The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-07-17

Nicaragua I'm January-Protest Against the
seszue-Fuii Details by Oniccrs of the
st<smsrs-Outrsge American Citizens.
We have the suboned interesting information
relative to the seizure and OBTAINING Of the lake steamers
La Virgin and San Carlos, belonging TO the Nicaragua
Transit Company, in January Last from two ocsrs Of
thoee boats-Ar VIM. ". Wise, chief eng Of La vr
en and David Mclean captain the San Carlos raese
gentlemen returned the Emoire City last Monday.
They been in the Of the Transit Company for
years on Lake Nicaragua Their bosts we're taxed
possession Of by the Costa Reans and kept their service
for i've months, when the officers wore discharged esv
their boats the lake to be used by the Costa Rcsns
In future, they beet How eHeetualy they can
mage the will be by Of the statements
Of Captain Mclean
During the time Of their detention BY the COSTA Ricans
the officers of the steamers compelled convey
troops and munitions Of various points lake.
81 the peril Of their lives. Fer this involuntary
they received iserabe pay, which they deem entirely
Inadequate They reused accept any but
compelled TO take and sign receipts for the
the point Of The bayonet.
The steamers seized by Sylvester NJ Spencer,
he stated under the direction Of Mr.. Cornelius Vanderbilt
and by the authority handed to the Costa
Rcau government The following the statement of Mr.
Engineer WISE
STATEMENT OF WILLIAM w. WISE, cHIEF KNaINEBR
OF THE STEAMER LA VIRGIN.
On The 9th Of December last the troops OF Costa Rca
under the command Of American named Sylvester N.
spencer seized the steamer La Virgin the property OF the
Nicaragua Transit Company, then plying Lake Ncara
qua and commanded by Captain Thomas Bunker Spencer
declared that he seized the steamer In the Of Corne
lies Vanderbilt and at the time promised to let
60 down the San Juan river few days, and return
the United States On the Goth, no wcver Captain (u,w
CooneD Couty, an Engshman, who was len In command
by spencer, posted up notice on board 70 tia effect that
the officers and mutt deliver up ali their arm, and
ammunition 10 the government Of Costa Rcs and II they
ad not they would be taken by force conhsca.ed on
ne same dav Couty tore up two American ensigns, the
properly OF Mr. Wheeler the nerican Minister and made
Costa kcan flags out OF them On the 3th Spencer re-
turned with more troops, and compelled me to get up
force Of Walkers men then stationed. Captain Bun.
ker, Of La Virgin probably through fear the
sary Signals TO the fort The commander Of the fort
then boarded US with SIX men, usual, when they
made prisoners and he fort surrendered Capt Bun
ker then gave the Costa Rlcans signals by which the
steamer San Carlos could be stopped and taken also
she the Lake with the California sengers
When she arrived on the Sd of January and Isaac HAr
rpgton went board and asked spencer redee his
promee OF permission to 60 down the He answered
that not id one should STIR and ordered ba TX to
La Virgin, where guard OF thirty soldiers 3fpaced
river together The next day Couty ordered take
the steamer to Fort san Carlos. told him en-.
gagged by the Transit Company and would not work for
Costa RI "a Any other Power He answered that was
prisoner, and that he would compel to the
steamer. claimed 20 be an American citizen, and said
,uld hold Costa Rca responsible damages for
my imprisonment to which he replied that as the defea,
OF Walker depended the stea Costa RIGA would
willingly pay me any damages but az the steamer would
be of no use 10 them without me, should obey.
Orders left with the soldiers to allow OF
ashore and the following notice p,sted up the
sell
That person OF the amy whether foreigner
q s he s be- o @
out mercy and all persons are Obliged 70 Assist ia ae
not comply With JOSE NOR Comnonder IN csis, 40
Spies placed on the vessel 70 convey Gen.
every word spoken by the crew.
