Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1857-04-20

LATER >uCARAGVa
DREADFUL STEAMBOAT EXPLOSION ON
TIE SAN JUAN RIVER

/ - ne steamer enhesSee arrived at New YORK.
! Thursday morning having left Aspinwal on the
evening of the 18th inst. Col. Lecklilge advanc-
ed on Castillo on the 2Sth ut., with 300 men, ON
board the steamers Rescue and Scott He found
! the enemy had fortified Wilson's Hill $50 yards
IN rear nt the Castillo. with strong reastworks,
bitches, several large gun, and 800 men. He re
treated without makingau attack and DESTROYED all
| the fortlheailons below Castillo. abandoning all
hope OF opening the river lie disbauded the two
hattaIlons Of recruits, aud formed another from
those who were willing Ia 90 to Walker via Pan.
anna. The new York journal of Commerce, from
passengers by the Tennessee, has an account of
Lockridge's operations ut Castillo. his retreat
aud the subsequent accident on board the steam
er Scott. 1t says:
Col Lockrdge advanced CA the town with
some 200 men, but seeing that it WAS in posses
sion of far superior force. prudently retrruted
to kellrys where he WAS joined bv Col. fitus's
| battalion. The whole force, including about 50
sick and wounded, numbered some 270 men uf
these. 100 newly arrived frNnns. The soldiers
were nearly destitute al provisions. and were put
on an allowance of one cracker day. no meat,
and cup of very weak tea, without sugar. Tho
disabled were slowed away in a temporary hos
ptal made out Of on old she'd 10 feet long and 20
wide, devoid of all accommodations They had
nothing softer Ia lie ON than the rough hunhoo
toor peculiar To houses in that country. Medi
cines were scarce, and the small stock On hand
was almost worthless, aud there was only ore
army surgeon to attend TO the wants Of all the
patients.
In this desperate condition Of affairs Col, Lock
ridge concluded to mike one more attempt to join
Gen. Walker now nj Ryas by the way of tho
sun Juan River. Panama, Aspnwall, up to san
Juan del sur, aud thence to Rivas about H.
miles from the latter place. On the IT of April
he accordingly called all Of his men together who
were able to stand in hc ranks and addressed
them.
He compmentcd the soldiers on the bravery
aud patience which they had exhibited under the
severe trials to which they had been SO long sub
"cted. He regarded the taking of the forts up
the river as practically impossible, and did not
ak the men to volunteer any such service
He had hecn disappointed by the non arrival of
honlbshell> and mortar- from New 0rieans, with
out which he would be powerless before the enc
mv's Qualifications. He then proposed TO lead
them to Gen. Walker by tho route above spec-
fed. He wanted only those Ia accompany him
who were perfectly wiling Ia go and could speak
good English. The sex. wounded, and persons
desiring t. return TO the States, he would take
to Puntu Arenas, where they could wait for The
first chauce 10 q home. He ,ked those TO step
forward ia front who were Wiling to make the
effort IL Join Gen. Walker About 100 men re
sponded by advancing from the ranks aud cheer
ing Some Of the men vino remained behind eX-
pressed their di,appronn'inu by grooming.
The whole force, those w.!o stil stack TO Wal
kprs fortunes, the ma,contcnts, the sick and
wounded, then went on hoard the steamers j \
Scott and the Rescue Which were lying at the
beach ready IL take them down the river. y
barge, carrying six FOUNDER, four FOUNDER,
two smaller pieces of artillery, and the small re-
naming store of bread and meat were taken in
tow bv the } y Scott. the sick were placed in
Il j Scott. principally "n the second deck.
! The r. scne al-H carIlrdG gun.
On the first day of their voyage down the river
when nearing Fort Slater two'oi the iiues OF the
Scott exploded, but without doing any seri 'us
damage. The steamer put IN at Fort Slater Il
short time for repairs and resumed her Course
Ga the afternoon of the second day the Scott
stopped at the breach, about 81 miles from kel-
ley 5 and n mile aud half above Serapiqui, for
the purpose OF making arceunnoitre OF that place
Us it was expected that the Costa Ricans were
trrnched there ready to give the stenmers warm
reception they went by. The steamer Rescue,
about quarter of mill behind the Scott at that
time. WAS 10 be sent on this mission.
Shortly after. as tie Scott touched the beach the
boiler head blew ont with terrible explosion, killing
three men outright and wouudug and scaldng about
forty Others in the most shocking manner. large
number blown tito the river which, Fortunate
". only feet deep at the stern of the boat
Among them weic General Wheat, who
soon his head appeared above the water, called
out 10 the boys mol to jump overheard, (Which some
of them about to do. hat 10 remain where they
were. The Rescue soon CANE up aud render led
essential service in peiu Out the sufferers from the
river and taking them of tb" boat The force Of the
explosion proved 10 have been prodiGious, tearing
away the hole o o: tic wrCl-hoUses, the second
deck where the bar sim lei. the top deck ahuit.
The Rescue PROCEEDED VIII the wounded 10 Sera-
piQui where eix or eight Of them soon diel The
majHder We're then taken To luuta Arenas, several
dying on the way soon after their arrival there
The whole number Of deaths snItng from the disns