declaration being made in pursuance of the laws of the Bahamas for substituting a declaration in lieu of an oath in certain cases:
That he, the declarant, was a passenger on board the said steamship Margaret and Jessie, which sailed from the port of Charleston on the 27th of May last, bound for this port of Nassau; that on the morning of Saturday, the 30th, a steam vessel-of-war gave chase to the Margaret and Jessie, and she was run for the land of Eleuthera, one of the Bahama islands, in the territory of her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain, and about half past 12 noon, the Margaret and Jessie being then distant from the land of the island of Eleuthera about five miles, with the vessel-of-war distant about four miles, the latter vessel opened fire upon her with shot and shell. That the Margaret and Jessie was still headed for the land, the war-vessel continuing in pursuit, incessantly discharging shot and shell, which fell thickly over and around the Margaret and Jessie, until she arrived within five hundred yards of the beach, when, to prevent her going upon the land, her course was changed, and she was headed westwardly, coasting and skirting the land at a distance of between four and five hundred yards from it.
That she thus continued for a period of an hour and three-quarters, during all which time the Margaret and Jessie never was further than 500 yards from the land; the vessel-of-war continued the chase, being to the distance of about a mile from the Margaret and Jessie, and discharging shot and shell, by broadside, which fell thickly around the vessel, and many of which passed over her, and struck the land; and so near during all this latter time was the Margaret and Jessie kept to the shore that she took the gound several times in passing over a reef which lies a short distance from the land.
That eventually a shell shot from the vessel-of-war struck the Margaret and Jessie, she then being not further than 400 yards from the land, and passed through into her boiler, which so disabled her that she within a minute of time took the ground, and filled with water not over 400 yards from the beach; and the passengers and crew, fearing that boats would board from the vessel-of-war, quitted the vessel, and went to the shore; and shortly afterwards two boats from the vessel-of-war quitted her and rowed round the Margaret and Jessie, as she lay ashore, and then returned to their ship, in which boats were officers dressed in the uniform of the United States navy.
That the said steam vessel-of-war had flying from her main peak the United States ensign, she being brig-rigged, with a beam engine on deck, and propelled by side-wheels.
C. M. MORRIS.
Declared to at Nassau this 6th day of June, 1863.
B. L. BURNSIDE, Notary Public.
Bahama Islands, New Providence.
Know all men by these presents, that on this 6th day of June, in the year of our Lord 1863, before me, Bruce Lockhart Burnside, a notary public, by lawful authority appointed, duly admitted and sworn, residing and practicing in the [Page 791] city of Nassau, in the island of New Providence, personally came and appeared Charles K. King and Henry B. Clairbon, at present of the city of Nassau, in the island of New Providence, gentlemen, who did solemnly declare, such declaration being made in pursuance of the laws of the Bahamas for substituting a declaration in lieu of an oath in certain eases:
That they, the declarants, were passengers on board the steamship Margaret and Jessie, which sailed from the port of Charleston on the 27th of May last, bound for this port of Nassau.
That having read over to them the annexed declaration of Charles M. Morris, they can personally testify that everything therein contained is just and true, these declarants having been eye-witnesses to all the occurrences therein detailed and set forth.
H. B. CLAIRBON.
CHAS. K. KING.
Declared to at Nassau the 6th day of June, A. D. 1863.
B. L. BURNSIDE, Notary Public.
Bahama Islands, New Providence.
To all to whom these presents shall come.: I, Bruce Lockhart Burnside, a notary public, by lawful authority appointed, duly admitted and sworn, residing and practicing in the city of Nassau, in the island of New Providence, do hereby ertify the foregoing to be a full, just, and true copy of notarial declarations duly made before me, the undersigned notary public, by the declarants therein named, as the same remain of record in my official record-book, pages 138 to 142.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office, at Nassau, this 9th day of June, A. D. 1863.
Declaration of Jane Hanna.
Bahama Islands, Eleuthera.
