New-York daily tribune., 1857-04-17
CONFIRMATION OF THE TELEGRAPHIC
REPORTK

| 4 reliable and intelligent officer under Col LOCK-
ridge has given s general account Of the movements
on the San Juan River, mp TO the time OF the depart
| ure Of the Tennessee from Greytown
! After the retreat or repuse of Kansas Titus, CoL
Lookrdee mustered al bis available forces, consisting
Of from $50 10 300 men, and put them on board the
two stesmers Scott aud Rescue, together with the
sek-75 or 80 in number-snd got under weigh 10 80
mn the river and attack Castillo About miles below
the rapids is a place called Keleys Point or store;
and here most of the men were landed in order
10 tighten the draft Of the steamers, and
enable them to ascend the rapid, more easily. Two
eomps nies ef in charge at Keys, and the re-
msinder marched to point above the larger rapids,
where they again went on board the steamers, wh~h
proceeded at once toward Fort Castillo. The Fill
busters expected to find the Notifications in good
state of defense and well gasoned but they were MOI
prepared to find mpregnabe as far as the strength
Of their force was concerned. At the sight which
met their view there was spontaneous indulgence in
severe epthets and profane illusions. Some cursed
Col Titus for letting the opportunity of blowing the
Greasers" to certain place pass while others exc
Grated the Costa Ricans for showing much industry
and judgment.
A Aag waved defiance from Fort Castillo, and
water battery was discovered, which had sprung up
since Col. Titus last the place. Beside this, an
elevation known AZ Nelson's Hill, lower down the
same side Of the river, occupied by the enemy,
and strongly fortified. Altogether attack the two
positions was not likely to be attended with any sue
cess as furthermore the Costa Ricans appeared to be
in very strong force. In gloomy spirits then all turned
their faces down the rver according to command and
after another Decentralization, reached Keleys Point
From thence the steamers proceeded on and when
near Sarapqui bow ont the Shore to enable
Reconnaissance to be made Of that place. 80 as to see
whether the enemy had reoccupicd tit having been
dismantled and all the buildings burned, when Col.
Anderson moved up the river to join Lockridge.
While the Scott was lying in this position, terrible
explosion Of the boiler took place, instantly killing
from fifteen TO twenty persons and scaldng half
dozen more 30 severely that they have since died. At
least twenty five others were more less badly
scalded, bIA none of them fatally. Col. Frank Ander
son. Capt. Schlicht and other officers were slightly
scalded The explosion attributed to the impaired
condition Of the boiler and also the negligence of the
engineer, who among the number of those killed.
The Scott immediately began to sink but being aground
at her bow, only partially filed. Subsequently she
was scuttled by order of COL Lockridge, and hes
at the bottom of the river, a total wreck Her
cnery is believed TO be uninured, and may hereafter
be raised; but the boat itself is worthless.
After the accident the wounded and most of the sick
were placed on a large b1ngo and towed down 10
Greytown by the Rescue. Here they received the at
tentions of the various surgeons Of the British heet
who generously rendered their services TO relieve their
sufferngs. Col. Lockiidge was very busy preparing
to leave Greytown to join Walker Via Aspnwall,
when the Tennessee left. As the Commander OF the
British feet was the habit of giving chance to all
the fllibusters who within his reach to leave and
20 home it was thought the force of LockridSe would
be pretty thoroughly sied before he got away from
Greytown. While On the way down the river, after
retiring from Castillo Col Lockiidge sounded his men
on the subject Of following him TO join Walker and
could muster only 80 for that purpose. by the time
he i. ready to go hardly probable that half that
number in all, will prefer to pursue the dismal for
tunes of Walkers cause 10 taking free passage
home.