De Long to Hamilton Fish, November 21, 1872

No. 245. Mr. De Long to Mr. Fish.

Sir: In continuation of my advices relative to bark Maria Luz, I beg leave to advise you that after her abandonment by her captain and mate, who left her with a crew on board at anchor in this port, at an interview which I had with the minister for foreign affairs upon other business matters, his excellency intimated to me that it would be agreeable to the Japanese government if I would, on behalf of the Peruvian government, assume the charge of the vessel and look after the crew. I replied that when officially notified in writing that the vessel was no longer under restraint on the part of this government, and that no objection on its part existed to my taking charge of the vessel, I would do so.

This was promised, and on the 24th of last month I received the promised letter, (inclosure No. 1,) upon the receipt of which I placed an American named Benjamin C. Trask on board as keeper, his wages to be seventy-five dollars per month for such time as he might be needed.

I found the crew on board to be twelve in number; they were mutinous and discontented, expressing a desire to be paid off and allowed to return to Hong-Kong.

I had the captain take and return to me an inventory of all the property found on board the vessel, unbend and dry and stow away the sails to prevent the crew from running away with the vessel, and her berth changed to be more secure, of all of which by each successive mail I have advised the Peruvian government. I endeavored to satisfy the crew to remain on board and do duty, by showing them that some representative of the agent or owners would soon appear, satisfy their demands, and in the mean time I would endeavor to see them provided with all that was necessary for their wants. I did have two of them placed in the hospital, they being sick, and notified the Japanese government that I had done so.

Matters remained in this condition until the 11th instant, when I received a communication from the captain, (inclosure No. 2,) advising me that the crew were in an insubordinate and mutinous condition, pilfering and destroying property of the ship, and demanding to be paid off and sent away, which course he earnestly recommended in the interest of the owners of the vessel.

This communication was accompanied by a portage bill containing the names and statement of account of wages of each man due. (Inclosure No. 3.)

I immediately answered the captain, asking him to confer with the crew and let me know if they were willing to accept their pay up to date, receive their passage-tickets to Hong-Kong as part of their pay, (inclosure No. 4,) to which the captain on the same day replied. (Inclosure No. 5.)

After the receipt of this I addressed Messrs. Walsh, Hall & Co. a note, requesting a loan of money, upon the credit of the vessel, of a sufficient amount to enable me to pay off the crew and defray current expenses of the ship, (inclosure No. 6,) to which they replied in the affirmative, stating terms. (Inclosure No. 7.)

I then on the same day addressed the agent of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company a note, asking upon what terms this crew could be sent to Hong-Kong on a vessel of that company then ready to sail, (inclosure No. 8,) to which he replied, offering to take them for the sum of fifteen dollars each. (Inclosure No. 9.) This amount, he verbally assured me, was the lowest sum for which they ever conveyed any person, and the price charged for prisoners; that he was induced to do this through fear that these men might do mischief among the shipping in the port.

I then addressed the kenrei, or the governor of this port, a note, (inclosure No. 10,) inclosing a copy of the captain’s communication to me, and advising him that I approved the captain’s recommendations, and would pay the crew and send them away, provided the kenrei saw proper to discharge them, to which, on the following day, the 12th instant, the governor of the port replied (inclosure No. 11) offering to discharge the crew at once.

I then addressed Captain Trask a note (inclosure No. 12) inclosing to him a draft for six hundred and thirty-eight Mexican dollars, directing him to have the crew at the kenrei’s office at the hour designated by the governor to be discharged, to there procure passage-tickets for them at fifteen dollars each, place them on board the steamer China when that ship was ready to sail, and then deliver to each man his ticket and the amount due him, and to report his proceedings to me, which he did by a note addressed to me on the 14th instant, (inclosure No. 13,) in which he advised me of having sent them all away, and of their having assaulted him, of the police having been called to his assistance, and that some of the officers of the steamer China were also assaulted by them. The agent of the steamer China also advised me of their having fired their revolvers repeatedly into the boats surrounding the steamer, thus proving their insubordination and desperate character.

Subsequently his excellency the minister for foreign affairs expressed himself to me as highly gratified with my proceedings in connection with this vessel and crew. I then informed him that my course in this matter had been severely criticised by correspondents of the American press, who had grossly misrepresented the same and among other things asserted that the Japanese officials had felt annoyed and disappointed by my actions; that I would address him a note, which I did that day, (inclosure No. 14,) advising him of the departure of the crew, to which, if he pleased, I would like to have him reply, expressing his real feelings relative to my action. This he assured me he would do with pleasure.

What the nature of that reply will be I know not, as I have not yet received it, but it is promised to me by mail to-morrow, and will accompany this as inclosure No. 15.

Permit me, sir, in concluding this dispatch, to state that as you had requested me to act for the Peruvian government in this empire, as I had accepted that trust, and notified the Peruvian government of my acceptance, when appealed to by the captain of this ship to make known to the central government the action of the local authorities at this port, and inquire if the same had the sanction of its authorities, to ask if his passengers who had been summoned ashore as witnesses were to be returned on board his ship, and to obtain a certified copy of the record of the proceedings for transmission to the Peruvian government for its information, I felt that this much I could not consistently refuse to do, as such action could have no effect in protecting the captain, who had already been tried and convicted, or in restoring the coolies to a condition of bondage.

I did not, as has been asserted, revoke or express any regret at the action taken by Mr. Shepard, but, on the contrary, followed the same course that he did, until after the trial and conviction of the captain. The communications that I then wrote to this government, I read and considered with Mr. Shepard, inasmuch as he had previous charge of this business, and he warmly approved the same, remarking that he did not see how I could say anything less, nor how my action could be considered as wrong.

This I mention in proof of my assurances that there has been no conflict of judgment or ill-feeling about this matter between Mr. Shepard and myself, as has been stated.

That there has been none between this government and myself I have the repeated assurances of the minister for foreign affairs verbally given, and I beg leave also to refer to the communication which he has promised to send.

I trust that you will grant that my position in dealing with this matter was not wholly devoid of difficulty and embarrassment.

If my conduct of it should in any way meet with your disapproval I shall deeply regret it, as I did my best to serve the power which you wished me to, without offending this or violating previous instructions received from you.

It is my misfortune to have arrayed against me the hostility of some persons here, who are correspondents of the eastern press, who, criticising my actions without at first obtaining authentic information, have succeeded in prejudicing the public mind.

One of these gentlemen I have advised, through Mr. Shepard, and again through Mr. E. Peshine Smith, that he has erred in his statements as to my course, and done me an injustice, offering at the same time on both occasions to meet him in a friendly way, and convince him of his error. He has on both occasions declined to meet me, and, as I am advised by others, has threatened to continue a system of attacks upon my official course.

It is not my intention, in the future in correspondence with you, to notice any newspaper criticisms, and I trust you will pardon me for having done so in this instance.

I have, &c.,

Portage bill of the Maria Luz, from May 26, 1872, up to October 30, 1872.

Pay extended for twelve days more—whole time being 3 months 16 days—to November 12, 1872.

Wages due each man.