New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-01-26
CAPTURE OF FORT SAN CARLOS.

John johnson an intelligent Englishmaa, who went
10 Nicaragua in January 1885, in Capt. Farnhams
CON pany previous 10 which he had been residento
New-York City, has given US the following statement:
Since the latter end of May he has been on the River
Ban Juan entirely. lie first went to Castillo, where lie
Remained for time. From there he went to Sera-
pQu The day after he gOtthere he was taken sick with
the yellow fever, which lasted twelve days Then he
went back TO Castillo, where he stayed til the ls OF
September when he went to San Carlos, arriving
there on the I'd Of that month. He remained there
until taken prisoner on the 29th Of December by the
Costa Ricans. under the command Of Mr.. Spencer
The circumstances connected with the capture Of Fort
San Carlos he states to be substantially a, follows
The garrisen which consisted OF 81 men, was COM
handed by Capt. Kruger. The Fort was OF stone, and
had but single gun, 2i-pounder. The steamer Viz
gen, one Of the ne plying between Granada and Touro
Rapids point some IA miles below Fort San Carlos,
which is situated at the head Of the San Juan River
about two three miles from the lake, proceeded in
the latter part of December down to Touro Rapids
where hei crew were busy cutting wood for hcr USE
The garrison had been expecting her return for some
days. On the night of the Both Of December they
heard her usual signal when approaching the tort-a
whistle and answered it as usual with their big gun
Capt Kruger with three men went on board. They
found Mr. spencer tntrc WIN DctNoSH iVu anu ~VV
Costa Rican soldiers fully armed Orderly Sergeant
McMann informs us that he went on board the Virgen
nh the came time in e canoe. Mr.. Spencer informed
Capt Kruger that they held possession Of all the boat
On the river, and all the points below down to Grey
town, and he demanded the immediate Surrender of
Fort San Cailos. Capt. Kruger said that he. COM
manded the Fort and that should not be surrendered.
Mr. Spencer replied that if they did not surrender he
would give the signal and in two minutes blow every
man of them into eternity. They refused to allow the
Captain and his to go ashore, put allowed
him to send men Of their own accompanied by
Sergeant McMann TO tell the soldiers of the de-
mand made by the Costa Rioans. Mr.. McMann
states that he found the men unwliog TO
give up the Fort; they would rather fight if there
was the least chance Of success The second officer
answered that ii impossible. McMann then asked
the to help him to bring round the gun to bear on
the steamer but when that done he perceived that
il was quite useless as the enemy had landed, aud he
could see them on all sides, hslhidden in the grass.
So the men were called they all got into the boat and
went board the Virgen; only thirteen able at
this time to handle muskot. That night they were
kept on boat but next morning they were put on
bungo and cent down the river. Nobody sent
with them, and no provisions furnished them.
They had, however, few things with them. Ia
Their voyage down the river they attempted to land
ut Touro Rapids, but not allowed. They went
on to Castillo, twelve miles below arriving thege
about 10 o'clock at night. There also they were not
allowed to land; so they went down about mile to
the woodshed of Mr.. Hollnbeck, where they re-
manned till morning. Next day they proceeded to the
Maehuca Rspids, to Seropqui; they were not allowed
10 land there. They landed about seven miles belo~,
and on the following day they reached Pants Arenas.
The names Of the composing the garrison OF Fort
San Carlos, their condition and present situson are
as follow;
Cspt. Charles W. Kruger well, New.York; Orderly
Ssrgesns Henry j. McMsnn, welt, Nex-York; John
JobI son. vel, New York; Thomas Hogan, sick, New
Orleans; Daniel Kehoe. we'll, New rIeaas; John
McKeever sick, New. Orleans; Patrick Como
well, New. Orleans; Mslachish Haley, well, New
Yorh; Patrick Kane WELL Nes-Olieans; Thomas At.
ktnson, well, New-0he,Ds; Francis Adama. sick,
New Orleans; George Brown, vel. New York 40
sonio Ciak, well, New.0feaps; Toomas Cardigan
vel, New-fork Chsrlee COndit, well, Nes-0riesns;
Anthony kinch, sick, Nev-Yo:k; - Ffszee WELL
New Orleans james Horton, well, New-Orleans;
Lous Luderson, sick, Castillo; Francis Mccullough
vel, New Yorh; Vim. McCsnlcy we'll New. Orleans;
Dominic ODonoell, Nex-York; WIN. Lake, New
ORR ana: JCe. WRllaca New 0dasna