$6,000, but having recovered, through honest persons, the three horses that I had lost, which were in the woods dying of hunger, and three damaged and useless carts, together with some boxes of old merchandise of no value, which had been left by my nocturnal visitors, because the articles of good quality fell into the hands of the conscienceless thieves; thus, having recovered those articles, together with the animals in question, I compute my losses as amounting to not less than $6,000. I have inquired of several influential persons living at Millikens Bend whether I could return to that place in order to settle up my affairs without being disturbed by the enemies of the Italians, but they have all told me that if I should return I would certainly be maltreated and even mercilessly lynched, because those people are no jokers. The consul at New Orleans interested himself in procuring an order for me from the governor of the State authorizing me to go to Millikens Bend to settle up my affairs, promising me protection by the local authorities. I have not been willing to accept this, because, if those authorities can not prevent a lynching like that which took place at Tallulah, they certainly can not prevent one in the woods at Millikens Bend, through which I should be obliged to pass in order to settle up my affairs. Having been advised, as I have before remarked, by influential persons of the locality to abandon everything and not to go there if I care for my life, I think that the part of a prudent man is to follow this advice. A few days ago my son Matteo, a highly respectable youth, who was always well liked before our misfortune at Millikens Bend, desired to go to a farm near there to collect a debt from a farmer who owes me $350. Scarcely had he been seen by some person of the neighborhood when they came to him and urged him as friends to keep out of the neighborhood, and to go away quickly, because, as they said, the hatred of the Italians was constantly increasing, and if he should be seen, it would be a serious misfortune to him (observe that the persons in question are friendly to us and owe us nothing); consequently you can understand that my flight from the place was not caused by fear, but by the reality of the threats of those cruel people. In view of my serious losses owing to this unfortunate affair, I find that I have suffered damage to the amount of not less than $5,000, and feeling certain that the Government of my native country will not fail to support my claims, I have, through Mr. Baisini, my representative, made a statement to his excellency the minister of foreign affairs of Italy, setting forth with truth and sincerity all the painful misfortunes which I have suffered. I have made a statement of the foregoing, by means of the present procès verbal which, after having been read and ratified, is subscribed by the deponent in my presence. The deponent. The royal consular agent. The acting chancellor. GIUSEPPE DEFINA. N. PIAZZA. A. L. TIRELLI. [L. S.] [Inclosure 3.] The officer in charge of the royal consulate of Italy at New Orleans, to the royal embassy of Italy at Washington, D. C. NEW ORLEANS, September 18, 1899. I deem it my duty to report to your excellency the following: Giuseppe Delfino (or Defina), the Italian who escaped from Millikens Bend when the lynching took place at Tallulah, through fear lest he also should be lynched, informed this consulate that he desired to return to Millikens Bend in order to settle up his affairs, and asked that the authorities would guarantee his personal safety. I consequently addressed the governor of the State; Governor Foster wrote to the sheriff at Tallulah, and handed me the sheriff's reply, a copy of which I have the honor herewith to inclose. I likewise sent a copy to Defina, as appears from a letter from him, which I have the honor to submit to your excellency, begging that it may be returned to me; in this letter Defina points out that his life is not sufficiently guaranteed by a piece of paper, and states that he reserves the right to claim indemnity. (Signed) C. PAPPIN', [Inclosure 4.] Mr. Baisini to the Royal minister of foreign affairs, Rome. STRESA, LAGO MAGGIORE, I have received very grave news from Vicksburg, which must certainly have been brought to the notice of the Royal ministry under your charge, since the writer of the letter to me is well known at the Royal consular agency there. The case, as stated to me, is as follows: After the killing of the Difatta brothers and their two companions, the band of lynchers, having learned that a brother-in-law of the Difattas, named Giuseppe Detina, of Cefalù, was settled in the village of Millikens Bend, Madison County, held a council, at which they decreed the death of both him and his entire family, for no crime save that he was connected by marriage with the unfortunate men who had been lynched. Without losing any time the lynchers mounted their horses and started for that village in order to carry out their nefarious design. Fortunately a friend of Defina, an American, having received intelligence of their plan, mounted his best horse and galloped to inform Defina that he was threatened with lynching. The poor man had scarcely time to collect his children and to escape by precipitately crossing the Mississippi River. He had a good business at Millikens Bend, where he had 11 acres of land under cultivation, where he raised vegetables, etc., and had outstanding debts to the amount of about $2,000, and he also had furniture, horses, carts, etc. In order to save his life he was obliged to abandon everything, without hope of returning, and he is now, with his children, without employment and plunged in the direst misery. In my capacity as attorney for the unfortunate Defina (as is shown by an authenticated instrument bearing date of April 15, 1899, drawn up at the office of the Royal consular chancellor at Vicksburg) I deem it my duty to call the attention of the Royal ministry under your charge to this additional crime perpetrated upon our countrymen, and I respectfully ask that, if proper evidence of this act is obtained, you will, in the negotiations now pending with the United States Government on account of the lynching at Tallulah, efficiently uphold the rights of my poor client to moral and material indemnity. EXCELLENCY: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 14th instant, relating to the lynching of certain Italian subjects and persons of Italian