No. 81.
Mr. Hall to
Mr. Bayard.
Legation of
the United States in Central America,
Guatemala, December 12, 1887.
(Received January 4, 1888.)
No. 753.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith a copy of
a letter, dated the 23d ultimo, from the consul of the United States at San
Juan del
[Page 99]
Norte, Nicaragua, reporting
the seizure, on the 20th of the same month, near the borderes of the
Mosquito Rewervation, by Nicaraguan officials, of two small vessels,
carrying the flag of the United States, called the Schooner Merida and a steam-tug called the W. S. Moore.
The Merida appears in the ninth annual report
(1876–’77) of the merchant vessels of the United States under the name of
the John H. Patteson, of Red Bank, N. J., 43.60 tons.
The consul states that the vessel came to Nicaragua in 1876; was sold in
1882 to Nicaraguans and remained under that flag until August, 1886, when it
was sold to the present owner, a citizen of the United States, and has since
displayed the American flag in virtue of the general regulations of the
Treasury, as set forth in Article XX of the Consular Manual.
As the facts reported in the consul’s letter have appeared in some of the
newspapers of the United States, I have no doubt the case has been brought
already to the Department’s notice. I shall communicate them to the
Nicaraguan Government and ask for an investigation. I have no doubt,
however, that the Nicaraguan commissioner, now in the reservation, will
order these vessels to be restored to the owners, if the facts should prove
to be as they have been represented to the consul.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 753.]
Mr. Brown to Mr.
Hall.
[Extract.]
United
States Consulate,
San Juan del
Norte, Nicaragua, November 23, 1887.
Sir: I transmit a copy of a letter from the
consular agency at Bluefields, Mosquito Reserve, relating to alleged
unlawful acts by Nicaraguans upon Americans.
What is recited in the inclosure is all the information I have at this
date, but Mr. N. P. Allen and the agents of the W. S.
Moore have been requested to present themselves at the
Bluefields agency, that the necessary declarations and affidavits
substantiating the charges in Captain Allen’s letter may be taken.
The alleged acts took place near the mouth of the Rama branch of the
Bluefields, where it empties into the former, and about the line running
north and south that is supposed to be the line of disputed boundary
between Nicaragua and the municipal authority of the Mosquito
Reserve.
Opposite each other at that point, on the Rama, the Government of
Nicaragua and that of the Mosquitia authorities have established
officials, that of Nicaragua being a police governor, a collector of
revenue, a sergeant, a corporal, and thirty soldiers as the customs
guard. The Mosquitia have located magistrates and a small force of
police.
The schooner came to this part of the country in 1876 as a regularly
registered American vessel, under the name of the J.
H. Patterson. In 1882, by a regular sale, she was transferred
to citizens of Nicaragua. Being at this port, her name was changed to
that of Merida, and from that date until August
20, 1886, she displayed the flag of Nicaragua. On the 6th of August
1886, she was sold and transferred by her alien owner to Mr. Nathaniel
P. Allen, a native of Portland, Me. On the 20th of August, above cited,
the due certificate (Form No. 35), pursuant to the Treasury regulations
in cases of purchase by citizens of the United States of American or
foreign built vessels in foreign ports, was issued by the agency at
Bluefields, and since that date she has displayed the flag of the United
States, and she has for more than one year been used by Captain Allen,
her owner, as a store-house, being anchored in the Rama River near its
mouth, Captain Allen, as I believe, having permission or license to do
that from the Mosquito Government, and it was at that point she was
seized by the Nicaraguan authorities, located at the mouth of the Rama,
both Nicaragua and the municipal authority for the reserve claiming to
have rightful jurisdiction of that place.
The W. S. Moore is a small steam-launch said to be
owned by Henry Brothers, of Baltimore, and by them sent to be used as a
tender to the larger sea-going fruit vessels
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which they have running between Baltimore and
Philadelphia and the banana plantations of Bluefields River and its
branches, Rama and Siguia.
On what ground the seizure was made as to either of these vessels I am
not advised; it may be an alleged violation of revenue regulations the
authorities at the Rama are seeking to enforce, though I have not been
able to get a sight of such regulations, but it is more than probable
that it is one of the steps adopted by Nicaragua to recover her great
interests in that region.
The long-delayed commissioner of Nicaragua in the Mosquitia passed
through there to his post of duty on the 14th instant. I hear that Mr.
Climie, after completing the work of his mission to Washington, is to go
to the Mosquitia to survey and mark the boundary.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure 2 in No. 753.]
Mr. N. P. Allen to
Mr. Augustine.
Rama
Bank, November 20,
1887.
Dear Sir: This morning an armed force wearing
the uniform of the Nicaraguan Government boarded my vessel, the Merida, and took forcible possession. They also
boarded the W. S. Moore. I have abandoned
everything to them. Both vessels had the American flag flying at the
time, and it is all an outrage.
I showed them my license from the Mosquito Government. I asked for their
authority; they showed me their rifles. I claim American protection and
damages for the interruption of my business.
Yours, respectfully,
N. P. Allen,
An American citizen and owner of schooner
Merida.
United States
Consular Agency,
Bluefields, Mosquito Reserve, November 21, 1887.
I hereby certify that the above is a true copy of the original letter
of Capt. N. P. Allen, on file in this office.
John S.
Augustine,
United States
Consular Agent.
