that upon receipt of the intelligence instructions were immediately forwarded to the senior commanding officer of the convoy fleet in the West Indies to conform in every respect to the requirements of the neutrality proclamation of Great Britain. I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your obedient. servant, W. HUNTER, Acting Secretary. Hon. SIR FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE, &c., &c., &c. Sir F. Bruce to Mr. Hunter. WASHINGTON, May 6, 1865. SIR: At the request of the governor general of Canada, I have the honor to transmit to you, with a request that they may be forwarded to their respective destination, the following addresses and resolutions on the occasion of the assassination of the late President: An address from the Board of Trade of the city of London, Canada West, to the President of the United States. A copy of a resolution adopted by the corporation of the same city. An address from the inhabitants of the town of Galt, in Canada West, to the Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State. A copy of resolutions adopted by a public meeting of the inhabitants of the towns of Berlin and Waterloo, Canada West. I have the honor to be, with high consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant, Hon. WILLIAM HUNTER, &c., &c., &c. FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE. [For enclosures see Appendix, separate volume.] Mr. Hunter to Sir F. Bruce. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, May 8, 1865. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 6th instant, transmitting an address from the Board of Trade of the city of London, Canada West, to the President of the United States; a copy of a resolution adopted by the corporation of the same city; an address from the inhabitants of the town of Galt, in Canada West, to Mr. Seward; a copy of resolutions adopted by a public meeting of the inhabitants of the towns of Berlin and Waterloo, Canada West-all of them having been inspired by the assassination of the late President, and expressing in becoming terms regret at the event, and sympathy with the afflicted family of the deceased, and with the people of the United States. Thanking you for communicating to me these expressive utterances of friendly communities, I beg you to convey to their respective authors assurances of the grateful sense entertained by the government and people of the United States of the sensibility and sympathy thus evinced. I shall willingly carry out your wishes by forwarding the documents to their proper destinations. I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your obedient W. HUNTER, Acting Secretary. servant, Hon. SIR FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE, &c., &c., &c. Mr. Hunter to Sir F. Bruce. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, May 9, 1865. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 28th ultimo, transmitting three copies of resolutions adopted at a public meeting held in London, Canada, on receipt of the news of the assassination of President Lincoln, and a copy of a letter addressed to the governor general of Canada by the mayor of Woodstock, and the resolutions adopted by the citizens of that place on the same mournful occasion. I will thank you to cause to be conveyed to the respective parties from which these manifestations of sympathy have emanated, assurances that they are gratefully accepted by the government and the people of the United States, and I shall not fail to give to the copies of the resolutions the direction indicated in your note. I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your obedient servant, W. HUNTER, Acting Secretary. Hon. SIR FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE, &c., &c., &c. Sir F. Bruce to Mr. Hunter. WASHINGTON, May 10, 1865. SIR: I have the honor to forward you the following documents, which have been transmitted to me from Canada and New Brunswick, and which have been called forth by the assassination of President Lincoln: A resolution adopted by the council of the corporation of the city of Toronto, Canada. A letter to the Hon. William H. Seward from the mayor of the city of Hamilton, Canada West, together with a copy of resolutions adopted by the corporation of that city. Resolutions of the Grand Division Sons of Temperance, New Brunswick. I have the honor to be, with high consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant, Hon. WILLIAM HUNTER, &c., &c., &c. FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE. [For enclosures see Appendix, separate volume.] Mr. Hunter to Sir F. Bruce. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, May 13, 1865. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 10th instant, with which you transmitted to me a resolution adopted by the council of the corporation of the city of Toronto, Canada; a letter to Mr. Seward from the mayor of the city of Hamilton, Canada West, together with a copy of resolutions adopted by the corporation of that city, and resolutions of the Grand Division Sons of Temperance, of New Brunswick, which communications and resolutions have been called forth by the assassination of President Lincoln, and the events attendant upon that atrocious act. I must beg you to convey to the respected sources of these very acceptable expressions of sympathy the grateful acknowledgments of the government and people of the United States. I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your obedient ser SIR: I am directed to call your attention to the fact that, pursuant to unofficial intelligence which has reached here, the insurgent ram Stonewall was recently anchored near the port of Nassau, after having captured at least one vessel of the United States on her way from Europe. According to another report, an United States schooner which had been captured by insurgents in Chesapeake bay had reached another British island, and, though her restitution was asked for by the United States consul there, the request was refused by the authorities. Assuming this information to be correct, the President of the United States is of the opinion that