New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-09-17
| c o m m unicate ed. |

Edttors Crescent: In your issue sometime ago,
under the head Of " Interesting from Panama, - YOU
quote the answers Of Gen. Mora, Of Costa Rjca, to
questions put to him by Capt Thatcher, relative to
the forcible detention Of American citizens by the
Costa Rican authorities, on Lake Nicaragua, deny
ing, in toto, that any such were forciby detained
and that those in the service of Costa Bica on the
captured lake steamers were so employed of their
own free will and accord, and that none were de-
tined for any longer period than they chose or had
contracted for. As I one of those so detained to
the injury of my health and danger of life 1 beg
leave to offer few statements of facts contradictory
OF the above and to exhibit the in its true light
was serving on board the steamer San Carlos as
first officer under Capt Ericsson, on the Sd of Janu-
ary last when that steamer having several hundred
California passengers board bound for the United
States, was captured by the Costa Ricans, under
Spence, who informed the passengers that they
would be allowed to proceed.
guard was stationed on board, with orders not
to allow one of the officers or crew to leave.
This order was modified afterwards so much as to
allow Capt. Ericsson and Mr.. Brdsal, the Chief En-
glneer, to proceed as far Greytown, conditioned
that they would give their word of honor to return
from thence with Spence. This they did not, and
for the best reasons in the word-that they did not
intend to place themselves again in the hands of the
Costa Ricans. Capt. Bunker, Mr.. Harrington first
officer, and Mr.. Wise, Chief Engineer, of the La yr
gin came on board the San Carlos to obtain leave tc
proceed to Greyown, also. Capt Bunker was allowed
on the terms granted Capt Ericsson and Mr. Birdsal
leaving his trunk, clothes and money security fo
his return. None of the other applicants wer,
allowed-nor did Capt. Bunker return as stipulated
for.
! From this date up to the 9th of June in compap,
with Mr.. Masten, engineer, was forcibly detaine
as Captain, or sailing master, of the San Carlos a
were Mr. Harrington and Mr.. Wise on the La Virgin
A guard was constantly maintained over us, and al
our remonsrances against being detained wer,
unayailing. We were, at different times informed b,
the various Generals, Commandants and other off
Gals placed over us by Gen. Jose j. Nora that We
could not and would not be allowed to leave; for the
best and plainest in the world-that thev bad
no other persons in all Costa Rica or on the lake o
Nicaragua, competent to manage or handle the
steamer, and that if did not perform the service
/ peaceably, we should do it forcibly"
We were not allowed to correspond with any person
beyond the guard of the steamer either by letter or
otherwise nor were we released from this state of
bondage and servitude until Mr. Masten was allowed
to proceed to Greytown, in company with the super.
cargo of the San Carlos, David Murray, Jamaica
negro and aid-decamp to Gen. Canas, conditioned
that he would return to the lake again. While at
Greytown, Mr.. Masten obtained an interview with B
Squire Cottrell, ESQ., U. S. Commercial Agent who
furnished the necessary papers to procure our release
With these he returned to the lake. and on the Cd
of June the four American citizens referred to above
myself included, proceeded to Rivas to obtain an in
terview with Gen. Canas. 1t was finally agreed that
we should be released on the 9Th of June.
We had repeatedly refused to receive any pay, ORE
errng to consider ourselves forced into service anG
held as prisoners; but often as we did refuse we
ewere informed that any act of this kind would be
considered traitorous, and we would be shot The
money paid was in gold at the rate of Sl7 per ounce
which was worth but $l4 in New York. NV OWL
health has been seriously impaired by our conine
ment and treatment. The fact must be evident tc
any intelligent person. that the constant and valua
BILE service rendered by the steamers to the Costa
Ricans had to be performed" and that they had nc
Costa Ricans competent to perform it, and that re
sort to force proceeded from necessity and that nv
self and associates the victims of that necessity
And have yet too high an opinion of the yalue o
American citizenship and the character for veracjt
which it should bear, to believe that my statement
will go for nought against that of the highest official
of Costa Rica, or the race from which they spring.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
DAVID MCLEAN.