The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-02-24

The Aspect OF tho News from Yucatan.
We stated in paper of Monday, that adj
Woes from Yueatan had been received at New
Orleans, from which it appears that on the 10Th
nit, the revolutionists of Campeachy had arrived
| in front of Merida, and were preparing to assault
it.
This news is of some importance. The people
OF Campeachy are our allies-the people of Me-
rlda, on the contrary, are in league with our
enemy, Santa Anna it is, therefore, clear, that
the fall of Merida would be blow to the dictator.
Merida is the capital of Yucatan, and is situated
in latitude 20 40, and in longitude ii o. 1t is an
inland town. From ISL, the nearest town on
the coast, it is distant thirty miles from the town
of Campeachy, one hundred and thirty miles.
II was built on the 9th January, 1912, on the site
OF an Indian village, near which, the year before,
a great battle had been fought between the
Indians and the Spanard,, who were command
cd by the Adelantade Montejo The Spanaxds,
though they had only 200 fighting men, against
1900 Indians, prevailed, after a struggle which
lasted The entire day.
Merida is situated on plain of limestone, and
has Moorish aspect. The houses, though only
one story high, are mostly of stone, and are very
substantial looking. There is one peculiarly
about the streets of Merida, which the traveller
cannot fail to notice. They have at each corner
n painted board, whereon is represented some
object-a cat or dog, for instance-and after that
object the street is called, This singular mode of
distinguishing one street from another, is said to
have Originated in the inability of the Indians to
read Spanish
The chief products of the country around Me-
rida, are hemp, gypsum, horses and mules. Gui-
tars straw hats, and segars, are manufactured in
the city and the vicinity thereof. The straw hats
are of very coarse quality, but large quantities
OF them exported to Vera Cruz, Tampico,
and other towns on the Gulf of Mexico The
segars are also of very poor quality, and may be
purchased in Merida, at two dollars thousand.
The climate of Merida is the most singular that
can be imagined. Though the temperature is
high it probably varies less than that of any other
town in the world. In one year, 1--WE believe that
of 1922 there was only difference of 23 degrees
between the highest summer heat and the lowest
winter neat! Is not Merida admirably adapted
as place of residence for persons suffering
from dyspeptic phthisic Z
The population Of Merida has been estimated
by some travellers at II, 900; by others at $4,000.
| The mean of these numbers, 10000, is, it
| strikes us, the most correct Of these 2O,0OO,
perhaps not more than 300 are pure whites; the
rest are Indians and Mestizos. The people of
Merida are courteous and industrious but they
are not skilled, whether in the arts Of peace or
war, as the Campechanos; that is, those who are
besieging them.
The PACKET SHIP CoLUMBIA-SALvAaE CLAIM
ED BY THE OWNERS OF THE LADY FALKLANp.-We
give room to the following letter from Captain
Chopper, Captain of the packet ship New York,
to Captain Marshall -
Dear Sir Is with feelings of the deepest regret that
inform you of the misfortune board the Columbia
On the 18th of January, at ~ o'clock NJ, the ship
fsr... in heavy gal. from the yves West took sea over
her starbosrd quarter which carried away her wheel
house bulwsrk. on the posp on both sides .ky.gh,-
and tller carrying overheard also Captain kahbone the
mate, the second mate, Ave and ono boy.
The carpenter the first to get the poop, where
he found the third mate jammed under the tler; the
wreck entirely clear of tho ship and he could not
thing OF Capt Rahbone or the remainder Of the
watch.
Immediately after this terrible disaster the sailors
to the CABIN, advised the passengers to go down the
scu,tle, and then commenced pundering the captains
and passengers rooms after which they advised the pas
engsra to 70 into the forecase in which place they
NAMED two nights.
The steward and carpenter acted a wise part; they
stove in the cssk offquor and then threw overheard all
the wine and porter the sailors becoming in,ox
ica'ed Or the morning of the 18th the sailors cut away
the fore top mast which sprung the oremast head and
howspri in short they ddiwhat they pleased without
regard either to the third mate the carpenter On the
l4th they got sail the ship stood to the East
On the 18Th, in lat Al, long 81 "a, The British ship
Lady Falkland spoke them and from her they got her
mate and with bis assistance they brought the ship in
the 9sth Her hull is not injured, except the damage
done to the poop; she Is perfectly tight and shows no
miDen mast and mizen.top.mast.
on the ship being telegraPhed took steamer and
anchor got policemen and searched the shin found
many things which the sailors had taken from the cabin
and passengers but could not do anything with the
mi he inn ya C0m itad mt he b0h
and not in British waters They robbed Capt Rathbone
of some money, part of which have recovered They
also stole some money belonging to the mate.
| We have succeeded in getting very good to
take charge Of the ship repair her and take her home
Son Messrs. Earrings try ing get her ready for
her turn, but should the Yorksh get in in time 90
| rival. J. B. CROPPER.
! We have been informed that the owners of the
Lady Falkland have ibelled the Columbia and
her cargo for salvage, because the second mate
OF that vessel boarded her and took her into
port.
! We cannot believe this is true-but if it is, it
is the greatest piece Of small potato business that
ever came to our knowledge. We can cite twen-
ty or thirty instances within cur own recollection,
where the packet captains sailing from this port
have relieved British vessels in distress and suppl-
ed them with men and provisions to prosecute
their voyages In some instances that we know OF
they have relieved them at imminent risk to
themselves, and saved the from becoming
wrecks; yet we never heard of a where they
claimed salvage. Our packet captains have ire-
quently taken whole ships crew whom they
saved from death and conveyed them to NewYork,
where they supported them at their own expense;
and in one case that we know of, packet cap
tain took those whom he saved from death to the
Astor House and paid their bills And this is the
return we get for our kindness.
Instead of promptly relieving the Columbia in
her distress, from motives of charity and human
ity, it is done matter of speculation and profit
We can hardly believe that this report is true
-----------------------