New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-08-19
STATEMENT OF ONE OF THE DESERrERs.


STATEMENT OF ONE OF THE DESERTERS.
Mr.. VIM. Sterling Of Ohio says that owing, TO i'll
treatment from officers and the utter disregard mani
tested by Gen. Walker for the wants Of his men, the
desertons became very numerous during the latter
part of March ard the first of April. Walkers
amy at this time, entirely surrounded by the
Costa Ricans at Rivas. The plantain groves in the
suburbs of Rivas were at this time the scenes of
most of the skirmishes between Walkers men
and the Costa RcaIs. Some Of Walkers sol
DIES, driven almost to desperation by hunger, fri
auen,ly risked their lives in going to these
groves to secure the pantan for food, aud
many who asked and obtained permission to 80 on
this Grand embraced the opportunity to desert to the
camp of the Costa Ricsns. Those who deserted were
uniformly well treated by the Costs Ricans, who fur.
nished them with money and rasions and placed them
upter no restrictions whatever. permitting all who
were issatsfed with the change TO return te Walk
ers camp at theic pleasure. y few OF the men re-
turned but after informing their comrades OF how
we'll they were used by the Costa Ricans. they almost
invariably deserted again. and for good taking, in
most instances some of their comrades with them.
The lumber of des erters finally became numerous,
that the Costa Ricons began 10 think that would be
IN sae to allow them 10 remain there any longer and
one fine morning the steamer San Carlos
was brought opposite San George and
the deserers politely invited on board to take
After getting them on board the steamer proceeded
| down the Lake 10 Tottugas, from which point the
| Costa Rcaps had cut road to the interior OF the
State Here they were landed. The line OF the road
Law in ard along small creek, and was extremely
rough ard rocky and the first 10 or II miles was made
with much difficulty by the lame ard pare footed de
serters The San Carlos, at tie time she brought the
deselters down the Lake, also had on board about 30
sick and wounded Costa Rican soldiers, who accou-
panied the deserers march Of about 20 miles was
| made the fret day. aud rancho aifording
abundant paSturage for the mules and horses was the
fist ercamYment. 1heywere not, however permitted
70 stay here all night the march being resumed at
midnight and reached Laberis distance Of ID miles,
| about neon on the following day, where they found
the inhabitants celebrating mass in honor OF victory
that they expected their army would that day achieve
over Walkers forces at Ryas that being the day ap'
poll ted for the Stormipg of the latter place but which,
It will be reoollected resulted in repulse with a
heavy ,oss At Labtiia the deserers were furnished
with erked beef and riscoche com bread ana az ain
resumed the march for Balsang Point that being the
pace of eubarkation for Punta Arenas, where they
expt cted 10 find boats in waiting. In this, however.
they were disappoirted The boats were not there,
ana they compelled TO remain for three eks be-
fore tbey were taken away. During this time the
suffered extremely for food being forced TO ubsst pu-
cipsly upon pantsps-occasionaly having scanty
| meal of fresh beef. After enduring nuch hardship
boats finally came to their relief, and they were
safely conveyed TO Punta Arenas, from which point
they bad been promised and expected 20 embark for
hone by the next steamer. But in this they were
doomed
shared by about 10 deselttrs, who had preceded
them The steamer arrived in abont 10 days, and
after touching proceeded up the coast She WAS ex-
pectt back five days, and the fondest hopes were
irduged that their suffering soourn in land where
not the Of life could be obtained would
then be at an end; but again were they subjected
TO disappointment, for before the steamer returned,
they were marched of by the Costa Rican officers to
San Jose, distance of 60 miles, upon the pretense
that they were to be sent home BY way of San JUAN
The excuse made for this change in the programme
was that the steamer the Panama charged more for
their passage than the Government were willing to
nav but they were assured that they would not be
long detained.
The march 70 SAP Jose was devoid Of Incidents
worthy of MENTION the roads being smooth, penti.
full supply of provisions, and the march Compare
lively pleasant one. Upon their arrival at this place
they were qusrtered in the State Prison, an psuion
which was infested with enormous feas, aud yermio
Of every description The private citizens Of San
jose were e hSsRdGe TOWARD Dd fh hT na@ialts
as il was in their power to provide. While here, the
men were paid % cents a day BY the Government,
with which to procure their rations Those who were
well and sbe TO work increased their Income by per-
forming various kinds of labor, receiving from II,
cent, TO Al 50 per day The most Of them found EN-
ployne1t on the haciendas in the vicinity Of the city
while others were engaged IN house painting.
There was comparatively little sickness among them
here there being but three Deaths and the stay was
endured with good degree Of patience until the ljtn
Of July at which time ORDER were received to marcn
to Aiwaer. At this place ratons were provided ior
The march to San Juan del Norte, which, from
mismanagemtIt on the part Of the government Off.
GERS, proved to be a tedious undertaking Tor men
in their condition and much suffering was expenesced.
Two died upon the route-ope rom ieYef anu the
other from Injuries received in falling upon snag.
At San Juan del Norte they remained two weeks,
without any unusual occmrence, when they were en-
barked for home on board OF the Tennessee.
INCIDENTS IN THE PARK.
II. y...gs,c fnst a Dark