The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-05-03

THREATENED SEIZURE OF THE STEAMSHIP
CoRTEs- SINGULAR SCENE AT SAN JUAN DEL
SuR.-Letters have been received here from
Captain Collins, the master of the Accessory
Transit Company's steamer Cortes, which yes
sci arrived at San Juan del Sur, with number
of passengers and $4,000 in gold, on the
first Of April. The Cortes had also on board
the junior Mr.. Garrison, with about $4,000 for
General Walker. She had been boarded up
the coast by Mr.. Cross, who was sent out for
that purpose by Mr. G. Vanderbilt, and by Mr..
Cross the master of the Cortes was made &C.
quainted with the state Of affairs between the
company and the government of Nicaragua.
Captain Collins chose an anchorage from
which he could easily slip, and was boarded
Immediately by four men, who represented
that they were Walkers officers, and that they
came to seize the ship, and that they were
supported by force of one hundred men sent
by Walker for the purpose. The Captain con-
sented with good grace, and invited his guests
to the cabin, where they ate, drank and were
merry. Leaving them with an unlimited cup
ply Of champagne, Captain Collins went on
deck, quietly slipped his cables, and the steam
er dritted gently out Of the harbor with the
ebb tide.
There we're three other vessels in port at the
same time-the ship Daylight, Wilson, master;
ship Continent, Gibbs, master, and Califor-
mia packet. They we're all loaded with coal,
and the Walker men told the master of the
Cortes that they were only waiting for them to
discharge to seize them. Captain Collins &C
cordingly took the Daylight and the other
vessels in tow, and they all drifted out toge-
ther. When the champagne drinkers found out
what was going on over their heads the Cortes
was on the high seas, and the master let them
know that he was in command. The Cortes
thus carried of Garrisons $4,000, and the men
representing themselves to be Walkers agents,
and all the recruits who came down to join
Walker. He believes it to have been Walkers
intention to seize the ship and treasure on ac-
count Of the company's debt. The company
would then have been responsible, as common
carriers, to the owners of the treasure here.
After getting to sea the Cortes parted company
with the Contin ent and the California packet,
and ran down to small port near by, where
the steamer was coaled from the Daylight. The
Cortes then, with the Daylight in tow, pro-
ceeded to Panama, where she arrived on the
9th. Garrison arrived in pursuit of his money
at about the same time, having taken schooner
at San Juan.
Letters received by the Transit Company
here say that Col. P. Il. French quarrelled with
General Walker on account Of the summary
of the latter in regard to the
Transit Company that Colonel French has,
however, become reconciled, and is now on his
way from New Orleans, with power from Gen.
Walker to reinstate the Transit Company in
all their rights on the Isthmus-Aorgan and
Garrison having been unable to keep the route
open.
We desire to have it distinctly understood
that the above statements are er parte, and are
not endorsed by US. They came to US, no wever,
from very good authority.