The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-09-21

MEXICAN TREAcHERY AND Gross BARBARIrr.-
A letter from Laguna, TO gentleman in Philadel-
phis dated Sept st and which has been shown to the
fhilsdelphis Ledger, gives an account Of act Of
cowsrdice and bsrbariy Perpetrsted by Mexican
soldiers belonging to the garrison 1T that place, upon
four officers Of the United States steamer Water
Witch, and Capt. Clary, Of the American schooner
John Wainwright upon the night Of the 9th ult on
their way from ball The cowardly character of the
attack may be inferred frem the fact that the Ame-
cans were but five in number unarmed, and the Yucca
tanese thirty armed men. Capt. C. received
wound the back of the skull from q cavalry sword
His life considered in danger several days but he
is now walking about Two of the other officers
wounded, but not dangerously Three Of the cut
Capt. 1otten, commanding the Water Witch, and all
the officers attached to that steamer among many
other persons, Invited to ball. got up in hurry in
honor Of the of with Mexico
The ball was, to take place the evening, at the
former quarters of Capt Bigelow: Capt Totten and
some Of his officers assisted, did also Capt Cary
The former left at about half past ten Some of the
oicsrs, who had but scarcely arrived there remained
Mexican military and civil authorities take some
thing to drink. Mexican lieutenant, who there,
seems TO have EN- particularly attentive to them in
the way OF Offering them champagne and other liquors.
Towards half-past one in the morning. the ladies
commenced to give out and towards tive the officers
and Capt Clary left the b llroom They afterwards
divided into two parties each taking q different
street. in the direction Of the shore, when they
were first separately and then collectively attacked
and attacked, b. about thirty armed men, Yucatan
sodiersD most Of whom had cavalry swords. These
barbarians then drove them from part Of the town
q
them Capt. Clary was the only who had any arms
about him, in the shape Of small Bowie knife. As
the folders had the butchery by
ting right and left with their heavy swords Clsry took
hold OF his knife and parried several cuts that were
aimed not only at him. but at of his companions
He soon howeve found that the defensive he had
with could be Of no avail against such Odds he
therefore made desperate rush with his little knife
upon the body Of his ats and these though
field in numbers, and well armed, opened and gave
little way but this CLEAN OF hope vanished. The
next moment Clary's hoarse and exhausted voice
heard, crying out to the officers, Save yourselves
you can have lost finger and my knife is gone"
He was then lying on the ground, exhausted. Other
scenes followed, which have time to relate Capt
under the charge of A. J. white, who has shown him
all the attention in his power, and skfuy dressed his
which he has not less than fourteen including
bruises Capt. Nicholson, commanding U. s. schooner
Saratoga, was Immediately informed Of the occurrence
and arrived here from outside the bar about O'Clock in
the afternoon He first sent Capt Toten to the mill
say to the affair. He thought it very dis
agreeable one. 20 caima MericanaD Capt. Totten
saw he could NOT get anything more out of him, and
reported the conversation to Capt. N, who was ex-
tremely vexed at the occurrence and seemed to have
taken it to heart. He then went to the COM
mander himself and told him in strong, but dgnified,
Language that such massacre required an immediate
satisfacon that 1t must be given and that he would
not leave before 1t was given. The military chief
tried to get clear by talking but Capt MS arguments
were short and clear that, after little while the
those men who might result guilty and furthermore,
to send the whole body of soldiers here back to
the interior within eight days Two days grant
ed to the military commander for a mock trial which
ended yesterday, and this morning two soldiers
ceived fifty lashes each, and two non-commissioned
officers suspended. 1t is necessary to remark,
that three Of the most respectable persons here
declared on oath that on the same night they had
heard an order given to the guard on the market
place. that they should not allow American to pass
without falling upon him and treating him like dog