The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-08-17

ish is an implied sanction OF the acts OF the |
transgressors."
The instructions of J. C. Dobbin, Secretary |
of the Navy, to Commander Holins, June 10,
1854, after reciting the outrages said to have
been committed, were as follows:
at is very desirable that these people should
be taught that the United States will not toll
crate these outragcs, and that they have the
power and the determination to check them
1t is, however, very much to be hoped that you
can effect the purposes of your visit without a
resort to violence and destruction of property
and loss of life. The presence of your vessel
will, no doubt, work much good. The Depart
ment repOses much in your prudence and good
sense.
"Former dispatches have acquainted you
with the peculiar political position of this town,
and of the relations of our Government to 1t.
You will remain there no longer than you may
deem necessary, as it is a warm and unhealthy
climate"
On arriving at GreytOwn, Captain Hollins
learned from Mr.. Fabens that no apology or
indemnity had been given or promised, and
that the very persons who had been guilty OF
"the insult offered to Mr.. Borland" were then
/" in undisputed possession of the town"
On the oath of June, Mr. Fabens Issued a
proclamation 81 to those now or lately pretend
ing to and exercising authority IN San Juan
del Norte0 in which he said:
81 am instructed by the Government of the
United States at Washington, to notify you
that the said Government will require of the
| pretended authorities 'of the town Of San Juan
| del Norte, restoration of or payment for the
property brought within the territories over
which they assume to exercise authority as
set forth in the protest of Mr.. Scott general
agent of the Accessory Transit Company, dated
May IT, 1854, and all damages sustained by
their outrageous conduct in preventing the said
company from reposscssing itself Of it,
at is expected that for this, as well as for
their conduct in other respects towards Ameri-
can citizens the people of the town will be
| prepared to afford redress in satisfactory
manner There is likewise an outstanding
claim of the Accessory Transit Company UcrSIS
the acting authorities of San Juan del Norte,
for the sum of $4,000, as remuneration for
the loss sustained by tho company in conse-
uuence of the destruction of their building on
Point Arenas in the month of March, 1853, by
the said acting authorities; which claim was
duly presented by Abraham Banker, agent of
said company, on the 25th Of June, 1853"
On the 18th Of July, this proclamation was
substantially reported, the unknown sum being
fixed at SIG 900. And it was further pro-
claimed:
~ have now, acting in concert with Com
mander Hollins, of the U. States ship Cyane,
at present IN this harbor, to demand of you
immediate paymentof the sum Of sixteen thou
sand dollars" sc.
"For the indguity offered to the United
States of America, in the conduct of the au-
thorites and people Of this town towards their
Minister, Mr.. Borland, while recently in this
place, nothing short of an apology promptly
made, and satisfactory assurances given to
Commander Hollins of future good behaviour,
on the part of the said authorities and people,
towards the United States and her public func
tionarics who may in future be here, will save
the place from the infection which its late acts
justly merit"
On the 18th of July, no response having
been made to the foregoing, Commander Hol-
Inns issued his proclamation, stating that
"Whereas certain gross outrsges have, at
sundry times, been perpetrated by the author
ties (so called and people Of San Juan del
Norte, upon the persons and property of Amer
lean citizens at that place and vicinity; and
whereas a serious insult and indignlty has
been offered to the United States, In the con-
a~=s oF tho soid authorities and people towards
Mr.. Borland, United States Minister to Cen
trail America, for which outrage and insult no
indemnity has been given, and no satisfactory
reply returned to demands already made
Now, therefore, |, George N. Hollins, COM
mander Of the U. States sloop Of war Cyane,
by virtue of my instructions from the United
States Government at Washington, do hereby
solernnly proclaim and declare, that if the de-
mands for satisfaction in the matters above
namcd-specifed in the letter of Mr.. Fabens,
United States commercial agent, dated 18th
instant-are not forthwith complied with, |
shall, at nine O'clock A. n. of tomorrow, 18th
instant, proceed to lombard the town of San
Juan del Norto aforesaid, to the end that the
rights of our country and citizens may be vim
dicated, and as a guarantee for future protec-
ton"
On the 10th of July, Commander Hollns
communicated to the Secretary of the Navy
the particulars of his arrival and progress at
San Juan:
At 9 A. M. on the morning of the 18th in
slant, our batteries were opened on the town
with shot and shells for three-quarters of an
hour, followed by an intermission Of the same
time, when they were opened again for half an
hour, followed by second intermssion Of three
hours At the expiration Ct this interval, the
firing was recommended, and continued for
twenty minutes, when the bombardment ceased.
The object of these several intervals in the
bombardment was that an opportunity to treat
and satisfactorily arrange matters might be
furnished the inhabitants of the town. No ad-
vantage was taken of the consideration shown
them, and at o'clock p. M. command under
Lieuts. Pickering and Fauntleroy was sent on
shore, with orders to complete the destruction
of the town by FIRE.
"The town was thus destroyed, for the greater
part, in the short space of two hours. Motives
were lost.
"The execution done by our shot and shells
amounted to the almost total destruction of the
buildings but it Was thought best to make the
punishment of such character az to inculcste
a lesson never to be forgotten by those who
have for so long time set at defiance all warn
ings, and satisfy the whole world that the Uni
ted States have the power and the determine
ton to enforce that reparation and respect due
them as a Government, in whatever quarter
the outrages may be committed.
The royal mail packet Dee arrived in the
horbor during the conhagration Of the town,
but left Immediately taking with her in tow
her Britannia Msjesty's schooner Bermuda; >
thus leaving the English subjects referred to in
the communication of Commander JOlley with
out any assistance, should it be required No
comm unication from Commander JOlley, of the
Bermuda was made with the 'Cyane' pri-
or to his departure; but [ am informed he car
ried with him number of the principal partici
pators in the outrages that have been commit
ted by the town of San juan and among them
the former Mayor, Mr.. Martin
Lieutenant JOlley, in command of the British
schooner Bermuda, above referred to, had ear