Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1853-08-18
r.e Tr..sls .s smyrna.

The National lnteilgencer mas Deenl
favored with private letter from an Of
fcer of the sloop-of-war Sti Louis, from
which it makes the annexed extracts, re-
lating faithfully, we presume, the cir
cumstances at Smyrna connected with
the arrest of the Hungarian Kosta, and
the considerations which decided the
Commander of the st. Louis to demand
his release. In publishing the letter the
Intelligencer remarks:
It appears that Capt. 1ngrsham felt
very sensibly the delicacy Of the posi-
ton in which he was placed, and was
much embarrassed how to act; but the
opinions and advice of our Charge d.
Affaires at Constantinople. confirmed by
the claim of the prisoner to American
protection, decided the Captain, not un-
naturally, that the course Of peril or of
battle, If need be, was the course of du-
ty. Truly thankful are we that SO awful
an issue was averted by the considerate
alternative proposed by the two Consuls:
az. s. SHIP ST.. LOUIS,
Smyrna, July Z, 1858.
al wrote you that one .Ga Costa,
a Hungarian refugee. had Hen forcibly
taken on board Of an Austrian brig-of-
war, and confined in double irots. Al
though he was not a citizen ofSthe Uni
ted States, still be had made his decla-
ration of Intention to apply to become
such. Capt. Ingraham, knowing that
certain death would await the man if he
should be carried to Austria, determin-
ed, if possible, to save him, if he could
do it without compromising our flag
Orders had been issued by the Austrian
Consul to carry the man away on the
9sth of June. Capt. Ingraham, hear
ing this on the night of the 98th, sent
his protest that the man must not be
carried away until it was fully settled
whether or not Martin Costa was an
American. On the morning Of the 29th
our ship made sail, and bore down to-
wards the Austrian brig, and anchored
near, so we could watch and see that the
man was not carried off. The Austri-
ans, thinking that we were going to take
the man, made every preparation to re-
ceive us. During the morning the Aus
trian captain sent word that the man
would not be sent away. Letters came
the same day from Mr.. Brown, the
Charge d'Affaires ad interim at Constan-
tinople, stating that Costa was citizen
of the United States, and as such was
entitled to protection from our country.
Well, as things stood. the Captain was
in doubt how to act, but asked that fur
ther time might be allowed so as to hear
from Mr.. Marsh, who was daily expect
ed at Constantinople. The Austrians
gave until last Saturday, the ed of July.
Other letters came from Constantinople,
but still Captain Ingraham was in doubt,
and after little conversation with the
Consul, the Captain and Consul went
on board the Austrian brig f-war to
see Martin Costa. After some conver-
sation, Martin Costa demanded protec-
ton from the American flag. Captain
Ingraham then told him he should have
it. The Captain and Consul returned
on board ef our ship, and the Captain
sent word to the Austrian that he de-
manded Martin Costa BY four o'clock
in the evening. After this was known
tremendous excitement spread through
out the ship; all hands were called to
quarters to make preparations for action;
the big guns were loaded, cutlasses,
small arms, boarding-pikes, and every
thing ready for an engagement. The
Surgeons brought out their instruments,
ready to cut off legs, patch up wounds,
&c. The shore was crowded with people
to witness the engagement, as they
thought bloody work was going to take
place. The news spread like wild-fre
thr oughout Smyrna, and the people
were as much excited as we we're
Delegations came off to the ship to see
if something could not be done to pre-
vent an action.
After four or FIVE hours (happily for
all parties the American and Austrian
Consuls came to a compromise; that is,
the Austrian Consul, who had full con-
troll of the man, consented that Martin
Costa should be delivered up into the
hands of the French Consul, who con-
sented to take charge of him, until
everything was fully settled by the two
Governments as to who had claim to the
man. Well, after this was settled, of
course we all breathed much freezer than
we did before. No doubt but many
lives would have been lost on both
sides. Although our guns are much
larger than the Austrians,' still at the
near quarter we intended fighting their
guns would have been just as destruc-
tive as ours. The Austrian force con-
sisted of one brig of sixteen guns, one
schooner of ten guns, and three mail
steamers, which would no doubt have
assisted in the engagement. So you
see their force was much larger than
ours. There was a general rejoicing
after the matter was settled, and the
American citizens in Symrna gave din
ner to Captain Ingraham and his officers
on the 4th of July. There was a gen
eral jollifcstion, and there was pop
ping of bottle corks instead of the big
guns. Last night we gave ball on
board To some of the residents of