The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-08-27

Attempted Seizure Of the American Schooner
Flying Dnrt-The Incarceration Of MIR. A.
HI. Hnlstcd.

from the Alta California August IL
II will be remembered that about four months SINCE
published the fact of Mr. Halsteds arrest and impr
sonment by the authorities of Coma After an incarce
ration Of more than four months Mr. Hastcd was ber
ated the Intervention of Gen. Gasden United States
Minister at Mexico and reaching Manzanllo, was re
ceived on board the Nicaragua Steamship Companys
steamer Cores by Capt Burns and taking passage for
this city arrived here Wednesday. We have been
favored with visit from this gentleman who is son Of
ex-Chancellor Has.ed, Of Newark N j.. and who gives
the following interesting details of his adventures since
leaving this city, in addition to those published in the
Alta above mentioned
The schooner Flying Dart sailed from this port the
26th December 1854 for Manzanlo with the intention of
purchasing cargo of corn in the interior. Besides Mr.
A. H. Halsted there was Mr.. Peabody, who also had
interest in the schooner and her cargo They arrived at
8anzanlo the 14th of February, and were boarded
by the Custom House boat and the papers Of the vessel
found to be in accordance with the established rules and
commercial requirements. Mr. Halsted went on shore
and engaged in conversation with the Custom House
officer, who invited him to accompany him in his boat
After nquirng with regard to the prices OF in the
interior and the condition of the roads, the officer as
sured him that he could obtain all the corn he wanted
and advised him 10 proceed at once to Coma distance
of about seventyve miles and enter into negotiations
with merchants there Mr. Halsted made particular in
was assured that no trouble would ensue. He applied
for passport but the official politely replied that 1t
would be unnecessary none was reqarcd the Admin
strador was a muy Gen stjeo, &C. The officer in
erested himself in procuring animals and guide to IA
cilitate the movements Of the stranger.
Mr. Halsted somewhat surprised at the statement
Of the officer that passport was necessary but upon
his asserting with all vehemence that he could go to any
part Of the territory without Mr. Halsed proceeded on
his way, accompanied by single Indian boy for his
guide and servant He arrived at Colima over level
Of the German house OF schotz & Co.. to whom he had
letters of introduction from Mr. Oldmirc at Manzano,
he was kindly received and Hospitality entertained About
O'Clock that evening" while ersing in the house
with his host he arrested by order OF the General in
Chief Of the territory Of Coma on ponsa dc leon).
General where he explained to him the object of his VI
sit and the why he had passporthavng been
assured by the authorities at Manzanio that such do
cument unnecessary, and being refused one when
required by him. The General seemed hatisied and Mr.
Has,ed returned to his house. At O'Clock the fol-
lowing morning. however, no arrested again by An
tonic Moctema, Chief Of Police, and conducted TO the
cuartc and in to his repeated enquiries why he
was arrested he received but the very equiyoca
sponse = No hal cfdodo niandnd endrds $40 fbItdd"
This the only explanation he could obtain. After
few days. during which he left entirely alone with
out bedding clothing food except what he procured
by his own means, he was ordered before the supreme
Judge Rocha, and his declaration TAKEN after which he
returned to the jail and again left to provide for his
subsistence
On his first arrest Mr. Hasted surmised at once that
the object of the seizure Of his person was supposng him
to be the captain TO obtain possession Of the Flying Dart
which at anchor at the port, and with which they
designed replace the loss of Mexican schooner
which had been wrecked time before He imme-
diaely dispatched boy courier to Manzanillo with in
strucons to The captain TO get under way at once and
Off and the harbor and to send by the bearer
few articles Of clothing and money as he was In the
hands Of the authorities and would possibly be detained
and unable to transact business for several days He
added however, that the object of the arrest to seize
the schooner and advised the captain TO lose no time in
getting under way. Though closely guarded, Mr.. Hal
sed succeeded in getting the courier of who arrived at
Man7anio about hour before the government courier
who the bearer Of instructions TO the commandante
at the port to seize the schooner at once His failing to
effect this audable purpose so enraged the General in Co.
lima that he sentenced TO three years imprisonment
! which was afterwards cemmuted by Santa Anna.
