The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-06-22

exchange London, months, 10 10 "a; Paris,
mouths, 1854 Hamburg. months lax.
Most Singular Revelations.
TIE EXPLANATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT OF THs
PASSENGERS OF TIE ARCHIBALD GRACIE-THE TER
RIBLE ROMANCE OF REAL LIFE.
[From the New Orleans Delta, June IL.
Yesterday some passengers arrived in this city from
Vera Cruz, by the Texas, who have strange
story 10 tclla Of real life which the imagna
ton Of our novel writer's could never attempt 70 riva-a
record OF rcachery adventure and misfortune unsurpss
ed on land The names Of these gentlemen are f.
Wilson and John A. Cullen the former native Of Ken
lucky, we believe, and the latter of Virginia.
About months they left San Francisco with q
large number Of fellow passengers, on the Archibald
Oracle advertised to sail direct for Acapulco under the
command of Captain Dcnnis0n and thus formed portion
Of the company falsely represented bussers, enter
tanning designs Of conquest Southern California.
Our readers nre familiar with the arrest of that
company in La Paz, the imprisonment OF its men,
bers, and their being placed in irons by the Mex
lean authorities but nothing little better than nothing
known until the arrival OF the Texas of their subse
quent fate. Their statement which we suboin tells
quvocay the extraordinary history of their suherngs
to which do not pretend to have found clue. After
dreary imprisonment in Ia Paz they removed to
Guadalaara and subsequently imprisoned in Guanauat
from which six OF them escaped in the hope OF obtaining
satisfaction from the American authorities They travel
led under most distressing circumstances, having been
robbed of all their propcrtyshoeess pcnness and al
most nakcd-a dismal journey, indeed
According to their statement, Mr. Gadsden not only
failed 10 do them justice but neglected them altogether
well their unfortunate companions into whose souls
the Mexican iron is eating STILL We confess asonsh
at such apathy the part of minister of General
Gad-dens acknowledged ability but the whole affair is
as grimy grotesque and ancilu as one OF Arioso's
cantos.
IN Mexico however they found little charity outside
of the official headquarters and received the OF ten
dollars from lady who pticd their destitute and forlorn
condition Thence they started for Vera CruZ-al their
travel being fo0-wherc they arrived, after walking
about fifteen hundred miles, in time to be assisted by the
kindheartcd commander of the Texas who brought them
this CITY, The generosity OF the latter appears TO be in
marked contrast with the conduct of of our prOn
ha the poo. mSn s are Of now Nsw
duty to render them immediate and manful assistance
We tell this tale as was told to us, and subjon the
evidence Of its truth. more singular romance never
published and it is ncedfu for the sake OF the Ane
rcan citizens in prison. that it should be tested to the
bottom Spirit Of the British government with all your
shortcomings, your citizens are protected!
CRY or MEXICO May 10, 1866.
To Mr. JOHN BLACK resident Consul at the city Of Mexi-
co, acting for the United States Of America
We, the undersigned petitioners respectfully repre-
sent AS follows to wt-That We, and the fellow passen-
gers that represent all and each Of citizens OF
the United States and that each of us have had tempo
rary residence in the State OF California and that or
the I'd Of September, 1855, publications. appeared
the journals OF San Francisco both in the Eng
sh and Spanish languages stating that the bark Archi
OF Acapulco, and after recommending the good accom-
modations for passengers followed the name Of ~ Ter
man, AGENT
And that paid the passage money required, either
by ourselves by the aid OF friends and received each
separate ticket having knowledge Of each others in
cniions other than passengers other Of travel
from port to another. Aud that about the 9Th
day Of October 1855, We went aboard the bark Archi
ycrcd up exhibited tickets 70 the said j. German,
agent.
