Mr. Lane to Mr. Seward
Sir: I have to inform the department that the American schooner Three Sisters, of Key West, Florida, William Lowe master, was towed into this port on the 4th instant under the following circumstances:
On the 29th of last month, about half past 7 o’clock p. m., while near Cape San Antonio, the said schooner was run into by the French transport ship Alhir and very badly damaged. Five of the crew, believing the schooner sinking, went on board the Alhir. As soon as it was found the schooner did not sink, they started to return to her, but were arrested by the commander of the transport, Mons. Cuisnier Delisle, and one of them put in double irons. The commander then sent to the schooner and took from her the only remaining seamen, leaving on board the master and a passenger to steer and pump her, as she was making water fast. The day before their arrival in this port the passenger was taken from the schooner; but on the 4th instant, just before entering the harbor, they were all returned to the schooner. After several hours’ detention in the harbor by the commander of the transport, because the master would not sign a paper releasing the French commander from all liability resulting from the collision, he was permitted to land. He deposited the register and crew-list in the consulate. The master and the crew reside at Key West. After hearing their statement, I addressed a note to Mons. Jules Doazan, French consulate at this port, repeating the story of the master as substantiated by his crew, and asked his early attention to the case, as, under the circumstances, I should be obliged to hold the French government responsible for the conduct of the commander of a transport, and for whatever loss might be sustained by [Page 251] the collision and by the imprisonment of the crew. I received no reply to this note. On the 9th I called a survey on the schooner by three masters of vessels, who condemned the schooner as entirely unseaworthy, and estimated the cost of repairs at $8,000. The master entered his protest, a copy of which I sent to the French consul, with a note repeating the former notice. No offer of aid or remuneration has been made to the master or crew since their arrival, and no notice whatever taken of the case. The master and crew agree in saying they hailed the transport three times before the collision; that their lights were set, and must have been plainly seen by the transport; that when a change was made by the schooner in her course, in order to avoid the collision, a corresponding change was made by the transport. They all say they believe it was purposely done; and from the course pursued by the authorities since the arrival here, I believe so, too.
The crew came on the consulate for support, but as Captain Lowe had provision on the schooner, I made an agreement for them to stay on board till the 15th instant without any expense to the consulate, when I placed them on board the British bark James Welsh, bound for New York, Master W. Megill, who agrees to land the crew at or near Key West, paying him $20 for each man in gold. I agreed, if he did not stop at Key West to obtain the usual indorsement of the collector, that the certificate of the crew that he had performed his part of the contract satisfactorily should be sufficient. It is not in accordance with the regulations, but I could do no better. There was no American vessel in port, and no other bound in the direction of Key West. I thought it the most economical way to dispose of the crew, who suggested this way of getting home, and I solicit the speedy payment of the sum on presentation of the usual certificate. It is very difficult to get masters of vessels to take seamen home on account of the difficulty they have in getting the pay from the department. I hope this will prove an exception to the usual rule.
The names of the seamen on board the schooner are Joseph Acosbee, William Lowe, jr., Frank. Whittaker, Eobert Matthews, Anthonie Sape, George Randall, all of Key West. The master, Captain Lowe, is still here. He was sole owner of the schooner. As there was no insurance on her the loss falls heavily on him. I did the best I knew in the case. If there is anything more to do in the premises, I await instructions from the department.
I have the honor to be, with great respect, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.