The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-05-22

OF PARAGUAY.
We have heretofore published the particulars Of the
conflict which took place between the American survey
ing steamer Water Witch and ttsfcrt Of Hapru the
river Parsns These particulars however, furnished
from United States point Of vision. We now give the
Paraguayan account of the Transaction in the form Of
report from the Commander in Chief Of the Army to the
President
To HIS ExcstLzScy THE PRRsDEST or THE RkpuBIic or
PARAGUAY
Your ExcEILEScY.Theu undersigned Colonel temporary
SOnor to 10 yous tb mas
Ming at II u O'Clock the American steamer Wa
ter Witch appeared passing the Parana by the Corrsn
mandant Of the fort Of tapru citizen Vicente Duarte
paid no attention to it, however, he observed that
point the persons board appeared to be occnped in
taking some dime psons and then she BY the
same common canal, to the highest point Of this en-
campms mt general of the Paso de Ia trs and almost
to the superior point OF the island of Caraya whence
she commenced to descend by the same canal to the
fandbank there shs took the route Which leads by the
said fort Of tapIu to this port Of the general encamp
ment.
when the commandsnt of Itapird saw the maneu-
vre he did not entertain doubt that the steamer
going to ascend by that mouth and he hastened
steamer that he could not b permitted to pass through
that canal BY virtue of the supreme decree OF the Sd Of
October last which caused to Be- presented to him.
the took the decree and then threw contemp
tuousy at the officer telling him that he had nothing to
do with the commandment of Itapru or with any Para
gusysn and that he going to ascend without troub
ling himself about such o decree.
Tie officer returned to give account to his superior
and the lister observing thai, in contenpt Of his
orders, the Water Witch continued ascending caused
three unsolicited guns to be fred in succession without
directing them upos tee vessel. This simply mere
formal warming to advance further In view of this
there loud shouts Of laughter ABOARD the steamer
continued with tho GOODNESS recommended him by
his instructions, and the steamer having come within
hang distance be ordered her three times to anchor.
seepg that ali these warpipaa unattended TO- and
that sarcasm continued on board he ordered load
pars in front of the bows without touching the hull
ths last demonstration Of moderation which could be
given The steamer was quick IN responding and guns
twelve The aggressors respecting the sure aim of our
aItlerts although they did not respect their peace
abe warnings ceased their fire entirely upon which
battery also CEASED firing the steamer remained at the
mercy of the current and of our pcope they had wish
ed to capture it, the vessel mechanically fell abaft car
Ccumander Duarte had the pleasure Of causing to be
respected tie dispositions of the supreme government
that uo ons Of the Sa Of the has
penetrated the enclosure of the fort All missed IT with
the exception OF she'll which struck the outer edge
of the wall ard, consequently, there killed or
wounded among our people. ! am assured that only
two SLOTS of the fort missed and that the .hoe side OF
the steamer and the poop received ten balls out Of the
twelvs fred With this very small number of balls,
the steamer has been much injured two boats
which carried deck fell p:ecss into the water the
whole framework Of one wheel was destroyed and she
appeared to have suffered somewhat in the machinery
at least one wheel csaied to revoye 1t is impossible to
calculate the loss which the vessel may have suffered in
her crew could all the loss which she suffered in
material have been seen from the battery what
tain that after having experienced the correctness Of
our guns the gubners on board had abandoned their
guns get under shelter Such has been the retreat
OF the Water Witch taking away lesson which It had
also communicate these notice. to the ssnor General
in chief who in the port of Hnmsits, on board
the Tacuar without being able to imagine that
which has just occurred Of Hapiru.
have the honor to flicitate your Excelepcy the
confidence with which this first essay Of our land ar
ry inspires u.s. ami to recommend to the consideration
of the suprt the valor aud enthusiasm of
the ccmmandant of apiru and OF the troops under his
command which have taken part in the action
God preserve your Excellsncy many years; po,,r,
GENERAL EscAMrEESr paso de la Patra, Feb /, 1855.
Tie Semcnd,io of the cd of February, alter publish.
ing the foregoing report ades:-
This new seaIcal on the part Of the scientific CON-
mission 10 that OF the SOth OF September
and might lead 20 bslisve that the people of the
Water Witch reckon upon theracs being approved We
understand thst government will direct itself
to that Of the unien 70 ask it to comply on its part with
intsInstiopal euties and usases.
has the following article upon this subject
CONFLICT WITH TIE WATER WITCH.
Our readers already ware Of the event Of ItapS
BY what fatality then has the North American steamer
Bile cor ict The mission the Water Witch is sclsn
tic ssior. Whether in the name of the governme at
OF the United States or in that Of particular society
its mission is one Of peace and progress. Why then
should it attemptto infringe measure, disposition
which The Of Paraguay in use Of its right
has esta bEhed n ths canal OF the Parana OPP
poste Itapiru Why did 1t want force that passage,
so icing the principal canal the Correntes side
When IL Hopkins question is still allve when he has
with what intention DO not now seek to anayze de-
sired 70 cause i to be believed that hatreds are enter
the Water Witch forgetting prudence and ao wirg him
self to be carried aSay by foolish arrogance, come to
give fuel to the flame and to compromise perhaps
the resolutions OF his government Is 1t always true
that the Cabinet of Washington has to its policy
hwsred by its agents. Their the banks Of the
ST Lawrence, in the Spanish Antilles, in Nicaragua, or
in Paraguay None can better than the North American
Unorhat nation so jealous OF it's independence that
haGn in whose breast the prescribed Of oher nations
core to find q new couptry-comprehend how In the
centre Of south America there exists another country
who respect her nights. Oh, we know wen how the
evnt OF Itapiru will be presented TO the eyes Of the
world. Already we read the columns Of the foreign
journalism which the conflict with the Water Wit:h ia
rerrated in en- untrue manner 1t will be said that
vessel engaged in scientific operations the moment in
rama at the very instant in which the typographical po
stion OF this that point being determined, has
been attacked and impIilled BY horde Of sayages Al.
IS benighted and untnghtened country; that in it
everything pertaining to science and prosress Is perse
that il dsses no communication except with the Wild
beasts OF the desert, Certainly this will be the least that
will be said OF us-spd al for what Because, through
fcolsh petulance and through desire to aid perhaps
the interests of compatrot in his private quarrels with
ter Witch the within ascending through the waters
CT the canal OF Paraguay, deepsng all the
ines OF the commandment OF the fort Of Itapiru.
We told that, Notwithstanding the fort ceased
flirg Immediately, as conformable to its old or.
GERS its only object to prevent the passage, and
not to Fave any hostility with the vessel; still, the
Water Witch had two men wounded, who afterwards
eied arriving at Corrcntes This alamentabls fact,
and one whose responsibility weighs in . very grave
The commspdant of the steamship, " no did
all that lay in his po tmake the result douby Gala
mitous Indeed Of the proectiles which from the
STEAMER, although they did not occasion damage,
tal fell within The enclosure Of the battery ball
struck the fsgsa rebounding into the river, and
other gIazsd the round of the wall Fortunately thanks
due to the moderate conduct Of the OF
the fort Ton Vicente Duarte who, although he might,
cid not sink seize the Water Witch, which, II appears,
has continued its operations in the lover waters.
The Paisguayan steamer Jscuari was in Hamata dur
ing the strife and arrived Cerrit, at the very mo.
mentin which the Water Witch cruising from the
Escspsde at double gun distance and certainly nothing