No. 245.
Mr. Marsh to Mr. Fish.
Legation of
the United States,
Borne, May 18, 1872,
(Received June 5.)
No. 403.]
Sir: 1 have the honor to inclose herewith a
copy and translation of the reply of the minister of foreign affairs to
a note respecting the loss of the Shamrock at Genoa, and a copy of
dispatch from the consul at Genoa on the same subject.
The reply of the minister, it will be observed, takes no notice of the
evidence submitted on the part of Captain Ray, nor does it detail that
upon the other side on which the conclusions of the ministry of the
interior are founded.
So far as the conduct of the health-officers is concerned, it seems
highly probable that the difficulty arose from the want of any means of
communication between those officers and Captain Ray, and it certainly
appears singular that there should be no person capable of speaking a
language commercially so important as English in the service of the
health-officer at Genoa.
I had expected a somewhat different reply in regard to the conduct of the
health-officer, having been led by the consul’s letter of March 9 to
suppose that officers action in the case had been disapproved by the
local authorities, but it is evident that Mr. Spencer must have been
Misinformed on that point.
It is probable that the government would furnish copies of the evidence
before the commission of inquiry at Genoa, but I have not asked this,
because it would in all probability be extremely voluminous, and would
doubtless be in accordance with the conclusions of the ministry.
If further investigation is deemed necessary, I think the only judicious
mode of pursuing it would be by the employment of counsel at Genoa. This
would be a very expensive proceeding, and I do not think myself
authorized to resort to it without special instructions to that
effect.
I am, &c.,
[Page 318]
[Inclosure 1 in No.
403.—Translation.]
Mr. Peiroleri to
Mr. Marsh.
Sir: The minister of the interior, to whom
I hastened, to communicate the documents that you favored me with in
your note of the 11th of February, has had an investigation made
into the charges brought by Captain T. Ray, of the brig Shamrock,
against the health-officer of the port of Genoa.
It results from this that all the “crew of said vessel were admitted
in free pratique on their landing at the Molo Nuovo, and every
necessary assistance was lent them by the commissiouer of Sanita
Marithina. The captain and his family were received in his house,
and afterward passed the night in that of the Capo Guardia di
Sanita; and it is this act of charity that Captain Ray has
endeavored to denounce as a detention imposed upon him. He was
always left free to go to the city or to the ship. This liberty was
made use of by the sailors, who went on board the ship the same
evening, (of the week,) in order to take away their effects. It
appears, besides, that Captain Ray showed little inclination to do
anything, and only on the following morning commenced to interest
himself in saving the ship and cargo.
From this it is conclusive that no fault can be found with the
aforementioned health-officer, there being no ground for anything
charged against him by Captain Ray.
In communicating the result of this investigation, in reply to your
note on the subject, I have the honor to renew to you, Mr. Minister,
the assurance of my high consideration.
For the minister:
[Inclosure 2 in No. 463.]
Mr. Spencer to
Mr. Armstrong,
United
States Consulate,
Genoa, March 9,
1872.
Sir: I am in receipt of your dispatch of
the 4th instant, with its Inclosure from Mr. Marsh, relating to the
Shamrock.
Referring to the same, I may say that the crew of the Shamrock were
set at liberty after complying with certain formalities at the
health-office, while the captain was detained, and, as he states,
against his will. This to me is the most unaccountable feature of
the whole proceeding, with regard to which I have failed to obtain
any satisfaction, though I at once addressed a communication to the
prefect and the captain, of the port, giving a detailed statement of
the case.
I understand that the captain of the vessel knew nothing of the
release of the crew from the lazaretto until after they were gone,
which will probably account for his having failed to send a message
by one of their number to the consul or the captain of the port. One
of the seamen, as already stated, spoke a little French, but after
he left, the captain, in the absence of an interpreter, to which he
was entitled, was unable to communicate with any one. I am not
surprised that the statements as to time are somewhat vague
considering the circumstances. With regard, however, to the time
when the captain of the port arrived at the scene of the disaster,
he himself informed me that it was about 11 o’clock, the delay being
occasioned by the fact that it was necessary to wait until one of
the steam-tugs should get up steam.
I learn from the captain of the port that the investigation of the
case has been concluded and a copy of the proceedings sent to the
minister of marine. I also understand that while it severely
censures the conduct of the health-officer it also attaches some
blame to the captain of the vessel, on the ground that he declined
the services of some boatmen who offered to move his vessel for the
sum of three pounds sterling. I may state on behalf of the captain
that this was before he realized that his vessel was in danger, and
while he was waiting for a pilot and tug-boat.
The agent of the insurance companies informed me that he has reported
the case to the underwriters and referred them to my official report
to the Secretary of State, but that up to the present time he has
received no instructions as to what course he is to pursue.
I am, &c.,
O. M. SPENCER,
United States
Consul.
D. A. Armstrong, Esq.
United States Consul-General.