Be it remembered, that on this 4th day of June, in the year of our Lord 1863, personally came and appeared before me, Ormond Drimmie Malcolm, notary public, by lawful authority appointed, duly admitted and sworn, residing and practicing in the city of Nassau, in the island of New Providence, one of the said Bahama islands, Jane Hanna, of James’s Point, in the island of Eleuthera, one of the said Bahama islands, who of her own free will and accord did solemnly declare (such declaration being made in pursuance of the laws of the Bahama islands made for substituting a declaration in lieu of an oath in certain cases) in manner following, that is to say:
I live at James’s Point, in the island of Eleuthera. On Saturday, the 30th day of May last, I was in my house at James’s Point, when I heard guns firing from the sea. I looked out of the door of my house, the northern one.
The house is on a hill, about two miles from the shore, on the north side of the settlement. I can see the sea from the door. I saw a steamer passing up along the shore firing guns. I left my house and went on a hill near, when I saw another steamer ahead, at which the other was firing. I watched them for some time, when the inner steamer turned and came down. I then saw the one that had been firing also turn and commence to fire at her; several of the shot I saw fall on the land. I entered my house, when I heard the report of a gun, and something struck on the roof of the house. I looked out of the door, and [Page 792] saw the steamer that had been firing before opposite my house, and clouded with smoke.
I went over to the northern shore in the evening, and saw one of the steamers on shore, and the other, the one that had been firing the guns, lying-to outside of her, with a flag flying. I do not know the flag, of what nation it was; it bad red and white stripes.
JANE HANNA.
Declared to before me this 4th day of June, A. D. 1863.
ORMOND D. MALCOLM, Notary Public.
Bahama Islands, New Providence.
To all to whom these presents shall come: I Ormond Drimmie Malcolm, notary public, by lawful authority appointed, duly admitted and sworn, residing and practicing in the city of Nassau, in the said island of New Providence, do hereby certify that the annexed paper writing is a true copy of a notarial declaration made before me by Jane Hanna, therein named, of the island of Eleuthera, as the same appears of record in my notarial register, book A, pages 22 to 23.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal notarial the 6th day of June, in the year of our Lord 1863.
Declaration of Clinton Johnson.
Bamaha Islands, New Providence.
Know all men by these presents, that on the 6th day of June, in the year of our Lord 1863, before me, Bruce Lockhart Burnside, a notary public, by lawful authority appointed, duly admitted and sworn, residing and practicing in the city of Nassau, in the island of New Providence, personally came and appeared Clinton Johnson, of the island of Eleuthera, farmer, who of his own free will and voluntary accord did declare:
That he lives at a town known as “James’s Cestern,” on the south side of the island of Eleuthera, and on Saturday, the 30th day of May last, he heard the reports of cannon on the north side of the island; that he immediately went to the high land to the north of the town, and then saw two steamships, one in chase of the other, the outer ship discharging guns very rapidly at the ship that was nearest to the shore, both of which ships were approaching at full speed to the land.
That the ship nearest the land was an unarmed vessel, and the vessel chasing her was a vessel-of-war; the unarmed vessel having arrived within 300 yards of the beach changed her course and skirted along the land, at no time being 400 yards from it; that the vessel-of-war also changed her course, and having arrived within a distance of at most half a mile from the other ship, continued for at least an hour and a half to discharge without cessation shot and shell, which, from time to time, passed over the inner ship and struck and exploded upon the land.
That many of the shot so discharged as aforesaid fell within a distance of one hundred yards from the dwelling-houses in the town at James’s Cestern, and caused great destruction among the trees and wood in the neighborhood; and the inhabitants of the town, fearing that their houses would be struck by the shot, and that some of them would be killed, quitted the town and took refuge under the hills until the firing had ceased.
his
CLINTON × JOHNSON.
mark.
[Page 793]Declared to at Nassau this 6th day of June, A. D. 1863.
B. L. BURNSIDE, Notary Public.
Bahama Islands, New Providence.
