Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-08-01
rHs SAN JUAN or aREYrowN AFFAIR.

The. Washington correspondent OF the New
York Times gives the following statement of
conversation with Col Fremont relative to the
causes which led to the recent cowardly and
disgraeeful destruction Of tho town of San
Juan: @.
aColonel j. c. Fremont was one Of the Amer
lean citizens present at Greytown at the oc-
currence of the outrage upon Mr.. Borland,
for which such fearful retribntion has boon
visited by Captain Aollins upon the town. AS
he il we'll known the world over as a cool, clear
headed and truthful gentleman, bis statement of
that transaction, and the facts connected with
il, cannot be otherwise than highly interesting
at the present time. Upon questioning him On
the subject this morning he very cheerfully
communicated TO me his understanding Of the
affair, which is substantially as follows:
at was quite evident that for some reason
or other, very strong prejudice existed at
Greytown against all Americana; prejudice
amounting almost to positive hostility; and
to conceal which, no pains whatever were
taken The immediate origin Of the difficulty,
in which Borland participated was the homicide
of the negro captain Of bnngo, or river boat,
committed by Captain Smith, of steamer
plying on the river Notwithstanding publish
cd statements directly the reverse, this homi-
eide was considered by the Americana almost
without exception, deliberate, cold-blooded
murder, without a shadow Equalization. There
had boon some previous difficulty between
Smith and the negro.
n0n the day OF the homicide, Smiths steam
or ran into the negro's bungo when the latter
threatened TO shoot Smith jf he broke bis boat
The bungo however, was uninjured. Suisse
quenty the steamer started down the river,
and after il had proceeded some distance, put
back again, apparently for no other purpose
than to run into the bungo; which it did, crush
ing it like an egg-shell AT this time the negro
was sitting in his boat with his gun across his
knees. The weight of testimony IT. that he
made no hostile demonstration against Smith,
having neither risen from his scat nor raised
bis gun, when Smith deliberately shot him.
Immediately upon being shot, tho poor fellow
got up, and while attempting to step from the
wreck Of bis bungo into the boat alongside of
it, his strength failed him, and he fell into the
river"
Such Is the version Of the affair by Mr.. FIRE.
mont. He makes the third witness whose re-
ports show Captain Smiths conduct to have
been criminal 10 the highest degree. The same
writer goes on to give Mr.. FreaonRs version Of
the subsequent proceedings, and DIR. Borland's
avowcd motive for Interference.
"a warrant was issued by the Mayor of
Greytown for Smiths arrest, and an officer
went on board the steamer, as every one knows,
but was prevented from getting bis prisoner
by the foroiblc resistance Of the passengers,
headed by Bcrland In aiding the minister
thus to resis. tho officers, the passengers did
not intend to endorse the murder Of the negro,
or absolve his murderer Ga the contrary, Il
would have beena very easy matter to have had
him hung on brief notice, by Committee OF
Vigilance, had either Of the acknowledged lead
ers proposed it. But Mr.. Borland, In speech
he made to the crowd, as well as In private con-
versation, told them he was instructed not In
any way TO recognise the authority Of Grey
town, deriving its authority from the Mosqui-
to King,) as separate and distinct from Nlca-
raeua To permit the Greytown officers TO
arrest an American citizen, and try him for
crime, would be 10 recognise the authority OF
the town government in the fullest sense and
SO Mr. BorlsDd urged them 70 aid him in
crushing out this scion Of tho Mosquitoes.
r. the government OF Greytown was illegal,
deriving its powers from incompetent author
ity, the act Of the oficers who attempted TO
arrest Smith, could only DO looked upon rs
the act OF q mob, proper 10 be resisted BY mob