Hornet incident

The Hornet incident was an 1871 diplomatic incident involving Spain, Haiti, and the United States.

In January 1871, at the height of the Ten Years' War between Spain and independence-seeking Cubans, the Hornet, a small steamer flying the flag of the United States, arrived at Port-au-Prince, hotly pursued by two Spanish men-of-war.[1] At that time the American Navy was not as formidable as it was in 1898.[1] The Hornet was charged with being a pirate and with having on board contraband of war intended for the Cuban insurgents.[1] The Spaniards therefore demanded that the Hornet be given up to them.[1] The United States Minister immediately interposed, declaring that the Hornet was a bona-fide American steamer.[1] For this reason, Haiti refused to deliver up the ship, remaining firm in this decision despite the presence of the Spanish men-of-war in the harbor of Port-au-Prince and open threats made by Spain's representative.[1] The Spanish Consul went so far as to address an ultimatum to the Haitian Secretary of Foreign Affairs on October 5, 1871, demanding the delivery of the Hornet within twenty-four hours.[1] The dispute was assuming a very threatening aspect for Haiti, when the United States decided to relieve that country of all further responsibility in the matter.[1] In consequence, the man-of-war Congress was dispatched to Port-au-Prince, with instructions to convoy the Hornet either to Baltimore or to New York.[1] This steamer eventually left Port-au-Prince in January 1872, which put an end to the controversy between Haiti and Spain.[1]