To all to whom these presents shall come: I, Bruce Lockhart Burnside, a notary public, by lawful authority appointed, duly admitted and sworn, residing and practicing in the city of Nassau, in the island of New Providence, do hereby certify the foregoing to be a full, just, and true copy of a notarial declaration duly made before me, the undersigned notary public, by the declarant therein named, as the same remains of record in my official record-book, from page 161 to 163.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office at Nassau, in the island of New Providence, this 9th day of June, A. D. 1863.
Declaration of Thomas Mackey.
Bahama Islands, Eleuthera.
Be it remembered, that on this 4th day of June, in the year of our Lord 1863, personally came and appeared before me, Ormond Drimmie Malcolm, notary public, by lawful authority appointed, duly admitted and sworn, residing and practising in the city of Nassau, in the island of New Providence, one of the said Bahama islands, Thomas Mackey, of James’s Point, in the island of Eleuthera, one of the said Bahama islands, planter, who of his own free will and accord did solemnly declare (such declaration being made in pursuance of the laws of the Bahama islands made for substituting a declaration in lieu of an oath in certain cases) in manner following, that is to say:
On Saturday morning last, the 30th day of May past, I was out fishing on the southern side of the settlement called James’s Point, on the island of Eleuthera. I am a resident of the settlement. I was out fishing with William Hanna, another resident of the settlement. Just as we started to return home, about 1 o’clock, I heard the reports of several heavy guns; the sound came from the northeast, across the island of Eleuthera. When the boat was about three miles from the settlement, and about half a mile from the shore on the southern side, I heard the report of another gun, and saw a cannon-shot come over and fall upon, the land. We kept on in the boat, and when about half a mile from the settlement I again heard the report of a gun, and saw a cannonshot fall in the water about sixty or seventy yards ahead of the boat in which we were, and very near a boat in which Theodore Cuvillier of the same settlement was.
After I landed from fishing I walked over to the beach on the northern side of the settlement, which beach is about two miles from the southern shore. Upon reaching there I saw a steamer on the reef, about four hundred yards from the shore. I also saw a steamer lying-to outside of the reef, about six or seven hundred yards from it; she had an American flag flying. I could see guns on board of her run out through the port-holes. I saw two boats come from her and row around the steamer that was on shore. Officers were in these boats; they had gold lace around their caps. The steamer left about 8 o’clock that night.
THOMAS MACKEY.
Declared to before me this 4th day of June, A. D. 1863.
ORMOND D. MALCOLM. Notary Public.
[Page 794]Bahama Islands, New Providence.
To all to whom these presents shall come: I, Ormond Drimmie Malcolm, notary public, by lawful authority appointed, duly admitted and sworn, residing and practicing in the city of Nassau, in the said island of New Providence, do hereby certify that the annexed paper writing is a true copy of a notarial declaration made before me by Thomas Mackey, therein named, of the island of Eleuthera, as the same appears of record in my notarial register-book A, pages 17 to 19.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal notarial, the 6th day of June, in the year of our Lord 1863.
Declaration of William Hanna.
Bahama Islands, Eleuthera.
Be it remembered, that on this 4th day of June, in the year of our Lord 1863, personally came and appeared before me, Ormond Drimmie Malcolm, notary public, by lawful authority appointed, duly admitted and sworn, residing and practicing in the city of Nassau, in the island of New Providence, one of the said Bahama islands, William Hanna, of James’s Point, in the island of Eleuthera, one of the said Bahama islands, farmer, who, of his own free will and accord, did solemnly declare (such declaration being made in pursuance of the laws of the Bahama islands made for substituting a declaration in lieu of an oath in certain cases) in manner following, that is to say:
I reside at James’s Point, a settlement on the island of Eleuthera, one of the said Bahama islands. I am a farmer, but occasionally go to sea. The settlement of James’s Point is bounded on the north and south by the sea, being about two miles in width, that is, from the north to the south.
