Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1851-11-14
From Havana.


The case of VI. Thrasher.-The following
interesting particulars of the case of that true
hearted American, Mr.. Thrasher, now near
ccrated at Havana, were brought to Charleston
BY the Isabel The Charleston Courier says:
A correspondent informs us that Mr.. Thrash
er's paper was considered creole organ, and
to be in opposition to the Spanish journal -
The Diurto Marina, the editors of which, to-
gcther with clique of old Spaniards were
consequently his enemies, and had influence
enough after the execution of Lopez, to secure
the suspension of his paper, which was done
about the first of September last. This was
rulnous to him, inasmuch as the demand for
his paper had increased so largely as to induce
him to import new press from New York,
and to incur other heavy expenses to bring out
his issue in proper style--all of which labor
and expense was, Of course, lost lie, howev
er, retained the hope that the Captain General
would soon allow him to resume his publica-
ton, and i'll the mean time devoted himself to
the alienation of the suflcrngs of those of his
fellow-countrynen who were then about sail
ing for Spain as prisoners. But these very acts
of kindness to those whom the Spanlards deem
ed pirates made him still more obnoxious to his
! a.
of the Government officials towards him, who
thereupon accused Inn of having been conncc-
ted with the expeditions, although they could
not definitely understand in what precise way
the connection had existed. The police, there
fore, were ordered to watch strictly all his
movements. His letters were stopped and eX-
amined at the Post Office, but these being
merely letters of business and thanks from the
relatives and friends of the prisoners he had
succored, nothing to crlmlnatc hun could be
elected from their contents. The police were
then informed that his private correspondence
came to him by the steamers. Consequently
the Georgia arrived from New Orleans two
police officers gcnteely dressed in citizens APP
parel followed MIN on board and perceived
him receive and pocket letter handed him by
the clerk of the boa. The officers followed
him to the shore, and on his landing arrested
him and took him to the bureau OF the Chef of
Police, where he was searched, but nothing
was found on him but the letter already alluded
to, which was merely one on purely private
business. lie was, however, detained
under surveillance, sleeping at the police bu-
reau, and taking his meals at the different no.
tells, always accompanied by "a police officer
This state of ciiairs lasted two or three days
when all at once a letter was produced, which
rected to Mr.. Thrasher on the desk in his of
fee, and although there was no post mark on it,
or anything to indicate where it came from, it
was alleged that it had been brought by the
GEORGIA. 1t was then handed to Mr.. Thrash
er to open which he did in the presence OF the
officers, and to his utter establishment discover
ed that it was written in cypher. lie at once
protested his total ignorance of its contents,
and from whence it could possibly have emln-
atcd. Bat his denial was of no avail, and he
was Immediately placed in solitary confinement
III the prison, where he remained until Sdtur-
day. the 25th ut, when he was removed to the
Punta Fort, and there placed in dungeon,
winch, our correspondent MS been informed by
those who know the place WELL is an cXcava-
ton in the rock, on a level with the sea, always
wet below and damp above, and having only a
small round hole to admit the light. In this
loathsome den the only furniture is a board,
with two elects on the ends which serve as a
bed at night, and in the day seat, to keep the
feet from the wet and slime Of the bottom. No
one was allowed to visit him and Mr.. Owen
states that he applied for permission, but re-
ccvcd as "A reply, from the Captain General,
that he should be admitted as soon as possible
On the day prior to departure of the Babel
our correspondent saw the mother of Mr..
lhrasher IN tears dt the oilce OF Mr.. EX>Con-
sui Owen, endeavoring to get some iniormstion
respecting her son. She wished to learn from
Mr. Owen if she could see the Captain Gener-
al lie answered no, but suggested that the
Judge would give her liberty to see her son.
This proceeding of Mr. Owen seems, says our
correspondent, strange, when it is well known
that he could have taken her in moment c
the Captain General, to whom she merely
) wished to state her desire to speak word o.
comfort to her son, and see whether he had haC
any provisions supplied him, &c.
A report was current at the sailing of the
Eaiei, that Mr.. Thrasher had been tried, ant
cond mned to the mines, but although it was
, belIcN ed that such was the case, no authorize
tive confirmation of the rumor had been oh
tanned, the government keeping their proceed
Ings IS secret as possible.
- 4 ola a, al