The Empire County argus., 1855-12-22
From AcaDuIcO.
The following is letter to the S. F. Chronicle,
signed Frank" and dated


signed Frank" and dated
ACAPULCO, Dec T. 1855.
EDITORS CHRONICLE: On the Sd inst. the Amer
lean bark Emily Banning, Capt. Thatcher came
into port You will recollect that some time ago a
long notice appeared in the New York Herald con-
cerning this vessel--the newly invented diving
bels-her destination in search of hidden treasure,
pearls, &C. Officers and crew all well. She has
been very successful.
fined in the castle here for the last two months,
were set at liberty on the Goth November The
following is the statement of Odell:
On the 10th May 1855, | left San Francisco, in
company with two brothers, by the name of Hen
derson, alias Borole on the P. M. steamship Sono-
ra for Acapulco, with the intention of going into
the interior, to work in the gold mines of that
country; which mines were represented by these
brothers to be very rich. Relying on those repre-
ing and doing well. We arrived at Acapulco on
the 23d of the same month, and left on the follow
ing day for the interior arriving at Chilpanclngo
on the 29th On the following morning, without a
why wherefore, was like felon cast into pris-
on--unable to speak the language, without single
friend to advise with, and knowing in my own
heart that had never wronged a human being in
all my life. | was here closely confined till the
18th August, when was as unceremoniously set
bu hNc y, anu VII lc IOl.OWlHS ulOrllLS udiH Cdou
into prison.
On the morning of the Goth August was brot
into the presence of Don Diego Alvarez From a
Frenchman who acted as interpreter, | learned,
for the first time the cause for which | had been
so long imprisoned. The former person read pa
per- which was interpreted to me- and which was
to the following effect: ' That | was knowing to,
and had considered in, q plot and contract entered
into by the brothers Borole with the Governor of
fnrt tbo dali Of+ +lo Il,
Of Gen. Alvarez, and that | had consented to re-
main as hostage, but not to be confined till they
had left the place. For the faithful performance
Of said duty, and in the event of their being sue
cessful, and upon the deliverance of either they
were to receive the sum of twelve thousand dol
lars"
On the hearing of this most cold -blooded murder
in intention if not in deed, my feelings were be-
yond any thing have ever experienced difficult
for another to imagine, and still more difficult for
me to describe Almost heart broken, and after
declaring my nnocense before God and upon bend
ed knees. | was agnin thrown into prison, where |
confined till the 10th of September, when |
was taken out, my arms pinioned behind me, and
in company with two Others ordered to march to
the castle of San Diego, Acapulco, where, after a
tedious tramp of twelve days, we arrived on the
ODD Nov. | was here confined with 25 lb. ball
and chain, and was ordered to work with criminals
of the blacklist dye cheek by iowl, till sickness
came to my assistance, and even then was obliged
to drag my almost-unableto-h old-together carcass
in the broing sun, with negro soldier over me to
obey his orders when it should suit his convenience
Nature under such treatment soon gave way, and,
at last fell to the ground senseless, when the
kind treatment shown me by DR.. Billings and 9th
er Americans, and his certificate of the danger of
my life came to my relief, and | was taken to my
dungeon in the hope to be taken from it corpse,
rather than be obliged to serve out my life as
had since my arrival at the Castle
Long did suffer in body and mind, and more
dead than alive was set at liberty on Monday
morning, the 9th of November A. D. 1855, hay
ing been held a prisoner by the Mexican Govern
ment, without any cause Or provocation whatever,
for five months and twenty eight days
The statement Of Thompson is Short he says
he has no right to claim protection as an American
citizen, from the simple fact of his having sworn
allegiance to Mexico and has been an officer under
Santa Anna for the last five years, and was such
at the surrender of Chilpancingo. He has, kowev-
er escaped and if he is to be believed there is no
danger OF his again desertng the stars and stripes
These brothers Borole have each the name of
4" Henderson" in India ink pricked upon their arm
One has the device of man or sailor with the
cross above it, and the other nothing but the sim
pie name with some stars, believe: and for one
hundred dollars they almost sold the life of COM
panion whom they had seduced from an honest
course OF life. They are known here, having been
confined IN the castle more than once; and am
collecting few items respecting them which
will forward to you soon.
believe that Odell is innocent I never saw a
more smpe-minded boy in all my life; while his
incapaciy and want of disposition to become asso-
clated in the crime charged upon him are stamped
in his face, manners and conversation