On Saturday morning past, the 30th day of May last, I left my residence at James’s Point in my boat on the south side of the settlement for the purpose of fishing; Thomas Mackey, a resident of the said settlement, went with me. After fishing for some time we started on our return home. When we were about a mile from the settlement I heard the reports of several heavy guns, the same seeming to be fired from a northeasterly direction. When about two hundred yards from the place where I intended to land in order to proceed to my house, I heard the report of a gun, and about five or six seconds after a cannon-shot went past the boat in which we were, and fell in the water, having come across the land in a northerly direction, about thirty yards from a boat in which one Theodore Cuvillier of the same settlement was.
I landed at the settlement about 3 o’clock on this day, Saturday, the 30th, and on landing was informed that a steamer was on shore on the northern side of the settlement. Upon hearing this I climbed to the roof of my house, which is about thirty-five feet from the ground, and on looking across the land to the northern side of the settlement I saw two steamers, one of them being ashore on a reef a few hundred yards from the shore, and the other lying-to about three hundred yards from the one on shore, with an American flag flying from her main peak. The steamer on shore had no flag flying.
I then came down from the roof of my house, and proceeded, in company with several others, to the beach on the northern side of the settlement, where I found two ladies and several gentlemen, who had just landed from the steamer on shore on the reef. The captain, mates, and crew of the said steamer landed while I was there.
[Page 795]After I had been on the beach about two hours, two boats put off from the steamer with the American flag flying, and came to the steamer on shore, rowed around her, and then returned. Both of these boats had American flags in their sterns. An officer was in each boat, having gold lace on his cap and gold buttons on his coat. There were guns on board of the steamer with the American flag flying. I could see them run out through the port-holes in her side. I could plainly see the men moving about her decks. I should say she was about six or eight hundred yards from the shore. She remained in the position and place that I have described until dark. I did not notice when she left.
Declared to before me this 4th day of June, A. D. 1863.
Bahama Islands, New Providence.
To all to whom these presents shall come: I, Ormond Drimmie Malcolm, notary public, by lawful authority appointed, duly admitted and sworn, residing and practicing in the city of Nassau, in the said island of New Providence, do hereby certify that the annexed paper writing is a true copy of a notarial declaration made before me by William Hanna, therein named, of the island of Eleuthera, as the same appears of record in my notarial register, book A, pages 9 to 12.
Declaration of Charles Rutledge Burnside.
Bahama Islands, New Providence.
Be it remembered, that on this 10th day of June, in the year of our Lord 1863, personally came and appeared before Ormond Drimmie Malcolm, notary public, by lawful authority appointed, duly admitted and sworn, residing and practicing in the city of Nassau, in the island of New Providence aforesaid, Charles Rutledge Burnside, of the city of Nassau, in the said island of New Providence, gentleman, who, of his own free will and accord, did solemnly declare (such declaration being made in pursuance of the laws of the Bahama islands for substituting a declaration in lieu of an oath in certain cases) in manner following, that is to say:
That he, the declarant, was, on the 4th day of June instant, at a town on the island of Eleuthera, known as “James’s Cistern” in the vicinity of James’s Point.
That he, the declarant, had heard that shot and shell, thrown from a vessel-of-war on the north side of the island, had struck the ground near to the town, and Samuel Mackey, a resident of the town, pointed out to him, at a distance of about 200 yards from the dwelling-houses in the town, trees which had been destroyed, and the marks on the earth and stones caused by the missiles which had struck them; that the declarant, whilst inspecting the spots pointed out by the said Samuel Mackey, picked up the smaller of the two pieces of shell [Page 796] hereto attached, and Samuel Mackey also picked up, in the presence of this declarant, the other piece.
That both of such pieces remained in the possession of this declarant, and were by him delivered to the notary public to be attached to this declaration, which he, the notary, has done in declarant’s presence.
C. R. BURNSIDE.
Declared to before me this 10th day of June, A. D. 1863.
ORMOND D. MALCOLM, Notary Public.
Bahama Islands, New Providence.
