Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-07-31
LYNCCHBURG VIRGINIAN.



York Courier and Enquirer, giving the facts
which led to tho recent bombardment of Grey
town hy the American War Vessel, Cyane. If
the circumstances be as they are detailed by the
Courier & Enquirer, we know no measure of CON
demnatien too severe for the wanton aud high
handed act Of atrocty which has thus been com
mittod by order Of the present administration;
and we hope the press of the whole Union will
not fail to speak out, and characterize il in the
terms of severe censurc. il so richly merits. The
whole affair, according TO the most reliable ao-
counts which have met our eye, is simply this !;
Captain Smith ia the employ Of the Nicaragua
transit company, was engaged in transporting
passengers in small steamer the San Juan
River. and while 50 engaged he shot Native
who was savigating small craft ON the same
River. On reaching Greytown, Smith went on
board of an Ocean Steamer belonging to the
Company, when the authorities attempted 10 ar
rest him. The arrest successfully resisted
by Smith and the crew of the Steamer, and by
the interference Of Mr. Scion Borland who order
cd them off and enforced his order by the aid Of
a rifle. In the evening Mr.. Borand went ashore
70 the house Of our commercial agent which was
soon surrounded by a crowd who threatened to
arrest him. The Mayor of Greytown
up and declared the proceedings of this crowd to
be without authority or eoantenanee from
him. when the mob shortly thereafter dis
persed. some one in the meanwhile having
thrown fragment of bottle which struck
Mr.. Borland, but he was not thereafter molestcd.
TN his return to this country, Mr. mado repre-
sontation OF the matter to the authorities at Wash
iugtm who Immediately despatched avessel
Of War either to obtain PREPARATION or 10 aYenge
the indienty. Capt. Hollns of the Cyano ON
reaching San Juan demanded au arpelagy, and
also the payment of 100000 as indemnity TO the
transit Company. This demand was refused and
thereupon the place was first bomharded and
then set ON fire and burned, whereby, property
to the extent of half million of dollars was Who'll
" destroyed. and the inhabitants left inn state
of great destfiution and suffering.
The first enquiry which arises is, what the
relation which Mr.. Borland occupied to the aa-
thorites of Greytown, and what was the pcou-
lair dignity with which he was,ot the time inves-
ted, which warranted this summary interpositen
and terrible vengeance, in his behalf, by the Gov
ernment of the United States He had been
our Minister 10 Central America, bat it il said
that he bad resigned this postand was returning
home. lie was found there then,only in the ca
paeity of a private citizen, aiding 10 prevent the
arrest Of an offender against abe local law. In
this as we have before said, he succeedod and
afterwards yenturing INTO the town while the ex.
element, consequent on t6s act of resistance
was still rpgillg.a mob assemblies, all counte-
narce on authority for whose proceedings is at
once diseaimed by the Mayor, and Mr.. Borland
is stricken with a fragment of bottle thrown by
an unknown hand and is not afterwards moles-
ted. Clun this state of facts. the administration
at Washington has caused this defenceless town
10 be utterly destroyed.
While we would be the last to consure any ad-
ministraiion for uphoding by all proper means
the rights of our citizens abroad or for causing
at oil hazards the dignity of our Govoinn ent to
be respected, yet We cannot forbear to say, that
this seems TO us to have been an act of cruelty
and barbariiy for which it would be difficult TO
find parallel in the history of civilized Govern
ment. Certainly il has no precedent in the past
conduct of our own. We feel bound therefore
upon the statement before referred to- to Declare
this act 10 have been in our opinion unwanan
ted by the law of nations, at war with every SEN
timent of courage and magnamity, and justly de-
serving, as We believe it will receive the emphatic
condemnation of an overwhelming majority of
the people of the United States
The Nicaragua Transit Company EMPLOYS a
dozen small steamers on the San Juan river, to
transport passengers from and 10 their N. York
steamers. The refusal of the Company To re-
cognze the Government of Greytown, has kept
it in continual d faculties with the authorities and
people from the first, and mutually bitter feel
ing exists, which finds vent in numerous annoy
anoes and reprisals. According to the state
ment of passenger who witnessed the affair,
Captain Smith ofthe Routh, one of the small
steamers, IN attempting TO make landing, some
ten twelve miles above Grey tow n, came in CON
tact with bungo, and difficulty ensued with
the proprietor of tic craft, who leyeed his gun
at Captain Smith but did not fire. The steamer
passed ON but : after carried back by the
current towards the bungo. Captain Smith in
the meantime had got his rifle ready, and when
near enough, shot the native captain of the bum
60 dead in his tracks. Another passenger says
that the steamer returned towards the bungo af-
ter the accident. on the suggestion of an influen-
tial person on board in order to iog the native
for his impndence; but that instead of doing this
Captain Smith called for his rife and with de-
liberate aim, shot him through the heart
ION arriving at Greytown, Captain Smith went
on board the ocean steamer, where the anthor-
les attempted 70 arrest him, hut were prevented
ffsn Section with ris resistance, .resisted by the
creays as above, atsinterference of MIR. Borland,
krr1i~ ,ntrai America then on his way
nci them off and enforced his
'a,f rifle on the ground that the
ognized no authority at Grey
ut TO arrest and try an American
evening Mr.. Borland went ON
. of our commercial agent, Mr..
~ soon surrounded by crowd
k.rest him. After some alter