Mr. Loomis to Mr.
Griscom.
Department of State,
Washington, December 31,
1903.
No. 30.]
Sir: I inclose herewith a copy of a dispatch
and of its inclosures from the American vice-consul at Tamsui on the
subject of the wreck of the American ship Benjamin Sew
all and the killing of several members of her crew by the
savages of Botel Tobago.
In the letter dated November 17 last from the chief of civil
administration, Formosan government, to the vice-consul at Tamsui, it is
stated that the government has “efficiently and strictly censured the
savages and will warn them not to repeat such misconduct again in
future.”
You will bring the matter to the attention of the Japanese Government and
suggest to it that something more impressive than censure may suggest
itself to the mind of that Government, which, it is not doubted, is
earnestly desirous to fulfill all its international duties in regard to
the protection of mariners shipwrecked on its coasts.
I am, etc.,
Francis B. Loomis,
Acting Secretary.
[Inclosure.]
Mr. Lambert to
Mr. Loomis.
American Consulate,
Daitotei (Tamsui), Formosa, November 23, 1903.
Sir: In reference to the wreck of the ship
Benjamin Sewall, I have the honor to
inclose for your information copies of the correspondence between
this consulate and the Formosan government on the subject of the
wreck and the killing of several members of the crew by the savages
of Botel Tobago.
* * * * * * *
[Page 441]
I have the honor to call your attention to the fact that the Formosan
government have “severely and efficiently censured the natives” for
their “ill treatment of the crew of the ship’s boat.”
With all due respect to the Formosan government, I do not consider
that severe and efficient “censure” will be a sufficient deterrent
to the said natives from repeating the offense should occasion
arise. These people have caused a great deal of trouble and, what is
more important, sorrow by their heartless behavior.
Eight livs have been lost through their acts of barbarism, and two
men are even now seriously ill through the hardships they have been
forced to undergo on account of their ill treatment at the hands of
the islanders.
To what extent the “censure” has been carried I have not inquired, as
I considered it an improper course to take without further
instructions. I have, however, sent copies of the inclosed
correspondence to the American minister at Tokyo, with a copy of
this dispatch.
So far as kindness and attention to the survivors have gone, the
Formosan government could not have exceeded their endeavors on the
unfortunates’ behalf. Doctor Goto, chief of the civil
administration, has done everything possible to protect and succor
them, and the island has been searched as thoroughly as possible for
the missing.
But little is known of the natives of Botel Tobago, and the best
authority is my colleague, Mr. James W. Davidson, at present in the
United States on leave. Might I respectfully suggest that should the
Department require information on the habits, etc., of the islanders
Mr. Davidson be communicated with? He spent some time on the island
and studied the natives thoroughly.
I have, etc.,
[Subinclosure 1.]
Mr. Lambert to
Doctor Goto.
American Consulate,
Daitotei (Tamsui), Formosa, November 7, 1903.
Sir: Referring to the wreck of the American
ship Benjamin Bewail off the coast of Formosa
on October 5 last, I have the honor to inclose herewith for your
perusal and infomation a copy in English of a statement made and
signed before me, at the Taihoku civil hospital, by Shikatare Iwate,
Japanese, an able seaman on board the above-mentioned vessel.a
Iwate was one of the crew of the ill-fated ship’s boat which was lost
in the neighborhood of Botel Tobago.
From Iwate’s statements there seems to be little doubt that the
boat’s crew were very badly received by the Botol Tobago islanders.
In fact, the islanders were responsible for the death by drowning of
at least six members of the crew, three of whom are American
citizens, i. e., Joseph Morris, first mate; Thomas Pickle, third
mate, and Henry Adams, able-bodied seaman. Peter Johnson,
able-bodied seaman, came from one of the South American
republics—Chile, I believe.
Had the natives not attacked the boat and overturned it, there is no
doubt but that all the crew might have been saved, as the boat had
already once made the shore, but had been pushed off again in order
to escape from the natives who appeared in numbers and of
threatening aspect. I gather from the statement of Iwate, and also
from that of the Russian Reinwald, that the natives did not at any
time do bodily harm to the occupants of the boat, but none the less
they made no effort to assist them in any way, but deliberately
compassed their death by breaking up the boat and overturning them
into the water. No effort appears to have been made by the natives
to save any of the persons in the boat after it was capsized, with
the exception of the Japanese woman, whom it appears they took away
with them.
The names of the persons originally in the boat are as follows:
Joseph Morris, first mate; Thomas Pickle, third mate; Henry Adams,
A. B.; Peter Johnson, A. B., missing and reported drowned. Ah Hing,
cook; Wo Bing, carpenter;
[Page 442]
Japanese woman, wife of third mate; Shikatare Iwate, A. B.; Yoshize
Aoki, A. B.; Juzo Hayashi, A. B., saved.
I should be extremely obliged if you could give me any further
information on the above subject, particularly as to the fate of the
Japanese woman, if anything is known of it.
The original statement of Iwate, taken down in Japanese, is on file
in this consulate, and should you desire a copy of the same I shall
have pleasure in supplying you with one.
This question of the attitude of the Botel Tobago islanders toward
shipwrecked persons seems to me to be of a serious nature, and I
have no doubt, sir, that that is your own opinion. In view of the
fact that this is the second American sailing vessel wrecked off the
coast of Formosa during the past year (the Otelia
Pedersen was wrecked on October 6, 1902), and the
possibility of other wrecks occurring in the future in much the same
place, it is to be hoped that in the event of any other unfortunates
being cast up on Botel Tobago the natives will treat them with more
hospitality than they have hitherto shown.
I may state that Iwate and Hayashi are at present in the civil
hospital, Tai-hoku, suffering from fever.
I have, etc.,
[Subinclosure
2.—Translation.]
Doctor Goto to
Mr. Lambert.
Formosan Government,
Taihoku, Formosa, November 17, 1903.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your dispatch of the 7th instant, inclosing a copy of the
statement of Shikatare Iwate, A. B., concerning the wreck of the Benjamin Sewall, and informing me of the
misconduct of the Botel Tobago islanders toward the shipwrecked
persons, and wishing that such ill treatment should not be repeated
in future in the event of any other unfortunates being cast away on
the island. In reply, I have the honor to state that with regard to
the ill treatment shown by the Botel Tobago islanders toward the
unfortunates of your nationality, this Government have efficiently
and strictly censured them, and will warn them not to repeat such
misconduct again in future.
S. Goto,
Chief of Civil Administration.