the time has now arrived when this government must expect those foreign powers which have hitherto recognized the piratical cruisers of the insurgents as entitled to belligerent rights in their ports and on the high seas to withdraw that recognition, and no longer to extend countenance and protection to those plunderers and burners of vessels of the United States. He hopes, also, that you may be authorized, and may deem yourself warranted by your knowledge of the present condition of affairs in this country, to instruct or request those officers of her Majesty's colonial possessions adjacent to the United States to refuse to receive vessels flying the flag of the insurgents. I am instructed to add, however, that while disclaiming all intention of offering any threat, if it should not be competent for you to adopt the measures referred to, and those authorities should continue to welcome and grant hospitality to the vessels of the insurgents, or should not at once be checked in that course by the authorities at home, this government will deem itself warranted and compelled, with all reasonable courtesies, to adopt any course by which those vessels may be prevented from continuing their piratical ravages upon the commerce of the United States. I have the honor to be, with high consideration, sir, your obedient servant, W. HUNTER, Acting Secretary. Hon. Sir FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE, &c., &c., &c. Sir F. Bruce to Mr. Hunter. WASHINGTON, May 16, 1865. SIR: I have the honor, at the request of the governor of the Bahamas, to forward to you, for the information of the United States government, copies of the report and evidence in the case of the wreck of the United States schooner J. L. Gerrity, which was run ashore by her master on one of the Bahamas on the 5th of April, and to beg that you will have the goodness to communi cate the same to the owners of the schooner, and to such other persons as it may concern. I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant, Hon. W. HUNTER, &c., &c., &c. FREDERICK W: A. BRUCE. BAHAMA ISLANDS, NEW PROVIDENCE, In the matter of the loss of the American schooner J. L. Gerity, Thomas Knapp, master stranded on Great Stirrups cay, within the Bahama islands. REPORT OF EDWARD BARNETT ANDERSON TAYLOR, ESQUIRE, POLICE MAGISTRATE OF THE ISLAND OF NEW PROVIDENCE, AND ONE OF HER MAJESTY'S GENERAL JUSTICES OF THE PEACE IN AND FOR THE SAID BAHAMA ISLANDS. A formal investigation into the cause and circumstances attending the stranding and abandonment of the above-named vessel, on or near the southeast point of Great Stirrups cay, having been held by me, and having associated with me the honorable John Pinder as assessor, and now, in conformity with the requirements of the 28 Vic. chap. 14, and further, in obedience to the instructions conveyed in the colonial secretary's letter, of date 4th April, by direction of the governor, have the honor to forward herewith a copy of the evidence taken in the above case, with the opinion I have formed on the same. The J. L. Gerity was registered at Gloucester, in the State of Massachusetts, in the United States of America, built in 1854, 77 tons and some odd fractions, fore-and-aft rigged, owned by Humphrey Clarke Knapp, (brother of the master of the J. L. Gerity,) residing in Boston, United States of America, but carrying on business at Gloucester, 30 miles distant, and extensively engaged in the fishery business. The J. L. Gerity left Boston, United States of America, on the 6th day of March last past, bound to New Orleans, one of the said United States, laden with a cargo of mackerel in kits and half barrels, codfish and potatoes, and with a deck load of lumber, drawing nine feet of water. Besides the master, Thomas Knapp, she carried one mate, three seamen and one cook-six all told. She was insured against all risks, but the particular company or companies in which insured is not here known. On the second day out, having moderate weather, with a westerly wind, she sprung a leak, obliging the master to seek the port of New London, in the State of Connecticut, United States of America, when she was placed on the ways, examined and caulked, at a cost of $150 or £30. Having been considered fit for sea, she left that port on the 19th day of March in further prosecution of her voyage, light westerly winds blowing. That on the 20th, at 8 p. m., the wind shifted to S. S. W., gradually freshening and becoming cloudy; that on the 21st the wind incressed and shifting to S. E.; that on the 22d the wind further increased and shifted to S. W., a heavy sea running. The J. L. Gerity then labored and became strained by reason of the heavy seas which swept her deck and started the deck load, which was thrown over to lighten and ease her; that she was found to be leaking badly; that the weather still continued bad on the 23d, when it was found the vessel was leaking 800 strokes an hour; that the vessel was then in the Gulf; a drag was constructed, which they attached to the vessel; that the master then bore up for Bermuda, but was driven by the wind and drifted by the current to the eastward of that group; that the gale lasted five days, the wind shifting to the west, veered to north, when the weather became moderate; that on the first of April the vessel's course was changed to S. W., intending to make Hole-in-the-Wall, or Abaco light; that the vessel still was very leaky, but was always kept free by the exertions of the men; that Abaco light was made at 3 o'clock on the morning of the 5th April, bearing S. W. by W. and the light passed at six o'clock; that the course was then changed to W. by S. and that the master's purpose was then fixed to run the vessel ashore when some proper place could be found, which he states was some part of the Stirrups cay; that from the time of passing the Abaco light-house and the vessel's being put ashore, there was no communication with the shore, by signal or by gun; that her course after a while was changed to W. N. W., which she kept until she was run ashore on the southeastern point of Great Stirrups cay, on dangerous ground and among breakers; that around the point, on the sheltered side, was lying the licensed wrecking schooner Bob, Albury, master, with a crew of twenty men, who, as soon as the vessel went ashore, put off with eight of their number in a boat, and reached the stranded vessel in about ten minutes after she had struck heavily, and boarded her, took charge of the cargo and saved it, in conjunction with the services of some men, the crews of two small sail-boats, and by the two light-keepers at Great Stirrups cay. These appear to be facts which may be accepted, and in which the master, mate, and crew agree; but there is one material point in the evidence given by the master of the stranded vessel which is not fully corroborated by the mate and crew, and which has an important bearing on this inquiry. 