New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-08-01
Destruction Of Greytown,


can only employ the term infamy
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Destruction Of Gseytown,
Bon,5drdaaemt on and Burning, Of San Juan,
Greytoacn by q. s.. Sioep-of- Tpar Cynne
The Toacn Totally Destroyed NO Lines
Lost. Ssat l M 6l.,9
The steamship Prornetheus arrived at New
York on the Gath, with late dates from Califor.
MA We take from the New York papers the
following particulars concerning the lombard
ment of Grey town gs
The Prometheus arrived outward on tbe
morning OF the 18th, at o'clock, having touched
az M kingston for coal. Found in the harbor the
United states ship-of-war Cyane, commanded
by captain Hollins, which had ARRIVED at san
Juan del Norte on the 11th n1timo, in 81 days
from New York, commissioned to settle certain
difficulties between American citizens and tba
local authorities. sAlso, to demand a full
and satisfactory apology for an insult given, a
short time since, to Hon. Solon Borland, our
Minister to Central America.
The authorities and residents Of the towr 20.
fused to make the slightest apology. After civ
ing ample time, and no reply having been re-
ceiFed, captain Hollins, on the 18th inst, is
sued proclamation to the authorities and resi-
dents-that, unless an apology was made by 9
A. NJ, On the 18th, he should, without further
notice, proceed to lombard the town No apol-
ogy came! de, in the meantime, took possess
sion Of the Transit Company's 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 H., the
cannonadlng commenced, and Continued. with
short intervals, to P. NJ. During the inter
vais no disposition was manifested on the part
of the inhabitants to come to terms for the saw
ing OF the property. At NJ, party landed,
commanded by Lieutenant, and burned the
town. San Juan, or Greytown, on the 18th.
vas entirely destroyed One or two small
buildings, at the suburbs, remain to marx the
spot No lives lost Mr.. Scott, agent of the
Accessory Transit Company, rendered free
passage. by the Prometheus to all who wished
to leave. A few accepted the offer.
The Cyane sails for Boston on the 18th inst,
and takes home Mr.. Fabins, our Commercial
Agent. Officers and crew all we'll
The British schooner Bermuda, the West
India Company mail steamer Dee and British
merchantman, were witnesses of the same, lay
ing in the harbor at the time
The revolution in Nicaragua and the Difficult
ties at San Juan have not interfered in any way
with the transit of the California passengers
over the route.
The rainy season has now commenced in
earnest
FURTHER PARTICULARS
AAoul iCSlacbtS dk GItyIUWn at Lle IlIla OF
the bombardment. and from passengers by the
Prometheus, we gain further facts relative to
the town and its destruction
Greytown consisted of about eighty houses,
nearly all of them built Of wood, and by far
the greater proportion of them constructed in
the United States and taken there on shipboard
One of these-Lyons's Hotel-eost $4,000.
Not more than tone-fourth of the houses in the
new part of the town, which has been built
lS.3tD. Jn6 hayy b.,a
totore heen occupied, but were deserted from
business considerations some time previous to
this affair
The population of Greyt town consisted of
about 500 persons altogether; of which number
ten or twelve were from the United States,
about twenty five were Englshmen, and twelve
Frenehmen and Germans The remainder of
the population were Jamaica negroes and ma
tives. The Americans, English, French and
Dutch were engaged in hotel keeping and
trade.
The houses occupied by the natives and
negroes were principally frame buildings, with
roofs of matched palm-leaf
When the Cyane appeared before Greytown
and demanded satisfaction to the amount OF
$24 GOO, threatening bombardment if not com
Piled with at given hour, it was. not believed
by the inhabitants that the town was to be de-
melished, pillaged and burned They expected
that few shots would be fired into the town,
that a few houses would be perforated, and then
hostilities would cease. Nest of the English.
however, went for protection on board Of the
British war schooner Bermudas, Capt. Jolly,
lying IN the harbor Mr.. Fabens, U. S. Agent,
together with six or seven of the Americans
sought protection under the flag Of the United
States on board of the Cyane, and the remainder
OF the inhabitants of Greytown, including all of
| the French and natives, together with few
! English and Americans, left the place during
| the night and morning preceding its destruc-
\ tlon. They all encamped together on the shore
| in the woods about a mile distant. Not antici-
| patlng the entire demolition Of the town by
| bomb shells and torches, they took but little Of
1 their effects with them. ALI the property left
! was destroyed Consequently the houseless in
| habitants were in great suffering for the want
of food, and of clothing and protection from the
4 weather when our informants left. They had
| stretched up sheets for tents, and many were
4 obliged to sleep in the open air, without the
| least shelter, and were half famished for the
want Of food. A brig laden with provisions,
which had just arrived as the bombardment
commenced has probably supplied them.
The terms Of Capt, Hollins not being complied
! with, he opened his fire promptly at the ap-
| pointed time-nearly every shot doing execu-
| ton. He fred about two hundred shots, but not
| burning up the town as he desired, he sent
ashore a launch with a lieutenant and about
/ luehs nuo pIQCCSutu ~ SIT uH ire 4ll
| that remained of Greytown While doing Sc
they are said to have inspected the interior of
| the buildings rather closely, and pillaged as
much as they pleased, Before finishing this
| work they were pretty thoroughly intoxicated
| with wines and liquors, and were constantly
| cheering The amount of property destroyed
] by this bombardment is stated to be half 4
| million of dollars. -. 49,. i-#.
| The day before the bombarGment Capt Hol-
| Inns took possession of the guns which were for
| the protection of the town, and took them to
| Punta Arenas and placed them in the keeping
| Of the agent Of the Transit Company. During
| the bombardment two shots were aimed at the
| flag staff from which tioated the Mosquito flag.
| The first ball severed the halyards, and down
| came the flag to half mast, and the second ball
cut the staff half off, from which it was sus-
| pended.
| While the Cyane was cannonading, note was
received by Capt. Hollins from the Captain of
| the British schooner Bermuda stating that he
| regretted that he had not British vessel of war
there of the size of the Cyane-he would COM
pei him to desist. Capt. Hollins, in reply to
| the note. regretted that Capt Jolly had not f,co
| just such, as he believed that the United States
| could get possession Of them on the same terms
as they got the Gyane. There was good deal
! of anxious looking for the British mail steamer
| Dee, then hourly expected, and remarks were
made that when she arrived hostilities would
Immediately commence. To the establishment
/ of oil tbao nf fbn 0ao ~,atl