Archibald Oracle lowed the Francisco har
Dor by the steam tug Resoluc and from appearances, we
supposed ourselves sailing for the port of Acapulco
We further represent that the third fourth day after
leaving san Francisco certain gentleman named Capt
r. and stood upon the quarter deck, and pub
icy proclaimed that he the said Capt. Dcnson, had
been the owner OF the bark Archibald Oracle and that he
had sold her To the Mexican government negotiated by
General Alvarez through his agent at San Francisco and
that order make the sale, legal forms
~. At the same time number of gentlemen, not lees
than nine, than fourteen, came out in naval
uniform, the said j. German agent before named APP
pcaring admiral The gentlemen naval officers were
generally. if not all, foreigners, French, English and
Spanish and spoke in language not understood by
us CAPTAIN Dcnson then represented 10 us that these
were all commissioned officers belonging TO the
Mexican navy, and that it became necessary that the
forms Of changing flags should be gone through with The
said naval officers then lowered the American flag. and
hosted the Mexican flag during which time the cannon
discharged. At the time the gentleman named
Capt Denson stated to that the change of flags and
ownership Of the bark would not make any difference in
the rights Of the passengers
We further represent that about the eleventh day AFTER
leaving SON Francisco passed in sight OF Cape San
Lucas and that two days sail TO the southwark OF Cape
San Lucas, and the way to Acapulco, Capt Dcnson
etd publicly 10 the passengers that by miscacuation,
land known until this time the vessel was short OF
water and that Cape san Lucas the nearest port;
being calm, the captain requested that the passengers
would assist to tow, their safety and that Of the crew
required immediate attention and action The passen-
gers consented and did assist To tow the bark
back TO Cape San Lucas in two days. While at
the Cape Of San Lucas We were informed by the OIL
commanders Of the Oracle had chartered the whaler
Rebccra Adams at that port TO assist the Archibald Ora
Gle in accommodations and provisions IN her passage 70
Acapulco Capt Fleury, French sailing MASTER that
had commanded the Oracle from the port OF san Francis
to the Cape san Lucas, was with others sent aboard
the Rcbeeca Adams and Capt Denison became the sail
ing OF the Archibald Oracle. And again we sailed
the Cape Lucas, the 3lst Of October 1855, for
Acapulco 10 all appearances, and as were informed.
About two or three days sail from Cape Lucas, small
Mexican vessel named the Forde Mar met the Arch.
bald Oracle and Rebecca Adams Admiral German hailed
hnr ubnI art wit
OF the passengers learned from rumor that the A.
mral had chartered her; for what object we did
lean
About this time we were informed that the Admiral
had business Ia Paz, and that he was directing the
sails that way to The great dissatisfaction OF he pse en-,
gers account Of time We remained at sea nine or ten
DAYS nearly becanned on the 14th day of November,
1865 we were poted into the port of La Paz
About this time the commanders publicly stated 10 the
passengers that any went ashore while in port III
should carry any of the arms usually worn lahore
and that they should respect the rights Of the nabint
and take nothing without paying full compensation
therefor that complaints were often made on account OF
rudeness while in port Admiral German then wcnu
shore himself and left all three Of the vessels at anchor
in front Of the fort breastwork We remained at an
Choir the 14th, 18th and 10th TIL noon at which time
there three guns discharged from the fort or breast
work balls entering the bark Archibald Oracle, Kill
ing passenger and woundng another Capt Dtai-on
and the passengers made resistance; u white lag
was hosod and in three hours, six eight men,
military dress aboard and communicated with
Captain Dcnison all appearing secret 70 the passed.
gers. all Of whom remained ON the vessels 10 ~
18th about nine O'Clock in the morning Mt which time
about twenty Ave. Mexican soldiers came and took
the Oracle and Adams, and the passengers, and all
their effects, and the passengers were made prisoners
and kept in that barely sufficient to sup
port life in It's worst form, and in this miserable condition
we remained to the 9th day of December, during which
time all vauables either taken by the author
tee or left condition 10 be stolen destroyed;
that we never again obtained anything of property.
On the 9th Of December put in heavy irons put
aboard the vessels and in twenty four days in this
brutal condition. the lowest criminal allowance
rived at the port Of San Bias. From this port
marched under escort OF soldiers to Guadaaara dis
of $50 nilcaSpanish mlesand such as could not
senrcr had his head broken by the breach of soldiers
muskct February 9th, arrived in Guadaajara and re
NAMED IN prison till March IL, at which time we were
again marched to Guannjuao, distance of hun
drel leagues many without shoes, and nearly destitute
OF clothing and on allowance OF twenty five cents
Der div ON tho 21st OF March arrived in Guiana ua
TO- and remained in prison one MONTH and, on account a
the quarters heretofore occupied by the prisoners being
oceupcd by new recruits, many of the prisoners were
turned out permitted 10 partly al large part
" held in kind of beggarly suspense, without quarters
II