While crossing the Lake the Goth, Couty arrested
Captain Harrington and kept him In condne until they
to Ometepec island but subsequently, srnng ,ha, ho
without sufficient cause released him and
On the Cd Of February while running or Virgin Bay,
the captain and myself were suddenly surrounded by
officers and soldiers Of Costa Rca, while at places OF
rifles cooked and fxed bayopets-and my nquirng OF
the officers what the meaning Of their tming In the
engine room In such manner he said that Gen. Mera
had sent him and his party there and whea Gen Mora
gave the signal he was to kill me and throw me
SverSosrd They rsD, lined there shor! time when
On the 9th Of February Captain Harrington and
myself went 70 General Nora for our passports to
We were answered with curses. Orders were given to
the commandant that any Of attempted leave the
verpmen Of Costa cs TO run Us through with his sword
and throw n overheard and that he Gen Mora would
Il Ike the responsibility.
on the 9Th o. March, Cap, Mahouey, with bis wife and
child, and John vredenburg and VIM 8r6, officers OF tho
e amer Ogden their way 70 the States via Tortuga
came aboard Ia yirgin and Capt Harrington myself
were forbid den to hold any communication with them or
send any letters to our friends At home.
After the treaty made with Capt Davis had been signed
eveveral applications Z, Generals Nors and Cauas
for release, but without effect We Capt Davis
at Rvas, when went TO Gen. Canas and he told
formed by the Costa Rican gsneras We were serving
them voluntarily On assuring him that such the
pent-he said that he going to sail for Panama In
few Gays and he would see the commodore commanding
that station, and wo would not he forgotten. Asr
waiting until the 22d OF May 10 hear from Commander
Davis, We then went to Rvas TO Cen Canss asked
him for passports, but refusei. On the LIST Of
June again Cauas, asked for our pas.
ports He gave Cart Harrington q passport but would
not ri ye He said that he going TO lay the
steamer La Virgin up and he wanted mo 70 remain oa
board take Of the boat and engine On the "a OF
Jupe went again TO Rivs TO see Gen Canas, having
duplicate OF document that the United States
"a General Capas requesting my release, but received
satisfaction. On the 9Th On June told by Jamaica
that could 90 on. cf the country. accordingly went on
hoard the steamer san Carlos aud the morning Of he
6,h arrived For! san Carlos The force stationed ths,
place came board Of the and arrested me-
thofe and confined in the FORT by the orders OF
David hurry. After keeping under arrest for six
hours they LEI me 60, and por nit TO pass down
the San Juan river then left for Greytog n in canoe
belonging Capt David Mclean OF the steamer san Oar
los in company with Cap, Mclean Cap; Harrington and
NJ l.. Mastep, engineer Of the steamer saa Carlos.
We had PADDLE hundred thirty six miles before
we could get out Of the power Of the costa Rcanss dis
lance which npshed In about twenty eight
Upon arrival the Office Of the Transit Company a,
Punts Arenas Col Couy came ashore from the steamer
Ogden and demanded to discharges from the
lake steamers. We sbow him American passports
but told him that hal discharges. Hs imnedia ely
ordered file Of soldiers from the Ogden and nptei 10
u.s. and send back 10 the lake In this GER
tsny would have succeeded had not strong protest
made BY the inha ,ans against landing armed force
a the Point which agrant violation OF the treale.
20 which Ccuty himself bad been a Marty.
may be necessary to add that protest was enierei
by Mr. Wise and bis friends sgaint the seizure Of the
and their personal detcnton oy force IN the
service OF Costa Rcs before the United States Commercial
Agent Of Punta Arenas, Mr.. B. Squire Coitre.
STATEMENT OF CAPTAIN MBEAs.
was mate Of the Trans, Companys steamer san Car.
los the 3D. Of January last and crossing Lake Mica
rssua with the California passengers, whom, a. We sp.
preached For, San Carlos, with two came
alongside and informed that all right the fort,