The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-01-11

CItu-WALKEkS ADVENTURES IN MORAL, FL
NANtIAL AND MILITARY POINT OF yIEw-uow HK
Must AND WHY HIN SHOULD PAIL.
lrc n u 4 GsoetA o. t-u Sten ala OF June. 1855
The plague Of flibusterism which to-day, is sf
fic'fng Nicaragua and is threatening the other
States Of Central America is neither ne phenome-
non IN these tries, nor an evil unknown to our
tcrefstners.
Wbosoever has taken an interest in perusing our
old chronicles, paid the least attention to
ditons, such as have been transmitted orally re-
membranes Of past tunes. Well know that the
coasts Of Nicaragua and Costa Rica as well as those
Of Panama ana even the inland cities, have, at times,
been disturbed by piraical lnvasions which spread
terror and CONSERVATION among the Inhabitants OF
those usually peaceabe countries. Walker is not
the first ADVENTURE VII, frightened the population
of Nicaragua: Others much more daring than
he have pOrsue1 this course with more or less sue
cess. according 10 circumstances The present chief
of fhusers therefore, has merit of originality,
for strictly speaking, be must be considered only as
kind OF pigiary of the Morgans, the Charpes, and
others less know,
The vast possessions of Spain on the American
oontnent could not easily be defended, their extend
ed shores bathed by the Caribbean and the Pac
hc ocean being almost entirely laid open to any at
tack. On some important military points like Car
thagera Omoe sud Others there were Notifications,
but the extensive coast liue necessarily left
protected. To this cir nuisance it is, perhaps, to
lie attributed that the Spanards for the most part,
founded their principal cites in the interior; for,
Otherwise, they would have been exposed. not only
TO the aggressions Of corsars and pra'es who, es-
pecially in the midst OF toe seventeenth century,
forces of the different nations with whom Spain
was then frequently al
An ancient writer Of the history of those coun-
tries, who is often cited BY those who have occupied
themselves with the history of that period anterior
to independence (Alcedo), thus describes the ad
venturers who, during the year 1860, invaded the
Spanish establishments III that part OF the world
"Filibusters those cor:alrs are called, or rather
pirates who belonging 10 All nations. established
themselves under the name of buccaneers on the
island of SantO Domingo. Some of them who were
not conented with that life 10 rue number OF forty
or fifty, bought boat AMI elected commander,
with whom they went 10 70 rob and plumber
whatever vessel they might meet with. On account
of their facilities for efoSinr rich, and OF their
Liberty to indulge in al kim of the most abomi-
nabe vices, their nun ger creased considerably
and having become asters + the small island OF
Tortuga and OF some large boats they began to
attack the ports and coasts OF tue Spaniards, COM
hitting the greatest atrocities
We find in our own history of that period that
in the year 1911, shen afCr the cd city Of Panama
having been taken and burnt the pirates were pre-
pairing to invade with their ships the coasts OF Mica
iagua and Costa Rcs forces sere gathered to defend
them, and that Guatemala also sent her aid
In the years 1851 and 1856, the pirates under the
command OF the Frepch adyenturer, Charpe, entered
the port of Cslders sacked and burned the city of
Esparza in Costa Rics. and carried away as prison
ers great many persons whom, for ransom OF
81 GOO, they put again ashore
According TO the same writer, the city OF Leon,
capital of the province OF Nicaragua. was pundered
in the year 1885, by band Of pirates, almost in the
it. The port OF Realejo was frequently attacked
by such dangerous guests.
