Tri-weekly journal., 1847-12-04
THE JOURNAL.
INCIDENTS RELATIVE TO THE CAP
TURE OF TAMPICO. .,

Philadelphia, where, / believe she now re-
sides. The outline of the narrative is not new
but the details are now for the first time made
public. t -itL1 800
New ORLEANS, Nov. 1917.
II is generally known to the American pub
lie, that the city of Tampico, one of the most
important points ON the coast of the Gulf Of
Mexico, was taken not only without the loss
of blood, but without the expenditure of sim
gle discharge of artillery. But it is not gener-
ally known to whom we are indebted for this
cheap and easy conquest. IL is not generally
known that the heroism and prudence of sin
gle woman achieved this brilliant result J.
will give you the facts as briefly as ! can.
On the 18th Of May, 1916, decree was is
sued by Paroles, then President of Mexico, re-
quiring all American citizens to depart imme-
diately from the ports OF Mexico, or to retire
twenty leagues from the coast, and deliver
themselves up as Mexican hostages. In con-
sequence Of this decree, Mr.. Chase, who had for
many years ably and satisfactorily discharged the
duties of American Consul at Tampico, where
he was, at the same time, carrying on lucra-
tive mercantile business, was obliged immedi-
ately to abandon his post and leave every thing
at the mercy of the Mexicans. He knew too
we'll the nature of that people, and the charac-
ter Of their official pledges, to trust himself in
their hands as hostage. He had experienced
something Of their intense hatred ofevery thing
American, soon after the disaster of Thornton
at Matamoras. A mob, headed by some Of the
most respectable citizens Of Tampico, attacked
his house, pelted with stones the United States
arms placed over the door, and threatened to
drag the Consul out of the Plaza, and sacrifice
him to their vengeance.
Under these circumstances, Mr.. Chase was
obliged to quit Tampico without being able to
do anything for the protection of his property
there, except such as could be afforded by leav
ing his heroic wife behind to defend it.
Through the kindness Of Capt. Sanders,of the
u. s. ship st. Mary, Mr.. Chase found refuge on
board that ship, where he remained three
months. As soon as ii was ascertained, by the
Mexican authorities, that he was on board that
vessel which was then blockaking the port of
Tampico, their jealousy was Immediately rous-
ed, lest his wife should hold communications
with him, and thus aid the enemy in their at
tempts upon the place. This, with a woman's
ready wit, she had contrived to do, notwith-
standing their utmost watchfulness. Not
week passed that she did not furnish him, by
some well planned stratagem, a full account
OF all that passed in the city, and general re-
port Of Mexican affairs The means by which
some of these letters were conveyed, would
cast romance in the shade. They cannot for
obvious reasons, be made public now, but may
BE- made the subject of some future communi-
cation from Mrs. Chase. She had all the means
of doing good service as her husband, previous
to his departure, had placed all the archives Of
the consulate in her hands, with the necessary
instructions how to act, comforting upen her
fuil authority to act as his agent in all cases.
So jealous were the authorities of Mrs. Chase
that they repeatedly refused to give her per
mission to send an open note to her husband.
They treated her application with harslIness,
declaring that as Mr. Chase was on board the
blockading squadron, he would be regarded as
in arms against Mexico, and that she; conse-
quenty, could not expect either protection or
courtesy. With becoming spirit, she replied,
that they had driven her husband away, at a
moments notice, in direct violation of the
terms of their treaty, and compelled him TO
take shelter under the flag of his own country.
AS he was not criminal, he had right TO
choose his own residence. As for their cour-
tesy TO her, she did not expect or desire il; and
as for protection, she would find means to pro-
tect herself.
From this time, Mrs. Chase was subjected to
all possible annoyances. Every effort was
made to procure her Punishment But, as she
was not American born, and had not become,
by residence in the United States, an American
citizen, she could not be touched by Paredes
decree of expulsion. She was informed that
her privileges, as the wife Of the American
Consul had ceased, and that she must immedi-
ately abandon her house, as it was wanted FOR
garrison. Its position was high and com
handing, overlooking greater part of the city
and the river, and commanding the main Plaza
IL had also battlement wall, nearly five feet
above the roof, which would have served a
good purpose as a breastwork for defence.
To this she replied al am single handed
and alone in this conflict. You may take my
house, but will defend it to the death. I'm.
less you arrest and confne me, you cannot pass
the Threshold without trampling on my corpse.
My husbands cause is my cause. His country
is my country; and, with all woman's zeal
and fidelity, and with all the power woman
may command, will honor and defend it to
the last extremity, and to the loss of all things
About the middle of August, Mr. Chase went
on board the British steamer Midway, off the
bar at the mouth of the River Panuco, Tampi-
co being situated six miles up that river. Here
he solicited an interview with his wife, A
passport was granted her for this purpose, in
the hope, probably that she would never come
back. In an open boat, under the pilotage OF
two Indians, she performed this adventurous
trip, leaving home at three o'clock in the NOR
ming, and returning in the evening She had
no other assistant or companion. at this time,
then small orphan girl, who resided with her
The male servants had all been taken, by order