No. 231.
Mr. Bayard to Sir L.
West.
Department of State,
Washington, November 11,
1886.
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith
copies of the statements with affidavits from Capt. Medeo Rose, master
of the schooner Laura Say ward, of Gloucester, Mass., and of Capt.
Joseph Tupper, master of of the schooner Jeannie Seaverns, also of
Gloucester, forwarded to me by the collector of the port of Gloucester,
under date of 5th instant.
The first impressively describes the inhospitable and inhuman conduct of
the collector of the port of Shelburne, Nova Scotia, in refusing to
allow Captain Rose to buy sufficient food for himself and crew to take
them home, besides unnecessarily retaining his papers, an$ thus
preventing him, with a wholly inadequate supply of provisions, from
proceeding on his voyage.
The second complaint is of Captain Quigley, commanding the Canadian
cruiser Terror, in not only preventing Captain Tupper from landing
[Page 426]
to visit his relatives in
Liverpool, Nova Scotia, but even forbidding his relatives from coming on
board his vessel to see him, and likewise placing a guard on board of
her to insure that result.
While I need not comment further than I have already done in previous
notes on the unjust and unwarrantable acts of the Dominion officials of
late towards our fishermen, of which the instances now presented are but
repetitions, I must notice the new phase of Captain Quigley’s abuse of
authority in actually making Captain Tupper a prisoner on board of his
own vessel, and in preventing his relatives, whom he states he had not
seen for many years, from meeting him.
Such conduct, apart from all its legal and international aspects, is
wholly unworthy of any one intrusted with the execution of a public duty
and inconsistent with the national reputation for humanity and courtesy
of an officer in Her Majesty’s service.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in note of November 11,
1886.]
Mr. Presson to
Mr. Bayard.
Gloucester, Mass., Collector’s Office,
November 5,
1886.
Sir: I transmit herewith, by request,
affidavits of Capt. Medeo Rose, of schooner Laura Say ward, and
Capt. Joseph Tupper, of schooner Jeannie Seaverns, in relation to
their treatment by Canadian officials.
I am, &c.,
[Inclosure 2 in note of November 11,
1886.]
Affidavit of Captain Bose, of the schooner Laura
Sayward.
I, Medeo Rose, master of schooner Laura Say ward, of Gloucester,
being duly sworn, do depose and say: That on Saturday, October 2d,
being then on Western Bank on a fishing trip, and being short of
provisions, we hove up our anchor and started for home. The wind was
blowing almost a gale from the northwest, and being almost
dead-ahead we made slow progress on our voyage home. On Tuesday,
October 5th, we made Shelburne, Nova Scotia, and arrived in that
harbor about 8 p.m. on that day, short of provisions, water, and oil
to burn. On Wednesday I sailed for the inner harbor of Shelburne.
Arriving at the town about 4 p.m., on going ashore I found the
customhouse closed, and hunted up the collector and entered my
vessel, and asked permission from him to buy 7 pounds sugar, 3
pounds coffee, one-half to 1 bushel potatoes, and 2 pounds of
butter, or lard or pork, and oil enough to last us home, and was
refused. I stated to him my situation, short of provisions, and a
voyage of 250 miles before me and plead with him for this slight
privilege, but it was of no avail. I then visited the American
consul and asked his assistance and found him powerless to aid me in
this matter. The collector of customs held my papers until the next
morning, although I asked for them as soon as I found I could not
buy any provisions, say about an hour and a half after I entered,
but he refused to give them to me until the next morning.
Immediately on receiving my papers on Thursday morning, I started
for home, arriving on Sunday. I think the treatment I received harsh
and cruel, driving myself and crew to sea with a scant supply of
provisions, we having but little flour and water and liable to be
buffeted about for days before reaching home.
Massachusetts, Essex, ss:
Personally appeared Medeo Rose, and made oath to the truth of the
above statement.
Before me.
[
seal.]
AARON PARSONS, N.
P.
[Inclosure 3 in note of November 11,
1886.]
Affidavit of Captain Tupper, of the schooner
Jeannie Seaverns.
I, Joseph Tupper, master of schooner Jeannie Seaverns, of Gloucester,
Mass., being duly sworn, do depose and say: That on Thursday,
October 28, while on my passage home from a fishing trip, the wind
blowing a gale from southeast, and a heavy sea running, I was
obliged to enter the harbor of Liverpool, Nova Scotia, for shelter.
Immediately on coming to anchor was boarded by Captain Quigley, of
Canadian cruiser Terror, who ordered me to go on shore at once and
enter at the custom-house, to which I replied that such was my
intention. He gave me permission to take two men in the boat with
me, but they must remain in the boat and not step on shore. I asked
Captain Quigley if I could, after entering, visit some of my
relatives who resided in Liverpool, and whom I had not seen for many
years. This privilege he denied me. After entering, having returned
to my vessel, some of my relatives came off to see me. When Captain
Quigley saw their boat alongside of my vessel he sent an officer and
boat’s crew, who ordered them away, and at sundown he placed an
armed guard oh board our vessel, who remained on board all night,
and was taken off just before we sailed in the morning.
I complied with the Canadian laws, and had no intention or desire to
violate them in any way; but to be made a prisoner on board my own
vessel, and treated like a suspicious character, grates harshly upon
the feelings of an American seaman, and I protest against such
treatment, and respectfully ask from my own Government protection
from such unjust, unfriendly, and arbitrary treatment.
Massachusetts, Essex, ss:
Personally appeared Joseph Tupper, and made oath to the truth of the
above statement.
Before me.
[
seal.]
aaron parsons, N.
P.