II is no, the first time that Granada to-day the
headquarters of adyenturers not less ierocous than
those of the seventeenth century has been invaded
by foreign pirates II may be interesting TO learn
that Sergeant Major ID. Geronimo de la Vega La
Cayo, reported IN the year 1859, IN this respect TO
the King of SPAIN
This city could to-day be one of the most opu-
lent Of the province but for having been plundered
three times twice 10y way Of the river San Juan,
and another time by the way Escalante, port stu
ated at a distance Of twenty leagues, on the Pacific
ocean. On the 9TH of April. 1855, small nus ber
OF English and French, amounting to no more than
400, disembsrked there. Tie Spsniards, being APP
pred of the fact prepared TO defend themselves by
erecting on the plaza az intrenchment in the form
of a square, armed with fourteen carnop and six
swivel guns. At two o'clock in the afternoon of the
9th, the enemy, by a forced march, approached the
place, and, after short fight, carried it. On the
following day he proposed b. the Inhabitants to set
them free for ransom or in case OF REFUSAL to fire
their town. Tbey, believing IL 10 be mere threat,
acceded only 70 the proposition when they saw the
oturch Of San Francisco srd eight dwelling houses
set fire. The enemy. after having done this mis-
Chief. retired with the loss OF but thirteen men,"
The 18th October OF 1855 reminds US to a certain
degree Of the 9th April OF 1885, but to-day circun-
stances are very different from what they were at
that time. The four urdrei pirates who then at
tackled Granada did 10 other harm than what has
been stated ard retired satisfied with the ransom
which the frightened Inhabitants were obliged -
pay. To-day the nlibusters not content with 20
little. \ treaty Of surrender which puts al at the
discretion of the adventures is the prize, well as
the lives anc property Of the principal Inhabitants,
and tue pirates stu masters Of country which,
in tie midst Of the nineteenth century, displays less
elements Of resistance than il was in possession OF at
The close OF the sevenseen,h-a strange contrast
ard ht to provoke painful reflections
Neither was Honduras spared the s,ourge Of
piracy; for Tuxilo aud Olai cho, IN the year 1858,
were attacked and pundered by adyenturers, who
carried away the Governor aud otner persons, for
whose liberty they received II ransom OF five thou
sand dollars
Lastly, Gustemala itself wa ON the point OF being
threatened with an invasion ny the pirates for az
ter having attacked the port Raale" ana the city
Of Leon in the year 1885, thoy INTENDED TO
the capital of the kog1om. ,utering 10y the bar Of
Iztapan. AS soon as this was known, mea ures OF
defence were taken. by converting Escuintla into
depot OF arms, and assembling there, besides the
military forces OF the district three companies Of
the city Of Guatemala and i've Of the valley.
Moreover, Spain, at the time was not left alone
in the Of pursuing and destroying the pirates
who in tested her establishments. We know by our
ancient history that England and France did not see
with indifference those scandalous violations Of inter
national law, but quite the contrary, contributed Elf
cacously by their naval forces TO fee the sea from
the pirates who caused such serious damages.
The Duke Of Albems-le, Governor Of Jamaica, re
ceived from the British eover1lent special com
mission 70 pursue the pirates and discharged himself
OF II in so efficient that he ordered what
ever flibusters fell into his hands 70 be hanged-a
measure which insured tranquility 20 the ports and
coasts Of Spanish America, and did great honor to
the Duke, who died IN 1883. The Count OF BIenae,
Governor OF SsnO Domin 70 10 the year IVA by his
energetic measures forced the pirates 20 give up
their dangerous trade entirely.
Thus closed the first epoch Of flibusterism In
Central America, TO resppear two hundred years
later, almost on the same points &c II did the
first time and under circumstances somewhat Gnalo.
gOus {, those which accompanied these daring enter
prses AZ the end of the 18th century. but the
confirmation Of this kind Of piracy in Contra, America
requires separate article.
From thf ,ame paDv
A. We remarked In the foregoing article, there Il
certain analogy between the respective characters
Of those pirstica expeditions against Central Ame
RIGA which took place at the close OF the seventeenth
censury, and those going on in our orn time. Now,
as then, IL IS the adventurous spirit which gives the
impulse 70 this kind Of enterprise: it, last object be-
ing no other than % procure 10 the adventures
tam advantages. There " in reality political,
MOI al cor religious principle which inspires those