No. 214.
Sir Edward
Thornton to Mr. Evarts.
Washington, January 23, 1879.
(Received January 24.)
Sir: With reference to your note of the 20th of
November last, I have the honor to transmit herewith copy of a dispatch, and
of its inclosures, which I have received from the governor-general of Canada
relative to the forcible removal of the American steamtug Crusader from
Fairport, Dhio, to Sarnia, in Canada.
I have the honor, &c.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Governor-General Lorne to Sir Edward
Thornton.
Sir: With reference to your dispatch No. 58, of
the 21st November, addressed to General Sir Patrick McDougall, inclosing
a copy of a note from the Secretary of State of the United States
complaining of the forcible removal of the American steamtug Crusader
from a United States port, when in charge of officers of justice, and
carried be Port Sarnia, Ontario, I have the honor of transmitting to you
herewith, for the information of the United States Government, a copy of
an approved report of the privy council on the subject, to which is
appended a copy of a report of the collector of customs at Sarnia, who
was instructed to make full inquiries into the circumstances of the
case.
I have the honor, &c.,
[Inclosure 2.]
Copy of a report of a committee of the honorable the
privy council for Canada, approved by his excellency the
governor-general on the 17th January,
1879.
On a report, dated January 9, 1879, from the honorable the minister of
justice, having reference to the dispatch from Sir Edward Thornton,
dated November 21, 1878, relating to the American steam tug Crusader,
alleged to have been taken by force in a United States port from the
officers of justice, in whose hands it was, and carried to Port Sarnia,
in Ontario.
The minister reports that, in pursuance to a request made in that behalf,
the collector of customs at Sarnia made inquiry into the circumstances
of the case, and on the 7th instant reported the result of this inquiry
to the commissioner of customs here. The minister recommends that a copy
of the collector’s report be transmitted to Sir Edward Thornton for the
information of the United States Government, and he thinks Sir Edward
Thornton should be informed that this government presumes that, in view
of the statements contained in that report, further action in the matter
is unnecessary.
The committee concur in the foregoing minute, and recommend that a copy
thereof be transmitted to Sir Edward Thornton.
Certified.
W. A. HIMSWORTH,
Clerk Privy Council,
Canada.
[Inclosure 3.]
Report of collector of customs at
Sarnia.
Custom-House,
Sarnia, January 7,
1879.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter of the 17th ultimo, inclosing a copy of a
dispatch from the United States Secretary of State to Her Majesty’s
minister at Washington, complaining of the forcible removal of the
American steamtug Crusader from Fairport, Ohio, while in charge of a
United States marshal, under libel for debt, and instructing me to
investigate and report upon the case. I would, therefore, respectfully
submit the following meager details, which, after considerable [Page 486] trouble, I was able to procure
from the captain in charge of the Crusader at the time of the
occurrence. He states substantially as follows, viz:
“We had run into Fairport for coal, and just as we were ready to leave a
fellow came aboard claiming to be a United States deputy marshal, who
took possession of the boat. I asked him to show his authority, which he
refused to do, and, leaving a man in possession, he went away. I claimed
that the latter party had no right on board my vessel, slipped my
moorings, and left for Sarnia, calling at Windsor and Port Huron on my
way up. On arrival at Sarnia I put the man on the dock.”
The above is all I could learn from the captain.
The next phase of the case seems to have been the appearance of the
United States district attorney from Cleveland, who ran alongside the
Crusader with a tug, intending to remove her to the American side. He,
however, found that she was in the custody of a posse of Canadian
sheriff’s officers, who were holding her under a process for debt
incurred on “this side,” and, of course, refused to allow her to be
taken away. Considerable altercation ensued, during which the United
States attorney made an attempt to draw a revolver, whereupon he was
disarmed by the bystanders and brought before the mayor of the town on a
charge of carrying concealed weapons. He was, however, released, and,
after settling the claims of the creditors, in whose behalf the sheriff
was in possession of the boat, she was quietly delivered over, all
parties (the owner included) consenting, and taken to Detroit. In point
of fact, the whole matter has been amicably arranged, and the parties to
the squabble are, apparently, the best of friends.
I have, &c.,
- G. H. MATHESON,
Collector.
- J. Johnson, Esq.,
Commissioner of Customs,
Ottawa.