To all to whom these presents shall come: I, Ormond Drimmie Malcolm, notary public, by lawful authority appointed, duly admitted and sworn, residing and practicing in the city of Nassau, in the island of New Providence, do hereby certify that the annexed paper writing is a true copy of a notarial declaration made before me by Charles Rutledge Burnside therein named, of the island of New Providence, as the same appears of record in my notarial register, book A, pages 24 and 25.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal notarial the 10th day of June, in the year of our Lord 1863.
Declaration of Samuel Mackey.
Bahama Islands, Eleuthera.
Be it remembered, that on this 4th day of June, in the year of our Lord 1863, personally came and appeared before me, Ormond Drimmie Malcolm, notary public, by lawful authority appointed, duly admitted and sworn, residing and practicing in the city of Nassau, in the island of New Providence, one of the said Bahama islands, Samuel Mackey, of James’s Point, in the island of Eleuthera, one of the said Bahama islands, planter, who, of his own free will and accord, did solemnly declare (such declaration being made in pursuance of the laws of the Bahama islands made for substituting a declaration in lieu of an oath in certain cases) in manner following, that is to say:
I am a planter, and reside at James’s Point, in the island of Eleuthera, one of the Bahama islands. On Saturday, the 30th day of May last past, I was out fishing on the southern side of the settlement. The settlement is about two miles wide from north to south. While out fishing I heard the reports of several heavy guns from the northeast. On returning to the shore, being about three yards from it, I heard the report of a gun, and saw a cannon ball fall on the land in the middle of the settlement where the houses are built. I found a portion of the shot to-day in the place where I saw it fall.
his
SAMUEL + MACKEY.
mark.
Declared to before me this 4th day of June, A. D. 1863.
ORMOND D. MALCOLM, Notary Public.
Bahama Islands, New Providence.
To all to whom these presents shall come: I, Ormond Drimmie Malcolm, notary public, by lawful authority appointed, duly admitted and sworn, residing and practicing in the city of Nassau, in the island of New Providence, do hereby [Page 797] certify that the annexed paper writing is a true copy of a notarial declaration made before me by Samuel Mackey, therein named of the island of Eleuthera, as the same appears of record in my notarial register, book A, pages 20 and 21.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal notarial the 6th day of June, in the year of our Lord 1863.
Declaration of Laurence Thiescelin and Laurcel Thiescelin.
Bahama Islands, New Providence.
Know all men by these presents, that on this 11th day of June, in the year of our Lord 1863, before me, Bruce Lockhart Burnside, a notary public, by lawful authority appointed, duly admitted and sworn, residing and practicing in the city of Nassau, in the island of New Providence, personally came and appeared Laurence Thiescelin, at present of the island of New Providence, gentleman, and Laurcel Thiescelin, at present of the island of New Providence, single woman, who did solemnly declare, such declaration being made in pursuance of the laws of the Bahamas for substituting a declaration in lieu of an oath in certain cases:
That these declarants are subjects of his Imperial Majesty Napoleon III, Emperor of the French, and are natives of the city of Paris in the Empire of France, but for some years past have resided at Mobile, in the State of Alabama, one of the States of America, known aa the Confederate States of America.
That they sailed in and on board of the confederate merchant steamship Margaret and Jessie, on Wednesday the 27th day of May last past, from Charleston, South Carolina, as passengers for Nassau, on their way to France.
That on Saturday morning, about 10 o’clock, a vessel-of-war gave chase to the Margaret and Jessie, and continued to chase until about 12 o’clock, when the Margaret and Jessie had been brought to about five miles distant from the land of Eleuthera, within the jurisdiction of her Majesty the Queen of England; the war-vessel was then astern of the Margaret and Jessie about four miles, and commenced to fire shot and shell at her.
