Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1853-08-25
HANNIBAL lOURNAL.
MONDAY EVENING, AUG. ., 1873.

probable that the United States may yet take
part in the war that seems certainly approaching
in Europe.
In the afternoon Of the 2lst Jane, 1853,
Martin Costa, Hungarian refugee, was SET
Upon in Smyrna by some fifteen rufian Gre6as,
all armed. said 10 have been employed for that
purpose by the Austrian consul and, after
having been treated in The most brutal manner,
was thrown inio The sea, where boat was wait
ing 70 receive and conduct him to the Austrian
3 brig IIussar, where be was confined in double
irons.
Although he was not citizen Of the United
States, still he bad made his declaration of inien-
fiOn 10 apply to become such. Capt. Ingraham
of the United States ship st. Louis, knowing
that certain death would await the man il lie
should be carried 10 Austria, determined, if pos
sble, 10 save him, if he could do it without com
promising our Gag.
D A private letter TO the editors of the National
Intelligencer, dated July Z, from en- officer Of
The sloop-of-war, 81. Louis, gives the following
detailed, and, the Inielligencer presumes, faith
full account Of Capt. Ingraham's course, and lis
results:
y Orders had been issued BY the Austrian con-
sui TO carry the man away ON the 29ll of June.
Capt. Ingraham, hearing this on the night Of the
18th, 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 18th our ship made sail and bore
down towards the Austrian brig, and anchored
near. so we could watch and see that the man
was not carried off The AustrIans, thinking
that we were going 10 take the man, made every
preparation TO receive us. During the morning
the Austrian captain sent word that the man
would not be sent away. Letters came the
same day from Mr.. Brown, the Charge d AT
flares dd interim at Constantinople, stating that
Kosta was a citizen OF the United States, and as
such was entitled 10 protection from our country.
Well, as things stood, the Captain was in doubt
how 10 ae but asked that farther lime might be
allowed, SO as to hear from Mr.. Marsh, who
was daily expected at Constantinople. The
Austrians gave until last Saturday, the % Of
July. Other letters came from Constantinoplc,
but still Capt Ingraham was in doubt, and after
little conversation with the Consul, the Cap
tain and Consul went on board the Austrian
brig of-war 10 see Martin KoSta. After some
conversation, Martin Kosta demanded protec-
ton from the American fag. Capt lngraham
then told him he should have it. The Captain
and Consul returned or board Of our ship, and
the Captain sent word TO the Austrian that he
demanded Martin Kosta by four o'clock in the
evening. After this was known tremendous
excitement spread throughout the ship; all hands
were called 10 quarters to make preparations for
action; the big guns were loaded, cutlasses,
smal-arms, boarding pixies, and everything ready
for an engagement. The Surgeons brought uut
their instruments, ready 10 cut off legs, patch up
4 i "a.
people TO witness the engagement, they
thought bloody work was going TO take place.
The news spread like wildfre throughout
Smyrna, and The people were as much excited
as we were. Delegations came of to the ship
to see il something could not be done TO prevent
an action. After four or five hours happily
for all parties-the American and Austrian
Consuls came TO compromise-that is, the
Austrian Consul, who had full control of the
man, consented that Martin Kosta should be
delivered up into the hands of the French Con-
sui who consented 10 take charge OF him, until
everything was fully settled by the two Gov
ernmenls as 10 who had claim 10 the man. Well,
after this was settled, Of course we all breathed
much freeY Than we did before. No doubt but
many lives would have been lost Oh both sides.
Although our guns are much larger than The
A,nrians, still at the near quarter we intended
destructive 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.
Tclegriplic dispatches 10 the st. Louis pa
per. give the following additional particulars by
the America:
FaAsxPoRr. 3Oth-It is said that Austria
intends not only 10 demand reparation from the
United States for tie Smyrna affair, but insists
that the Porte shall Immediately procure the
extraditiop Of Kosia, ST. Petersburg letters say,
Ghat when the G'zar heard of the KoSa affair, he
advised Austria TO settle the difficulty easily, II
possible, and to do anything rather than give the
United States a pretenee 10 interfere IN the al
fairs OF Europe.
Dispatches under date Of August l4,h, from
Washington % The New York Iicraid, state
that the Secretary OF State has committed him
self TO the position that the filing Of declaration
of an intention TO become citizen of the United
Ststes, entities tie individual 10 the protection
of this government. Mr.. Marcy, ii is said,
takes the ground that they are in the same pc
sition as children born here, who although they
cannot vote or hold properly ill they are TWEEN
ty-One yesfs old, are still, during their minority,
unqucstionably entitled to the protection of the
United States. Should This position be taken,
the IIerali's correspondent thinks the release OF
Kostaayill be imperatively demanded by our.
government. Thus the Kosta question is likely
TO assume more important character than was
first anticipated.
gS. An earthquake on thc oh, Of July atI