The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1854-08-02
A Famous victory-Destructio ton OF an
American Town by Amerioans--San
Juan de Nicaragua.

A Famous ton OF an
American Town by Americans-San
Juan de Nicaragua.
A general thrill ran through the
city yesterday morning. The good
people Of the metropolis opened their
respective papers and read, with sus-
pended respiration" Bombardment
and Total Destruction of"-Sebasto-
pol ? Cronstadt? no =" Of San Juan
Tde Nicaragua, or Greytown, by the
Y. 5. Sloop of War Cyane ''
The proximate cause of this bonn
6ardment and destruction of San Juan,
it is said, was a refusal on the part Of
the town to comply with certain de-
mands made on behalf of the Nicara-
qua Transit Company, amounting to
$4,000, " and neglect or refusal to
apologize for an insult given some time
since to Hon. Scion Borland, our late
Minister in Central America" 1t
seems that Captain IIollins, in the Cy.
ane, appeared in the harbor of San
Juan, ON the 18th inst. and made the
above acquisitions, coupled with the
announcement, that unless they we're
complied with next day, by noon, he
should destroy the place. They were
not complied with, and the place was
accordingly destroyed.
Assuming this statement to be true
and that the demand made upon the
town was just. yet, even then. the pub
lie, we think, will agree with US in
opinion, that the refusal of san Juan
to comply with their demands, afforded
no adequate justification for the pun
ishment inflicted upon the place. The
civilized world will require to know if
those demands were really just, before
it can listen to any apology for the
barbarity of the act, or relieve its per-
petrators from the odium which rests
upon them. Americans will have a
double right to require ample explana.
tons, for TIE town of San Juan was,
in all essential respects, an American
town.
! The immediate causes and influences
which led to the destruction of the
place must come out in the discussion
to which this event will give rise. We,
therefore, do not enter upon them now,
nor upon tho probable consequence Of
this most extraordinary proceeding Of
Capt. lIollins, or rather, of those who
instructed him to do as he has done
for it is difficult to believe that he
would have resortcd to such extreme
measures, except under ordcrs.-N
Y. Herald.
The following more definite partc-
ulars are gathered from the account:
brought by the Promethcus;
The Prometheus arrived outward OIL
the morning of the 10Th at s o'clock
Found in the harbor the L. s. ship
of-war Cyane, commanded by Capt
Ilollins, which had arrived at San
Juan del Nortc on the 18th inst, il
p days from New York commissioned
to settle certain difficulties between
American citizens and the local au.
thorities. Also, to demand full and
satisfactory apology for an insult Civ
en-, short time since, to Hon. Scion
Borland, our Minister to Contra
America.
he authorities and residents of the
! town refused to make the slightes,
apology. After giving ample time,
and 10 reply having been received
Capt. llollins, on the 18th inst, is
sued proclamation to the authorities
and residents-that, unless ar. apology
was made at 9 A. NJ. on the 18th. he
should, without further notice, proceed
to lombard the town. No apology
came lie, in the meantime, took
possession of the Transit Company''
steamers, and sent them to the town
offering protection to all persons who
chose to accept. And, within one
minute of the time designated by Capt
lollins, the cannonading commenced
and continued, with short intervals, tc
3 p. NJ. During the intervals no dis
position was manifested on the rart o.
the inhabitants to come to terms fol
the saving Of the property. AT 1 z
NJ, party landed, commanded by {
Lieutenant, and burned the town. On,
or two small buildings, in the suburbs
still remain to mark the spot. NJ
lives lost. Mr.. Scott, agent Of tho
Accessory Transit Company, rendered
free passage by the Promctheus t.
all who wished to leave. a few ac'
cepted the offer.
The ii. B. NJ, schooner Bermuda
the West India Company's mail steam
er Dee and a British merchantmen
were witnesses of the scene, lying il
the harbor at the time.
The Sandwich Islands
There are confident reports that thu
government of the Sandwich Islands
., oIo,,t 70 r,aI,a N t.aot,, sc