That the war-vessel continued to chase the Margaret and Jessie, and to fire shot and shell at her incessantly, until the latter vessel was taken within 300 or 400 yards of the shore of the island of Eleuthera aforesaid, the war-vessel coming in to the same shore within the distance of one mile, and coasting along with the Margaret and Jessie, and discharging shot and shell at her, many of which these declarants saw strike the land of Eleuthera. That during all the time before referred to, these declarants remained on deck, but the danger to life on board of the Margaret and Jessie being very great from the constant discharge of shell and other missiles which fell thickly around her, and it being evident that the intention of the parties on board the war-vessel was to kill and murder the persons then on board the Margaret and Jessie, they the declarants, Laurence Thiescelin and Laurcel Thiescelin, were persuaded by the male passengers who were with them in the Margaret and Jessie to take refuge in the cabin.
That at the time the said Laurence Thiescelin and Laurcel Thiescelin left the deck and went to the cabin, the said steamship Margaret and Jessie was not over 400 yards from the beach, and the war-vessel was not a mile distant from the Margaret and Jessie. That after these declarants went into the cabin the ship struck several times on the bottom, and they still heard the incessant discharge of cannon from the war-vessel.
[Page 798]That after they had been for some time in the cabin a shot struck the Margaret and Jessie, and almost immediately she ran upon the ground, and the declarants upon going to the deck found that the ship was on the ground not 400 yards from the beach.
And these declarants further declare that the parties on board the Margaret and Jessie, fearing that she would be boarded from the war-vessel, which had then anchored a short distance from them, immediately hastened to the shore, and immediately after armed boats were sent from the vessel-of-war, in which were officers in the naval uniform of the United States of America, which boats approached near to the Margaret and Jessie, rowed round her, and then returned to their ship.
And these declarants lastly declare that they verily believe and are convinced that the intention of the said parties on board the said vessel-of-war discharging shot and shell from guns on board that vessel at the Margaret and Jessie, when both such vessels were within the territorial jurisdiction of her Majesty the Queen, was none other than to kill and murder the parties or some of them then being on board the Margaret and Jessie.
THIESCELIN.
LAURCEL THIESCELIN.
Declared to at Nassau the 11th day of June, A. D. 1863.
B. L. BURNSIDE, Notary Public.
Bahama Islands, New Providence.
To all to whom these presents shall come: I, Bruce Lockhart Burnside, a notary public, by lawful authority appointed, duly admitted and sworn, residing and practicing in the city of Nassau, in the island of New Providence, do hereby certify the foregoing to be a full, just, and true copy of notarial declarations duly made before me, the said notary, by the declarants therein named, as the same remains of record in my official record-book, pages 148 to 152.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office at Nassau, this 11th day of June, A. D. 1863.
Declaration of Fenn Peck and M. M. Kerr.
Bahama Islands, New Providence.
Know all men by these presents that on this 8th day of June, in the year of our Lord 1863, before me, Bruce Lockhart Burnside, notary public, by lawful authority appointed, duly admitted and sworn, residing and practicing in the city of Nassau, in the island of New Providence, personally came and appeared Fenn Peck, at present of the island of New Providence, master mariner, and Matthew Morris Kerr, also at present of the island of New Providence, merchant, who did solemnly declare, such declaration being made in pursuance of the laws of the Bahamas for substituting a declaration in lieu of an oath in certain cases:
That they sailed as passengers on board the steamship Margaret and Jessie, from Charleston, on the 27th of May last, bound to Nassau.
That on Saturday morning, when about twenty-five miles from the mainland of Eleuthera, one of the Bahama islands, a vessel-of-war gave chase to them, but that as the Margaret and Jessie was put at full speed for the land, the pursuing vessel did not gain upon her until about noon; the Margaret and Jessie was then distant from Eleuthera about five miles, and the war-vessel astern of [Page 799] the Margaret and Jessie about four miles. She opened fire upon the Margaret and Jessie, but at first the shot fell short, but as the Margaret and Jessie neared the land and became hemmed in by it, the shot from the war-vessel, which had gradually neared the Margaret and Jessie, fell thickly around her; that the Margaret and Jessie was then taken to within four hundred yards of the shore, notwithstanding which the war-vessel, which had now approached to within a mile of her, continued to pour shot and shell, and what appeared to be grape, and canister, into the Margaret and Jessie.
