Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 6, 1880

No. 345.
Mr. Evarts to Sir Edward Thornton.

Department of State,
Washington, June 16, 1880.

Sir: Referring to your note of the 29th of March last, in reference to the frequent losses by fire of cotton laden ships at the ports of Charleston and New Orleans, and to the subsequent correspondence on that subject, I now have the honor to transmit herewith for your information a copy of a proclamation issued by his excellency the governor of Louisiana, offering a reward of $500 for the apprehension of each person who may be found guilty of acts of incendiarism against vessels in the port of New Orleans.

I furthermore have the pleasure of informing you that the lieutenant-governor of Louisiana, in communicating the above-mentioned proclamation to this Department, in a letter dated the 8th instant, says that the authorities of the city of New Orleans are making zealous efforts to bring the offenders in question to justice; that the New Orleans Cotton Exchange and the insurance companies are earnestly co-operating with the authorities; that the police and criminal courts have been duly active and vigilant$ that numerous arrests have resulted in consequence; that one of the worst of the offenders has already been tried, convicted, and sentenced, and that such developments have been made .as to render it probable that the guilt of the incendiarism complained of will be fixed upon a few disreputable persons.

The lieutenant-governor, in conclusion, in view of what the authorities have already accomplished, expresses the opinion that no further apprehension of incendiary fires on vessels laden or loading with cotton in the port of New Orleans need be felt.

I have, &c.,

WM. M. EVARTS.

[Inclosure.]

Proclamation by the governor of Louisiana.

State of Louisiana, Executive Department,
New Orleans, May 14, 1880.

Whereas it has been made known to me that fires, supposed to be by the hands of incendiaries, have recently occurred on board of ships laden or loading with cotton in this port, as follows:

British ship Charles, loading with cotton for Havre, lying at Post 22, first district, port of New Orleans, took fire on January 16, 1880, at 3 a.m. Cargo on board at time of fire, 3,513 bales cotton.

British ship Hectanooga, loading with cotton for Havre, lying at Post 19, first district, port of New Orleans, took fire on January 31, 1880, in the morning. Cargo on board at time of fire, 2,880 bales cotton.

American ship John Watt, loading with cotton for Queenstown, for orders, lying at Post 34, first district, port of New Orleans, took fire on March 11, 1880, at 6.30 a.m. Cargo on board at time of fire, 4,036 bales cotton.

British ship Iron Cross, loading with cotton for Liverpool, lying at Sixth street, fourth district, port of New Orleans, took fire on April 22, 1880,. at 8.30 p.m. Cargo-on board at time of fire, 1,507 bales cotton.

And whereas such fires inflict incalculable damage upon the commerce of this port:

Now, therefore, I have thought proper to issue this my proclamation offering a reward of five hundred dollars for the apprehension of each of the persons found guilty of the atrocious acts of incendiarism against the above-named vessels or that may be committed on any cotton-laden vessels. This proclamation to remain in full force and effect for the term of six months.

Witness my signature and the seal of the State of Louisiana, at the city of New Orleans, this 14th day of May, A. D. 1880.

LOUIS A. WILTZ,
Governor of Louisiana.

By the governor:
Oscar Arroyo,
Assistant Secretary of State.