10 d c* The master, Thomas Knapp, frankly and openly avers that he put his vessel ashore intentionally, to save the lives of the crew and to save the cargo. The necessity which compelled him, as he stated, to do this, was the frequent murmuring of the crew at the work imposed on them of pumping the vessel, and again peremptorily refusing “in a body” to pump any more, just one hour after leaving the light-house, about 8 o'clock on the morning of the 5th of April. Now, it is admitted by both master and mate, and crew, that the vessel could be kept free with only one pump going. William Wallace Cotterell, seaman, shows that his watch turned in at 12 o'clock midnight of the 4th April, and never was disturbed until 4 o'clock, the period for relieving the watch. That he came on deck at 4 o'clock, took his "trick" at the helm, and afterwards pumped. That before the J. L. Gerity struck on Great Stirrups cay, he had "sucked the vessel out,' meaning, as he afterwards stated, that the pump sucked. That had he known that a port was as near as Nassau was to him, on passing Abaco light-house, he would and could have worked at the pump longer. That he never, after passing the light-house of Abaco on the morning of the 5th of April, renewed his complaint about pumping, nor did any of the crew. That they all left their safety to the captain, who promised to put them on shore "the first opportunity." It must be borne in mind that the vessel was then, at the time of passing the Abaco lighthouse, at 6 o'clock on the morning of the 5th April, running at the rate of six knots an hour, with a brisk N. E. wind aft, fair for the port of Nassau; that she could be kept free; that Nassau was then only distant forty-two miles; that Stirrups cay, the place uppermost in the mind of the master to beach his vessel, was thirty miles distant, only twelve miles less distant than Nassau. That the course in passing Abaco light was southwest by south; soon changed to west by south, and subsequently, at a later period of the forenoon, to west northwest, when the vessel was hauled up for Berry islands. It is just here that Captain Knapp betrayed a want of judgment which seems wholly irreconcilable with the plainest dictates of duty. In reply to a direct question, "Why, in passing the Abaco light-house with a clear day before you, did you not continue your course, kept free as your vessel was, and make the port of Nassau, then only six or eight hours from you, making, as you were, six knots an hour, instead of bearing down for the Berry islands, and then hauling two or three points to the wind to reach Stirrups cay, which was almost equidistant from the Abaco light?" In answer, the master replied: "The reason I did not make for Nassau, instead of Stirrups cay, was because I considered I had passed the port, and I had no sail to beat up. I never thought of Nassau. I thought I could proceed to Key West, but owing to the representation of the sailors, I changed my determination, and then wished to put the vessel ashore." The absurdity in supposing that he had to beat up is shown by his previous statements and by the entries in the log of the vessel: by the facts that there was a strong northeast wind blowing dead aft, as fair as could blow for Nassau. It will be remarked that the absurdity of the reasons were almost as quickly weighed as announced, for the master immediately says, "I never thought of Nassau." On referring to the evidence of the mate, it will be seen that he states that after passing the Abaco light the intention was to proceed to Nassau. The log was kept by the mate; the entry under date 5th April is thus: "This day cumes in with 10 a. m. fresh winds, couddy, 2 a. m. two pump going, 3 a. m. made Abaco light baring S W W dis. 16 miles Jibed main sail and Run for it, 6 a. m. Pased Abaco light, 9 a. m. men came to Captain and Refused to Pump eny more and Captain concluded to Run her ashore, the fussd Convenant place to save life and Propertoy, Shaped cours for Berry Island, 11 a. m. made Berry Island and Run along shore to git a place to land. "So end This done." There is also this last entry in the log: "6th day of April 1865. This twenty four hours cums in with fresh winds and clear 1 A M Run vesell ashore on Sturap Kea. Vesell Pounding Heavy Wreckers came on Bord and went at work on Carge as fast as they could to save it." The contradiction between the statement of the mate before me and the record in the log is extraordinary. The master states that the log is made up by the mate. With respect to the "log" of the J. L. Gerity or of that part which affects to contain a record of the daily occurrences happening in that vessel at sea, I would remark that the daily entries are not signed by the master, mate, or by any other person, nor by the master's statement is it made imperative by any law federal or State, nor is it customary. The master states that he occasionally read and approved of these entries; that since his arrival he has read and approved of the whole. A journal in such a state can be little depended on. Another strong feature in this case, evincing want of judgment and an indefensible neglect of ordinary precaution, even of safety of life at the time when it was to be obtained by the sacrifice of the vessel, was the extraordinary part of the shore chosen for running the vessel on shore. |