The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-08-08
THE SMYRNA AFFAIR.
Our smyrna Correspondence.

Our smyrna Correspondence.
SMYRNA, July s, 1853.
The Costa Aryest-FuA Account of has Treatment
the Greeks-7he Act,om of Captain Lngrahan,
Great Excitement ON Shore-The Austro Turk
'sh Csnuemtion--Letters addressed to the Com
mander Of the St. Lewis, &c.
An affair having occurred hero of some inpor.
tance and which will naturally excite much interest
in the United States, will endsavor to give you, if
net graphic, truthful statement of it.
On the morning Of the Esd June we heard, to our
astonishnent, most brutal outrage had been COM
mitted the evening previous, BY band Of about ff.
teen rufians, under the direction of the Austrian
Consul, upon one Martin Costa, Hungarian refu
gee, under American protection, by being kidnapped
whilst drinking quietly his ooffee on the Marino,
pushed into the sea, and finally placed on board an
Austrian brig gofwar in the harbor, and there
chained.
Immediately this affair became known there was
universal feeling Of horror and disgust at the gross
outrage, and committee was Immediately formed Of
English, French and Americans, for the purpose Of
waiting upon the English and French Consuls, to
get them to interfere far possible to him.
Whilst at the English Consulate, we heard that an
American shipof war with her stars and stripes, was
graham; and as soon as the fact became known, the
committee Immediately went on board, to call upon
Capt. IBgraham, to persuade him to act in the affair
Before this, however, he had sent for the American
Consul to know what had occurred, as some of Cos
tas friends had been on board stating the affair.
The Consul informed Capt. Ingraham that it was
true but that the Hungarian he did not see had
right to American protection, his document being
only . certificate from the court OF New York, in
which he had declared his intention of becoming an
American citizen. Not satisfied with this, however,
Capt Insraham went alongside of the Austrian brig,
intending to see Costa. He was answered that
Costa was not ON board. He then with the Consul
Immediately went to the Austrian Consul and re.
quested to see the captain Of the brig. On seeing
the Austrian captain, he Immediately, in the most
courteous manner, aeceded to Capt. Ingraham's re-
quest and went with him to see the refugee, of whom
he asked several questions The refugee answered
that he was Hungarian, that he had been to
America, had remained there q certain time, but
had No other passport than the one alluded to- He
did not at that time demand American protection,
probably on account Of his being in the presence Of
Austrian officers. Capt. Ingraham then left the
brig.
During the evening the excitement was very great
on shore. Some refugees had collected, and dnring
the time that two Austrian officers were on the Ma.
rino unarmed, they were attacked and one Of them,
Baron Adelberg, assassiDated in most brutal man
ner, and was found dead in the sea the next morn
ing. This nhuman act met with universal execra-
ton. But still this had nothing to do with the gross
outrage towards n. Costa. The English and French
Consuls sent to the Governor of Smyrna, telling him
an insult had been committed upon the Turkish flag
and that it must not be permitted. Capt Ingrahan,
with the American Consul, also went to the
Governor protesting against such an act and asking
i'm IN he Af e far nd tn
the man he having been, against all right seized in
q neutral territory However, the Governor would
not act in the matter, saying he must first hear from
C0nstantnOple. The Austrian Consul on the other
hand, demanded the Governor to seize the assassns
of the Austrian officer but the Governor thought
the Austrian Consul had taken the police of the city
in his own hands in this affair." he took no vigorous
means in the matter, and the real cal rits escaped.
The same evening note was addressed to Captain
lngraham, Of which the following is copy -
SMYRNA June %, 1853
DEAR SR-1 have to report that thia mau one Of
the refugees whom the Turkish government refused 70
give up Austria this refusal is tan-amouut guar
antee Of safety for those Turkish soil This in
dividual had gene to America, and proved by his
papers, under process Of becoming American ce
zen having renoupced all allegiance to Austria sucn
Austria has no right to seize him on Turkish soil. BY
these out of Turkey; but this only gives Austria
right to demand. wherever any Of t.em are found
that the H. cal authorities shall send them cut OF the
country The fact of convention being signed by which
Tbey agrees to send them Of the eountry, proof
that Austria has right to eeiZe them Turkish SOL,
otherwise the convention would be unneca cassary All
things conidered, this man is American citizen
the Turkish soil thsn Austrian IL is quite clear
that next after ,he local authorities the American
government ard ITS representative the American Consul
an niltsry American force here present tune,
have raost right to n,erfe5s. I,.e Yours, NC
For himself and other Americans In Smyrna
To which Captain ingraham Immediately replied,
stating he wasas sensible of the gross out
rage committed upon the person of Martin Costa by
tha Daul nf andp pded mott hv VII
" Anything can DO in behalf of this unf rtunate
man, l shall be most happy to aid you and the
Americans residing in Smyrna"
A day two after this, note was addressed to
Captain Ingraham, signed Humanitas," stating
that it believed to be the intention to send Costa
to Trieste by the steamer the next day. Captain
lngrabam Immediately demonstrated against sending
Costa away before he had time to hear from his
Minister at Constantinople, and got under way by
daylight, placing his ship ahead Of the brig and
steamer, no doubt to watch their movements. De-
spatches were received from the American Charge
at Constantnople but they were not OF such a ma
ture as to enable Captain lngraham to act. He,
however, demanded that the Hungarian should re-
main in port until Saturday, the I'd inst, which was
acceded to.
Upon going on boari the morning of the I'd inst,
we were surprised to find the St. Louis clearing for
action, and found out that dispatches had been
received from Mr.. Brown, our Charge de Affares ut
Constantinople, advising Captain Ingraham to take
Martin Costa out of the Austrian brig, he having
sworn allegiance to America, and was more an Anne
rican in neutral territory than Austrian subject
Capt. Ingraham, receipt Of these dispatches, e
o'clock, AM } Immediately went on board the Ans
tran brig and requested to see Martin Costa which
was granted. Captain ]. requested Of Captain
swartz lof the Austrian brig) to see the prisoner
alone, which was also complied with. Costa was
then asked several questions; amongst others, if
he demanded protection from the American flag,
He answered he did SO, and was replied to that he
" should have it, After having informed the Aus
trian commander Of his conversation with Costa,
Captain l. returned to his own ship, and wrote to
Captain Swartz, demanding Costa should be deliver,
ed upto him, granting ultimately, until O'Clock p M
for his decision. At this moment an Austrian
schooner war, of 10 guns, got under way, and
continued, until the affair over, lowering about
the brig to protect her. The latter manned her guns
and cleared for action. Three Austrian steamers
were also at anchor, ready for an emergency.
The excitement on shore had become intense; it
was evident nothing but some friendly interference
could prevent conflict in the port. Both Amer-
and Austrians were standing at their guns, the
former determined TO have Martin Costa the latter