Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1853-10-20

HE OUTRAGE AT THE CHINCHA ISLANDS
An outrage has been committed by some
officers of the Peruvian government, which
for barbarity and lawlessness exceeds any
thing we have read recently, We gather
the following particulars from our latest ex
changes:
1t appears that an order prohibiting the
killing of pelicans, under penalty of fine
of 81, had been issued at the Chincha Isl
ands, by the Peruvian authorities, which or
der one of the sailors Of the American ship
Defiance disobeyed, was arrested and put in
irons. Next morning, the captain Of the
Defiance went to the guard-ship, paid the
fine, and asked the release of the man.
This was refused; whereupon the American
captainsin port, some twenty five in number,
waited upon the commander, to endeavor to
effect the release of the man. They were
received by the commander with an order to
his marines to load their muskets with ball
cartridges, followed by an order to the cap
tains to leave his vessel; but while doing
this, some of them were seriously injured
with the bayonets as we'll as the but-ends Of
the muskets in the hands of the marines.
Some time after, the Defiance, when 60
ing to sea, gave salute to the other Amer.
lean vessels, and in few minutes after, she
was boarded by the authorities, and fine
according to the regulations, was exacted, tc
the amount of $50, which was paid imme
diately by the captain, he at the same time
saying they might wait, for they would have
an opportunity to collect another. On thu
6 second gun being fired, the Defiance wal
t again boarded by two boats from the Peru
Wan man-of-war Rimac and the guard-ship
One of the men, in going over the side, &C
{ cidentally discharged his musket, and wa
t Immediately shot by the lieutenant. Capt
, McCreren was then arrested, put in irons
: receiving deep cut in the head with an axe
and pitched headlong into the guard-boat
. and then beaten with the butt-end of thei
J muskets, rowed on board the man-of-wai
It and put in confinement, charged with tn
e murder committed by the lieutenant. Her
, he was chained hand and foot to a ring-bo
in the deck, and there kept like the vile'
% criminal for three days and nights-not
soul allowed to see him, not even exceptin
y his son, a boy twelve years of age. Willis
l. there confined, man contrived to spea
% to him, telling him to eat or drink notl
:, ing they gave him, as it was poisoned.
u this state he was until doctor, sent dow
e by the minister at Lima to inquire into IL
" affair, demanded to see him in the name
the American minister, when he very III
willingly was allowed to see him. He il
l. stantly demanded his release from iron
! saying he could not live forty eight hou
'' longer in that position. His son was the
rs allowed to see him for the first time. I
at has since been slowly recovering, thoue
s. terribly wounded.
AL The Defiance was taken to Callao by ol
: Of the heutenants of the Peruvian Nav
y She was subsequently abandoned to Il
us authorities of Peru, and is in their posse
he sion, the U. s. Minister, Mr.. Clay, We
r. properly refusing to receive her. He il
bo mediately proceeded to the Chinchas to
~ vestigate the affair.
10 The investigation ended in the reno,
hS vi bno VohLhaluahO dp VIC lSldiluo'
IS. doubt heavy damages will be recovered,
Of Mr.. Clay has forwarded dispatches to o
government concerning the affair. VIII
w. y these dispatches arrived at Washington, \
III Marcy was holding conference with \
he Hulsemann, relative to the Koszta affa
en- He left Immediately for Washington. y
ts shall endeavor to keep our readers advis
- Of the action of goyernmentin regard to q
outrage.