origin at Tallulah, La. The suggestion contained in your note will be taken into consideration. Acting Secretary. Personal and) confidential. Baron Fava to Mr. Hay. EMBASSY OF H. M. THE KING OF ITALY, Washington, D. C., November 26, 1900. MY DEAR Mr. HAY: On the eve of the reopening of Congress I take the liberty to beg you, in a merely friendly way, to submit courteously to the President the following considerations and requests: The hope that the President expressed in his message of last year that the authorities of Louisiana would duly punish the perpetrators of the Tallulah lynchings has, unhappily, not been fulfilled. The guilty parties have not been punished. In this condition of things the question of the protection of the Italian subjects can only be resolved between the two Governments by legislative provisions which, like those contained in the two bills, Davis and Hitt, afford a guaranty for the future according to the treaties. I appeal again to the well-known sense of justice of the President, in order that this year, too, his authoritative word may explain to the nation its incumbent duty of protecting effectively the safety and lives of the citizens of a friendly country, and kindly suggest to the Congress the speedy adoption of the above-mentioned bills. Believe me, etc., * * * FAVA. Mr. Hay to Baron Fava. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, November 27, 1900. MY DEAR Mr. AMBASSADOR: Answering your personal communication of the 26th, I have the pleasure to inform you that the subject of the Tallulah lynchings and the question of providing a Federal forum for such cases, concerning which you have heretofore conferred with me, have been duly considered by the President and will be appropriately treated in his forthcoming message. Believe me to be, etc., JOHN HAY. Baron Fava to Mr. Hay. EMBASSY OF H. M. the King of Italy. Washington, December 4, 1900. Mr. SECRETARY OF STATE: I did not fail to inform the minister of foreign affairs of Italy, by telegraph, of the sentiments expressed by the President in his message to Congress on account of the death of His Majesty King Humbert. I also gave in full what is contained in the message with regard to the Tallulah incident. * * * * * * I have the honor, at the same time, to inform you that His Majesty the King, my august sovereign, has, with great pleasure, taken note of the declaration contained in the aforesaid message of the President concerning the conferring upon the Federal courts of jurisdiction in the case of outrages committed against foreigners. I have the honor to request your excellency's kind intervention to make known the gratification felt by my sovereign to His Excellency the President. I tender you, Mr. Secretary of State, my thanks in advance, and reiterate, etc., FAVA. COURTESIES TO U. S. S. "DIXIE.” Mr. Hay to Mr. Draper. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, (Mr. Hay directs that proper authorities be informed of the expected arrival of the U. S. S. Dixie at Naples April 6, Venice April 30, and Livorno May 9; and that port courtesies usual in such cases be suggested.) Mr. Draper to Mr. Hay. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES, (Mr. Draper acknowledges receipt of telegraphic instructions of the 16th instant, and reports that arrangements will be made as directed.) Mr. Draper to Mr. Hay. No. 582.] EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES, Rome, Italy, March 23, 1900. SIR: I beg leave to confirm on the overleaf your telegram' of the 17th instant, directing me to inform the proper authorities of the expected arrival at Naples, Livorno, and Venice of the training ship Dixie, and to suggest that the usual port courtesies should be extended to her. I also confirm on overleaf my telegram' to you acknowledging the receipt of the same. I carried out your instructions by a note to the minister for foreign affairs dated March 17, to which I have to-day received a reply, a copy of which I inclose herewith. I have, etc., [Inclosure-Translation.] WILLIAM F. DRAPER. Mr. Malvano to Mr. Draper. ROME, March 22, 1900. MR. AMBASSADOR: In reply to the note of the 17th instant, with which your excellency informed of the arrival, shortly, in our ports of the training ship Dixie, I have the honor to say that I referred the matter to my colleague of the navy, begging him to give the necessary instructions to the proper maritime authorities, that the usual facilities may be granted to said ship. Pray accept, etc., for the minister. MALVANO. 1Printed ante. No. 587.] Mr. Draper to Mr. Hay. EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: Referring to your telegram of March 17 last, and to my No. 582, of March 23, both relating to the expected arrival in Italian ports of the training ship Dixie, I beg leave to inclose herewith a copy of a further reply to my note of March 17 to the minister for foreign affairs, informing me that orders have now been given to the proper authorities to extend all possible courtesies to the above-mentioned ship Dixie. I am, etc., WILLIAM F. DRAPER. [Inclosure.-Translation.] Mr. Malvano to Mr. Draper. ROME, March 31, 1900. MR. AMBASSADOR: In pursuance of my note of the 22d instant, I beg leave to inform your excellency that my honorable colleague of the navy has just informed me that he has given proper instructions to the competent maritime authorities of the Kingdom that the greatest possible courtesies be shown to the American schoolship Dixie. Pray accept, etc., for the minister. MALVANO. Mr. Hay to Mr. Draper. No. 461.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I inclose copy of a letter from the Secretary of the Navy requesting that the thanks of his Department may be conveyed to the Italian Government for courtesies shown to the U. S. S. Dixie by the authorities of the dockyard at Naples. You will carry out Mr. Long's wishes. JOHN HAY. [Inclosure.] Mr. Long to Mr. Hay. NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, May 11, 1900. SIR: The Department is in receipt of a report from the commanding officer of the Dixie, wherefrom it appears that the Government dockyard at Naples furnished gratuitously to the Dixie 47,000 gallons of water for steaming purposes, and that hose, floats, and other appliances for taking the water on board were also supplied. The Department would be glad to have its appreciation of this courtesy conveyed by the State Department to the Italian Government. I have, etc., JOHN D. LONG, Secretary. |