The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-04
STEAMSHIP PRoMETHEUs.


GENTLEMEN. In order TO correct any mis-
statenens that may be made of the circumstance
Of the English brig of war Express, firing into
the Prometheus, beg Of you TO give the follow
ing statement an insertion in your paper:
At Pm. proceeded to get my ship under
weigh, to proceed to sea, having but just re-
ceived the last of our passengers from the Pa
ci6c steamer, numbering in all about 500 AT
this moment the city authorities of Greytown-
constituted as they said, by the authority of the
Mosquito King-came on board the ship with
police force, and served process OF attachment
on the ship and myself for the amount OF s %,
claimed by the authorities for present and ar
rearage port dues charged tie ship, which we
supposed to be illegally demanded, and conse-
quently refused to pay them, | did in the
from the right of anchorage in the harbor, cap
tain of the port fees, and pilotage.
hove up my anchor and dropped down the
harbor with the current, having alongside one of
the river steamers, receiving from her the bag
gage of the passengers. The English brig Of
war LAYING short distance from us, Immediately
got under weigh made sail for us, and hen
within quarter of mile from US, fired a round
shet over the forccastle, not clearing the wheel
house over ten feet in few moments another
shot was fred, which passed over the stern, so
near that the force of the ball was distinctly
felt by several passengers; sent a boat on board
of the brig to inquire the cause of their firing
into u.s. The captain stated it was to protect
the authorities of Greytown in their demands,
and if we did not immediately anchor, he would
fire bomb shell into u.s. and order his guns
loaded with grape and canister shot. At the
same tine our mail steamer left us, and | pro-
ceeded, under steam, back to an anchorage and
anchored. The brig stood up the harbor, and
anchored very near us sent boat on board of
us, with orders that cur fires should be put out,
and that an officer would be sent on board to
see that the fires were extnguished. The shore
authorities then came on board and under the
circumstances of the case, the amo unit demanded
was paid under protest. and we were permitted
to proceed to sea by the captain of the brig.
Respectfully, your ob'd't servt
HENRY CHURCHILL,
Captain Steamship Promotheus.
VIRGIN Bay, Nov. 10, 1851.
SIR-You are well aware that left N. York
in the new steamer Central America, on the Odd
October in tow of the new steamship Daniel
Webster bound for Lake Nicaragua, via San
Juan, for the purpose of ompleting the through
line from New York to California. ] arrived on
the lake in this beautiful boat of 375 tons bur.
den, after overcoming all difficulties at sea and
in the river, on the oh instant, and proceeded
to cross the lake to Virgin Bay, where found
the passengers of the Pacific, who had been
waiting there four days,
They immediately got on board, and in three
hours was on their way for New York, where
they will arrive in Il c steamship Prometheus, all
the way by steam. Everything was quiet at San
Juan del Sur; no war or disturbance of any
kind existed on any Part of the route; and had
] arrived four days earlier al Virgin Bay, the
Prometheus would have been in New York all
that time earlier than she now be, which it
must be tie case hereafter, as the steamer will
now always be in readiness on the lake, which
will hereafter remedy the former delays of the
line. Respectfully, yours,
C.. VANDERBILT.