The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-08-09
The Destruction of San Juan and the
causes which led thereto.

As there is an evident misunderstood
ing Of some of the circumstances connect
ed with the original outrage upon Mr..
Borland, propose TO give you state
ment Of the fact rs I have received them
from an eye'wituess-a gentleman ofsu.
perior intelligence, great GOODNESS, and
undoubted veraci;y. Those who most
loudly condemn the action Of Capt. Hol.
Inns, urge that Mr.. Borland resisted the
laws of Greytown, defed legal authority
and rescued murderer from Justice :;
that he ought himselfto to have been pun
shed severe for his outrage upon the
authorities, and that he did not get at
ther hands when arrested b, them, half
his deserts. On the other hand it is con-
tended by some who are overzealous
20 defend the destruction Of Greytown.
that Mr.. Borland's conduct was entirely
justifab|e, because he was bound to res
cue an American citizen from the preiu-
diced authorities, who would have sought
this opportunity to wreak their vengeance
upon him, although the homicide char
ged upon him was clearly committsd in
self-defence.
Neither Of these statements are strictly
true, and neither of them do justice to
the Administration. The American citi-
zen rescued by Mr.. Borland was one Cap
tain Smith, the commander Of one of the
transit steamers, who had shot aud killed
the negro captain of bungo, under cir
cumstances which am assured entitled
him TO the appellation Of cold booded
murderer. Instead of having shot the
poor fellow in self defence as is now as
serted, the almost unanimous opinion of
the Americans was that Smith murdered
the negro without shadow of provoca-
ton.
II seems there had been some previous
misunderstanding between Smith and the
deceased on the day of the homicide
Smith ran his steamer into the negro's
buDgo, but without damage. The ne
gro, however, threatened to shoot Smith,
if he should break his boat. Subsequent
ly, after the steamer had started down
stream, she was put al out by Smith, and
returning to where the negro was, ran
directly into his boat and crushed it to
pieces. The negro at the time was sit
ting in the bungo with his gun lying
across his knee, and was shot by Smith
at the same instant that he ran into the
boat. The negro having neither risen
from his seat nor raised his gun up to
this time. After he was shot, he attempt
ed to step from the wrek of his bunyo
to tho next boat, but fell helpless into
the stream. There seems to have been
scarce dssenter from the opinion, that
the steamer was put back for no other
purpose, than to enable Smith to perpe-
trate his distardly outrage.
Having committed his crime, Smith
took refuge on board the Steamer ofthe
Nicaragua line, bound for New-York.
Subsequently, as is known, an officer
came of to the steamer with warrant
from the Mayor Of Greytown, for Smiths
arrest and here is the point of the case,
so far as Borland's action is concern
eerned: Mr.. Borland made speech to
the American passenger, falling them
what he frequently repeated in. private
conversation, that his instructions direct
ed him to refuse to recognize the au-
thority of Greytown Claiming under the
Mosquito title) as distinct from the
Government Of Nicarag ua. Repudiating
altogether the authority of the Govern
ment ofGreytown, of course the warrant
of the Mayor could only be regarded as
the edict Of the leader of mob, and
any efforts to enforce its respect, as the
irresponsible lawless act of such mob
To permit the arrest OF Smith under
these circumstances, would have been
indirectly to admit the Mosquito title,
which Mr.. Borland consideled himself
instructed not to do, so he called upon
the passengers to aid him in resistance
to usurpation, and not, in reality, to res
cue murderer. That was an unfortu-
nate incident Of the more important
Transaction. Charleston Standard.