Hood to By the President: T. F. Bayard, May 18, 1885

Mr. Hood to Mr. Bayard.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 16th inst., advising me in reference to my communications of April 14 and May 11 inst., that—

“When vessels belonging to citizens of the United States have been seized, and are navigating on the high seas by persons not representing any government or belligerent power recognized by the United States, such vessels may be captured and rescued by their owners, or by United States cruisers, acting for such owners, and all force which is necessary for such purpose may be used to make the capture effectual.”

On the day your said letter was written our company received information and advised you by telegraph from New York, among other things, that the revolutionary General Gaitan had taken our steamers from Barranquilla out to sea, and it respectfully urged and requested that this Government recapture our vessels so seized, being the property of an American corporation.

In view of the facts already presented to the Department as to the seizure of the vessels of the company, at or near Barranquilla, on the Magdalena River, and that now some of those vessels (which are light-draught river steamers and not adapted to ocean navigation) have been actually taken out to sea, where they are liable to destruction; and in view also of the loss and damage which the company has sustained and continues to sustain by such seizure and taking to sea, I respectfully petition and urge, as coming within the principles laid down in your letter, that the power of our Government, acting for this company as the owners of the vessels so seized, may be used at once to rescue said vessels and return them to their owners.

Mr. William M. Hoes, the attorney of the company in New York and one of its directors, who accompanied me in a personal interview with you this morning, joins me in this petition in behalf of said company.

Very respectfully, &c.,