Mariposa Democrat., 1857-05-20
Wariposa 9emotrat.
WEDNESDAY MORNING ......MAY go.
ARRIVAL OF TIE JOHN /. STEPHENS.
Important News from Nicaragua.
PARTICULARS OF THE L0CKRIDGE EXPEDI-
TI0N TO CASTILLO.
THE ARMY DIsBANDED AND DIsARMED.

BY the arrival of the Panama steamer John
l.. Stephens at San Francisco, on Sunday eve
ming last we are placed in possession of very
important news from Nicaragua, which we pub
lish in full. Our Atlantic advices are unim-
portant and crowded out to make room for
the exciting intelligence from Walkers troops
The news is taken from the Panama Star and
Herald:
We are enabled to-day to lay before our
readers detailed account of the events that
have lately transpired on the San Juan river
for which we are indebted to Mr.. A. G. HILL Of
Gonzales, Texas, who held the rank of Adju-
tant in the expedition, and came down to AS
pinwal in II. b. Ms ship Cossack.
Mr.. Hill furnished us with the facts, dates
and names from memoranda made in his note
book at the time Of the occurrences, and we
have every reason to believe that the following
statements are strictly correct:
On the 25th of March, the expedition com
manded by Col. Lockridge, consisting of 400
and odd men, arrived at the Machuca rapids in
the steamers j. n. Scott and Rescue Here the
men were landed and marched round the ra-
pids whilst next day the Rescue was forced
over them, and the Scott anchored below, as a
reserve BY the 2Sth they had advanced with
in three miles of the Castillo rapids, and spent
the night on the banks of the river opposite an
island, and in view of the fort. On Sunday,
the 20th, further advance of mile and half
was made, and carly on Monday morning the
whole force was again in march, the Texan
company, under the command Of Col. Lock-
ridge, in advance, the intention being to occu-
by position called Nelson Hill, and to attack
the fort at Castillo. About two o'clock in the
afternoon, they had advanced to within pistol
shot of the Costa Rican outposts, where they
could distinctly see the men cutting down the
trees, for the purpose Of erecting barricades,
and clearing away the underwood. The enemy
did not appear to be aware of their presence,
the men laughing and shouting as they worked,
and the sentries not maDfesting any particular
vigilance at their posts. About an hour before
sundown council of war was held, consisting
of Col Lockridge Gen. Wheat, Col. Anderson,
Major Capers, Major Monday, Captain Walker,
and others, at which il was discussed whether
the fort should be attacked. This council lasted
for some time, but our informant was not able
to furnish the particulars, further than the fact
that many of the members insisted on Colonel
Lockridge giving the first vote; whether this
was done or not, he could not state, but shortly
afterwards he was dispatched with orders TO
Col. Doubleday, who commanded the rear
guard, to take up the line Of retreat back to
camp.
On the morning of the 8 1st, the main body
of the army started back, and at the Machuca
Rapids, Lockridge made an appeal to the men,
asking for volunteers to join him in an attempt
to force his way by land to Walker, or to make
diversion in his favor by ascending the Ser-
pique and carrying the war into Costa Rica.
About one hundred men responded to his call,
and they embarked on board the Scott, TO-
gether with the sick and wounded, and one
lady) intending to land at Seripique point and
then send on the Scott to GreytCwn.
On the I'd of April, about nine o'clock in the
morning, when about two miles above Seri-
pique, and whilst the Scott was heading up the
stream to land the men for breakfast on asmall
island, Just as her bow touched the shore, and
before more than few men had jumped on
shore, the steamers boiler burst with terrific
explosion, shattering the boat to pieces, and
blowing many of the men for considerable
distance into the water. The following is list
of the killed Major W. Morris, Capts. Slate
and Conklin, Lieut.. Ylogcr, N. N. Beideman,
j. Burlington, C. York, j. l.. Fewell, Joe Muir
ray, w. Edmondson, G. S. Thomas, j. Wilson,
r. Higgins.
Besides whom the following were severely
wounded: Col. F. Anderson, Lieut.. Col. Dou.
bleday, Capts M. French and harrington,
Leuts. j. A. Sistere and Mulholland @. Ken
ncdy, +. Crawford, A. Bailey, E. Baker, j
Rooney, and eighteen others slightly injured
The wounded and sick, who were in the
stern of the boat, escaped uninjured, as did
also the lady passenger.
AT a court of inquiry subsequently held to
examine into the cause of the accident, it was
proved that some days previously, one of the
crown-plates Of the boiler had cracked, owing
to the water having been allowed to get too
low, and it had been temporarily repaired by
the engineer.