Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-08-12
Interesting account Of the Affair at
SmVfnn

5 soop of war 81. Louis, from u hich II makes TN
annexed extract. relating the circumstance
: al Smyrna connected with the arrest of TN
} the Hungarian Costa and the consideration
which decided the commander Of the ST Loui
to demand his release 1t appears that Ca pI
lfngraham felt very sensibly the delieacy 9th,
position in which he was placed. and wa
much embarrassed how to act but the opin
ions and advices Of our Charge d'AffaiI es a
prisoner to American protection, decided h.
captain, moi unnaturaly. that the course o
peril or OF battle, If need be, was the course I, I,
duty:
UNITED STATES Sur Sr. LOUIS,
SMYRNA, July 7, 1853.
wrote you that one M rim Costa Hun.
garian refugee, had forcibly been taken on
board ofao Austrian brig of war and conf ned
in double irons Although he was not CHI
zen Of the United States. still he had made
his declaration oil intention To apply 70 bect me
such. Capt. Ingraham. knowing that cersan
dealh would await the man il he should be c arr
ried To Austria. determined. If possible, to So We
him, ifhe Could do it without compromise ag
our flag. Orders had been issued by the Als
Tran consul to carry The man away on the
29th of June. Cnp' lngraham. hearing this
on the Light oftbe 2sth sent his protest thnt
the man must mol be carried away until it was
fully settled whether or not Martin Costa wa
an American.
On The morning Of The 29fh our ship mad,
sail md bore down towards the Austrian brig,
and anchored near, so we could watch and see
that the man was rot carried off The Aus
TRANS, thinking that we We're going to take
the mon, made every preparation 10 receive
Us. During The morning The Austrian Cap
tain cent word thai The man would not be
sent away. Letters came The same day from
Mr.. Brown, the Charge d Ahares ad interim
at C"nsanilnople, stating that Costa WIS cit
izen OF the United States and as such wa en-
titled to protection from our country. Well.
ms things stood. The captain was in doubt how
10 act, but asked that further time nigh. be al.
lowed so nsio hear from Mr. Marsh. who " as dai
ly expected at Constan;inopIe. he Austrian
gave until last SATURDAY, the I'd OF July. OF 1er
letters came from Constantinople. but stIi
Captain lngraham was in doubt, and after II
little conversation with the Consul. the Capiai n
AMI Consul went on board the Austrian brig
of war 10 Marin Costa. Alter some con
versntion, Martin Costa demanded proiectio
from the American flag. Capt. Ingraham tn,
tod him he should have it. The Captain an ID
Consul returned on board Of orr ship. and IN @
Captain Sent word 10 the Austrian that h u
demanded Martin Costa by four o'clock in
the evening. After this was known, treme,
dous excitement prevailed throughout II o
ship; all hands were called to quarters to pre-
pare tor action; The big guns were loaded, cut
lasses. smal-arms, boarding pixies, and every
hing ready Tor an engagement. The Sur
gems brought out their Instruments, ready to
cut off legs, patch up wounds. &c
The shore was crowded with p,,onle. 10
witness The engagement. Us they tho ught the
bloody work was going to take place. The
news spread like wild fire through ut Smyrna,
and the people We're as much exc ted as we
We're. Delegations came off TO the sh ip TO See
If something could not be- done TO p re vent an
action. A ter four or FIVE hours, (h,p PLY for
all parties,) the American and Aus tt ian con
suls came to a compromise; that is, IN e Austri.
an consul, who had full control of the man,
consented that Martin Costa should he deliv
cred up into the hands of the French onsul
who consented to take charge of him, unit
everything was fully settled by the two Gov.
ernments as to Who had claim to tho ma u
Well. after this was settled, of course we all
breathed much freer than we did before. No
doubt but many lives would have been lost on
both sides. Although our guns are much al
ger than the Austrians still al the near uiar-
ter We intended fighting their guns would ha We
been just as destructive az ours The nst ri.
an iorce consisted Of one brig of sixteen @ VI rs
one schooner OF ten guns, and three mail sic m
ers. " bich would no doubt have assisted m, /, he
engagement. So you see their force was m rch
larger than ours. There was general re.
jocing after the matter was settled, and the
American citizens in Smyrna gave a din ner
to Capt lngraham and his officers on the 4,h
of July, There was general Publication, and
there was a popping Of bottle corks inst.al oil
the big guns. Last night we eavea ball on
hoard to some OF the residents of Smyrna. who
have been very kind 10 US since our arrival in
port.
| AMERICAN COLONIZATION Society The re-
ceipts OF this society for the month ending the
| 18th ultimo, we learn from the National In
tell sencer, were 81 1877 and ipclude Ix. -.