That the Margaret and Jessie continued at such distance of four hundred yards for a period of an hour and a half at the very least, during all which time the war-vessel, which was not at any time a mile distant, continued incessantly discharging shot, shell, and what appeared to be grape and canister, at the Margaret and Jessie.
That during this latter time the Margaret and Jessie frequently took the ground until a spherical 7-inch shot struck her, which disabled her, causing her immediately to take the ground, fill with water and sink, she then being not four hundred yards from the beach—so near, in fact, that persons on the beach could converse with persons on board the said vessel.
That so soon as this occurred the vessel-of-war, which was at this time coasting along with the Margaret and Jessie, headed to sea, and having steamed out for a short time, came to anchor, and the parties on board the Margaret and Jessie observing that boats were about to be sent from her, and fearing that although within neutral territory they would be made prisoners, they quitted the Margaret and Jessie and landed on the shore, and armed boats were seen to quit the war-vessel and proceed towards the Margaret and Jessie.
That the said declarant Fenn Peck found that only eight minutes and a half elapsed from the time these armed boats quitted the war-vessel until they arrived at the Margaret and Jessie, and that in these boats were officers dressed in the uniform of the navy of the United States of America, and having rowed round the Margaret and Jessie they returned to the vessel-of-war, which remained at anchor until dark, after which she was no more seen.
FENN PECK.
M. M. KERR.
Declared to at Nassau this 8th day of June, A. D. 1863.
B. L. BURNSIDE, Notary Public.
Bahama Islands, New Providence.
To all to whom these presents shall come: I, Bruce Lockhart Burnside, a notary public, by lawful authority appointed, duly admitted and sworn, residing and practicing in the city of Nassau, in the island of New Providence, do hereby certify the foregoing to be a full, just, and true copy of notarial declarations duly made before me, the undersigned notary public, by the declarants there named, as the same remains of record in my official record-book, from page 165 to 169.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office at Nassau, in the island of New Providence, this 9th day of June, A. D. 1863.
Declarations of Daniel Trigg and H. B. Littlepage.
Bahama Islands, New Providence.
Know all men by these presents, that on this 6th day of June, in the year of our Lord 1863, before me, Bruce Lockhart Burnside, a notary public, by lawful [Page 800] authority appointed, duly admitted and sworn, residing and practicing in the city of Nassau, in the island of New Providence, personally came and appeared Daniel Trigg and Hardin B. Littlepage, at present of the city of Nassau, in the island of New Providence, gentlemen, who did solemnly declare, such declaration being made in pursuance of the laws of the Bahamas for substituting a declaration in lieu of an oath in certain cases:
That they, the declarants, were passengers on board the steamship Margaret and Jessie which sailed from the port of Charleston on the 27th day of May last, bound for this port of Nassau.
That having heard read over to them the declaration of Robert C. Fonte, they can personally testify that everything therein contained is just and true, these declarants having been eye-witnesses to all the occurrences therein detailed and set forth, with the exception of the officers in the boats being in the uniform of the navy of the United States of America, which the said Daniel Trigg did not himself see.
DANIEL TRIGG.
H. B. LITTLEPAGE.
Declared to at Nassau, this 6th day of June, A. D. 1863.
B. L. BURNSIDE, Notary Public.
Bahama Islands, New Providence.
To all to whom these presents shall come: I, Bruce Lockhart Burnside, a notary public, by lawful authority appointed, duly admitted and sworn, residing and practicing in the city of Nassau, in the island of New Providence, do hereby certify the foregoing to be a full, just, and true copy of notarial declarations duly made before me, the undersigned notary public, by the declarants therein named, as the same remains of record in my official record-book from page 163 to 165.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office, at Nassau, in the island of New Providence, this 10th day of June, A. D. 1863.