James A. Williamson to Evarts, June 14, 1877
No. 54. Mr. Williamson to Mr. Evarts.
No. 24.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose a copy of a communication received on the 8th instant from the Hon. Jose Alfonso, minister of foreign relations of Chili.
To enable the Department to more fully understand the communication of Mr. Alfonso, I will briefly state the particulars in the case of the steamer Georgia, so far as they are known at the United States Consulate.
The steamer Georgia, Captain Nickerson, owned by the New York Transit Company, while en route from New York to San Francisco, Cal., in passing through the Straits of Magellan, ran upon a rock and sank. This accident occurred near the Chilian settlement at Sandy Point, (Punta Arenas.)
Captain Nickerson, believing the Georgia to be a total loss, sold her at public auction to one Jones, for the sum of nine hundred and fifty dollars, and left for New York. A few days after Captain Nickerson left, the steamer Wilmington, Captain Holmes, belonging to the Transit Company, arrived at Sandy Point with men and machinery, for the purpose of raising the wrecked steamer. Captain Holmes purchased the Georgia back from Jones for the sum of fifteen thousand dollars, giving an order for the amount on Kendall and Company, of this city.
This house refused to honor the order of Captain Holmes. Then Jones applied to the civil court of this province and obtained an order of arrest, to prevent the steamer Georgia leaving the waters of Chili, and also commenced suit to obtain back the steamer.
Captain Holmes raised the Georgia and made such repairs as would enable him to take her to San Francisco. Upon hearing of the order of the court detaining the steamer, he came to this city and applied to the court for authority to bring her to this port, giving as a reason that it was difficult for him to obtain provisions for his crew at Sandy Point. This authority was refused him. He then returned to Sandy Point and, as it appears, left without authority.
The Georgia is detained at Callao, Peru, at the request of the Chilian Government, and I learn that Mr. Gibbs, oar minister to that republic, has applied for her release.
I am, &c.,