Mr. Olney to Mr. Dupuy de Lôme.

No. 112.]

Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith copy of a report of the consul of the United States at Kingston, Jamaica, respecting the case of the American schooner William Todd, a case which has already been called to your attention.

I invite your attention to its early consideration, and to such settlement of the same, conformably to the recent precedent of the Alliança incident, as the dignity of the United States and the rights of its citizens require.

I avail, etc.,

Richard Olney.
[Inclosure No. 112.]

Mr. Eckford to Mr. Rockhill.

No. 180.]

Sir: I have the honor to state that George D. Campbell, master of the American schooner William Todd, made the following statement to me this morning:

That he was en route from Mobile to this port with a cargo of lumber. On the 16th day of March, when between 6 and 7 miles off the Isle of Pines, in latitude 21° 12ʹ, longitude 82° 42ʹ, at or about 1 o’clock p.m., sailing at the speed of about 1 mile an hour, he sighted two vessels near the coast. Soon thereafter wards a blank shot was fired from one of the vessels, when he immediately hove to and gave orders to the mate to hoist his colors, but before the flag could be hoisted two Spanish gunboats, the names of which he did not ascertain, came alongside; one stationed itself across the bow of the vessel and the other on the port side. His vessel was then boarded by four armed Spanish soldiers, who searched it, examined his papers, and after a detention of about two hours he was allowed to proceed.

The schooner reached Kingston on the afternoon of March 26, but the master did not report the matter to me when he deposited the ship’s papers. This morning, hearing that he had given to a reporter of one of the city papers an account of the incident, I sent for him immediately, and he made the foregoing statement to me. I have examined the log book, and it agrees with his statement, and the mate and seamen also substantiate it. I considered the matter of sufficient importance to cable to the Department, and wired this morning as follows: “American schooner William Todd, en route from Mobile here, fired on [by] Spanish gunboats off Isle of Pines before flag hoisted.”

I will procure the sworn statement of the master and mate and for-ward the same to the Department.

I have, etc.,

Q. O. Eckford.