The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1854-12-15

q These adventures undertook to change IN
. name OF the place from San Juan del Norte
0 Greytown, and, though at first pretending /
act as the subjects Of the fictitious sovereign {
the Mosquito Indians, they subsequently, repu
dated the control OF any power whatever, as
S'ned to adopt distinct political organization
and declared themselves an independent sover
} egn state.
: II, at the same time. faint hope was enter
tanned that they might become a stable and re-
Specialize community, that hope soon vanished
lhey proceeded TO assert unfounded claims tc
civil jurisdiction over Punta Arenas, position
on The opposite side OF the river San Juan
Wnch was IN possession, under title who'll,
independent OF them, of citizens of the Uniter
States, interested in the Nicaragua Transit Com
pany, and which was indispensably necessary
to the prosperous operation of that route across
the 1sthmus. The company resisted their
groundless claims, whereupon they proceeded
10 destroy some Of its buildings, and attempted
violently to disposSesS ii.
Al later period they organized strong
force for the purpose OF dpmolishing the estab-
lshment at Punta Arenas, but this mschievous
design was defeated BY the intprpostion of one
OF our ships OF war, at that time in the harbor
a body OF men from Greytown crossed over to
FGhta Arenas, arrogatlng en- authority to arrest
on me charge OF murder, captain OF one of the
steamboats, OF the Transit company. Being
well aware that the claim to exercise jurisdiction
there would be resisted then, as II had on previ-
Gus occasions, they went prepared to assert bv
force Of arms
Cur minister TO Central America happened
to be present on that occasion. Relieving that
the captain OF the steamboat was innocent, for
he witnessed the transaction on which the
charge was founded, and believing, also. that
the lntruding party having no jurisdiction over
The place where they proposed TO make the ar
rest, would encounter desperate resistance if
they persisted in their purpose, he intrrposed,
eilectuaIlg to prevent violence and boodshed.
The American minister afterwards visited
Greytown, and whilst he was there. mob. in
cluding certain ofthe so-called public function
aries OF the place, surrounded the house in
which be was, avowing that they had come TO
arrest him, by order of some person exercising
the chief authority. Whilst parleving with I
them he was wounded by missile from the /
crowd. a boat, despatched from the American
steamer ssNorthern Light to release him from
the periIous situation in which he was under
stood to be, was fred into by the town guard. /
and compelled to return. These incidents. to-
{rihfr with The known character ofthe popula-
ion OF GreytoWn, and their excited state, ndu-
2ed Just apPrehensions that the lives and pro-
Derty oi our citiZsns Of Punta Arenas would be
n imminent danger after tie departure of the
teamer, with her passengers for New York.
lnIeSS a guard was left for their proteclion.-
'or this purpose, and in order to ensure the
afety Of passengers and property passing over !
he route, temporary force was organized, at {
considerable EXPENSE to the United States, for {
Which provision was made at the last session of /
'ongreSS.
This pretended community, heterogeneous a
'srmbIage gathered from various countries, and !
'mPosrd, for the most part, Of blacks and per- t
ms oi mixed blood, had previously given 9TH T
indications OF mlSchevous and dangerous pro- y
7nS'tIes Early in the SAME month, property o
as c!andeStinply distracted from the depot of b
le transit company and taken to Grevtown.- f
be plundrrers obtained shelter there. and e
'er PurSurrS were driven back bv IFS people. ii
no not only protected the wrong-dorrS and tc
ared the plunder, but treated with rudeness m
ID violence those who sought to recover their in
oPer:y.
Such, in substance, are the facts submitted pl
r my consideration, and proved by trustwor- b;
y evidence. could not doubt that the case II
manded the interposition of this government. ST
StIce required that reparation should be made pt
so many and such gross wrongs, and that in
urSe of insoence and plumber, tending. direct W
TO the insecurity of the lives of numerous de
yelers, and of The rich treasure belonging TO ed
r citizens, passing over this transit way. eli
onld be peremptoriy arrested Whatever il iii
ght be IN other respects, the community in of
estIon, IN power to do mischief, was not despi- tb
BE. 1t was provided with ordnance, small
ms, and ammunition, and might easily seize on att
unarmed boats, freighted with millions of col
'Ptrty, which passed almost daily within its GEL
ch 1t did not profess to belong TO any reg for
r government, and had, in fact, no recogniz- on.
independence on, or connection with. any the
: TO which the United States or their nur- Gre
citlZrns might apply for redress, or which pea
Id be beld responsible, in anv way, for the last
RACES committed. Not standing before the thr
rid IN the attitude Of an organized political san
ety, beng neither competent 10 exercise the the
ITS nor to discharge the obligations of a gov cIu
ment, it was, in fact, maraudng establish deb
1t, too dangerous to be disregar,pd, and too san
ty 10 pass unpunished, and yr, incapable of inc
iS Treated IN any other way than as pratt den
resort OF outlaws, or camp OF SavagPs, de- and
la'ihg on emlgrant trans or caravans on the thrt
tier settlements of fciviIzed States hun
easonable notice was given 10 the people of 7
ytown that this government required them is /,
pair the injuries they had done to our cti sur,
!, and to make suitable apology for the insult to t
ar minister, and that ship-of-war would be two
atched thheF to enforce the compliance doll
these demands. But the notice passed un- corr
led. lherenpon, commander of the navy. mill
barge ofthe sloop-ofwar Cyanp, was order nine