The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-04-20

DIFFICULTY WITH PARAeUAY.-Late advices
from the South indicate another Outrage
upon The American flag In our treaty with
Paraguay. the free navigation of the rivers OF
that country is reserved TO our government
and citizens 1t appears tina: sometime since.
President Lopez issued decree in contrsven-
ton Of this provision of the treaty. forbidding
the entrance of man Of war into the waters of
his government On the first of February last,
the United States steamer Water Witch. at
tempted to ascend the river Parana for the pur
pose of exploration and survey
In pursuance of these Instructions. Lieut.:
LETTERS sailed a. A NJ, February Is. and Al.
II passed the mouth Of the Paraguay. direct
ing his course to the Corrien,es side intending
! to pass between that shore and an island In
the middle of the river. At l.S0 the pilot
ran the vessel on a sand bank. opposite the
battery Of the Guardia Carracho, at the Paso
del Rey, where she was delaye ed an hour heav-
ing off.
During this time the Paraguans at the bat
terry were observed getting their guns ready;
consequently, the Water Witch was ready for
action. When raising the anchor, a canoe
which had been lying off observing her for
nearly an hour. came alongside and offered a
printed paper, which, after asking if 1t were ID
Spanish, the commander declined to receive
on the ground that he could not read it. The
same answer given by Lopez to the las. com
munication of Capt. Page.
At LEO the Water Witch was under way,
and the pilot was then directed TO steer SO as
10 pass through the main channel, which was
passed on the Paraguay side of the island
When nearly opposite the battery semi cir-
cular brick or red stone fort, mounting about
six guns. and at a distance of three hundred
yards she was hailed. which hail was neither
understood nor responded to, this shortly
followed by two blank cartridges. and then by
shot, which cut the wheel-ropes, disabled
the steering wheel, and MORALLY wounded the
man at the helm Lieut.. LETTERS then gave or
ders to fire in return. still continuing his
course up the river. The pilot. as soon as the
firing began, ran below, and was with difficult
ty got on deck again: and then, on looking
round, exclaimed that it was impossible TO
pass on. as there was not sufficient water In the
channel, the vessel then being in ten feet wa
ter. By this time she had passed all the fire
of the battery. except one gun. and to return
was compelled to repass it. The channel be-
ing too narrow to turn In, the Water Witch
was backed down stern foremost, exposed to
until beyond its reach.
1t is worthy of remark that no flag was dis
played at the battery, SO that in reality the ma
ton Of the enemy could only be conjectured.
The Water Witch was anchored short dis
lance below the fort. repaired the helm. and
returned to Corrientes. The Tacquart which
fired up during the action. dropped down to
the Guardia Cenito, but showed no inclination
TO come down beyond the protection of the
battery. The squadron and the encampment
of their army were in sight during this time.
The Paraguayans
have not escaped UNPUBLISHED for their temeri-
ty. A gun was dismounted, and at SO short
a distance the shrapnell shells and grape of the
Water Witch must have told with considera-
bic effect. 1t is not the fire of the battery. but
only want of water. want of knowledge on
the part of the pilot. which prevents the Wa
ter Witch from being now in the waters of the
Parana AN AMERICAN.