Mr.. Peabody shore on the receipt Of the news
to make some arrangements in aid of Mr. Hasead, but
was arrested at and conducted to Coima, where
after rigid examination, he sent back to Manzani
10; but the schooner then gone, and it was only a
ter suffering the severcst pryaonsdestitutc Of cloth
ing and money-that he finally reached Acapulco, ruin
ed and dispired Here he forwarded the news to Go
Gadsdcn and after waiting for time In hopes of
obtaining some redress he proceeded to this port
where he is ruined and crushed by the infamous
| proceedings have above described.
Meantime Mr.. Halsted, not anticipating lengthy inn
prisonmen conscious of the great wrong which had
been done him, made constant applications for release
passed away without relief he finally addressed letter
through the house OF Schotz Go. to General Gadsden,
at Mexico who at once interested himself in the affair
He deaded the instant release Of the prisoner and in
Of several letters which he addressed to Mr. Hated
the subject, he says:'l have already interested
myself in your behalf upon decaration and have super
added remembrance and protest holding the Mexican
government responsible for the injuries they have done
you.n
MIR Halsted remained incarceraed all this time until
early in June Mr.. Foster American Consul at Manzanillo
arrived Colima, and through his Intervention the
liberty Of the city given the prisoner. He remained
in the place. under guard until the Goth of June when
| document Of release arrived from Mexico-procured
through the nsrumenality Of Gen. Gadsden The pri-
soner now demanded some explanation OF this treatment
but no reasons were given.
His release FASTENED by the rumor which had OBJ
tanned in the country that he had recently forwarded in
formation TO the United States government of these
abuses and that an order had issued from the Naval De-
partment directing the American squadron to proceed
the Mexican coast and demand the release Of all Ameri
can prisoners Mr.. Hascd states that in several in
stances American seanen are confined in Mexican prisons
along the coast whose Of the proper
addressing the United States Minister prevent their being
liberated. Their not known TO any American
foreign representatives. lie also heard that given
for his arrest that he might belong to the Al
yarcz party and had arrived Colma TO make recon
nosance oi the dccnces Of the place. The real object
how ever the seizure OF the schooner Gen Gads-
den says in OF his letters TO Mr. asted that though
he unfortunate in being arrested he peculiarly
lucky in saving the schooner which, when seized,
would have gone out of the hands of the Mexican
government until some summary process adopted
the part of the United States 10 force them TO deliver her
The matter has been taken gorously in hand bv the
United States Minister at Mexico, and trust that Mr..
Halsted will make such reclamation will teach the
Mexican government that, whatever intestine bros they
may be disposed to foment among themselves the pro
refy and liberty Of Americans must not be the less re-
srected. II only by touching the pockets Of the inn
povcrhed governments that hahua respect TO existing
treaties can be enforced. Among the numerous otters
and documents before In relation 10 this matter
have only room for the protest Of Mr. asted Of which
the following II copy
RIGA having been detained prisoner in the city of Coli
ma, Territory Of Colima, Republic Of Mexico by the gov
ernent and authorities OF said place for than four
months past do make this my solemn protest TO all and
every act abuse and detention from my legitimate bust
TO which have been subjected during time in
contravention of existing treaties between this and my
government holding the authorities Of this place toge
Their with the Supreme government in Mexico RESPONSE
BILE for all and every damage, loss abuse and detention
hereby protesting in my own and in the Of
my government as represented by the United States
Commercial Agent al this place.
UNID STATS COMMERCIAL Agent
CoIINA, June ~, 1855
Personally appeared before this day A. III. Hested,
known 20 me TO he the person represented and did enter
this his most solemn protest to which I have given
tho of this COMMERCIAL Agnunx tho day and rear