New-York daily tribune., 1857-10-06
SOUTH PACIFIC COAST.
SEIZURE OF AN AMERICAN VESSEL.

SEIZURE OF AN AMERICAN VESSEL.
The authorities OF Chli. suppo.ing that vesse
without u license from the Chlian Government was
sbeut TO load in the port Of Atacams, whose sover.
eng Bty is in dispute between Chii and Bolivia, sent
me Government ship Esmeralda TO prevent It. The
EsE EeyaIda found ali American vessel the Sportsman,
Of Boston, Capt Thompson, near or In the plr, aud
ordered her away. Upon the captain g refusal 10
bave che Esmefalda brought her into Caldera where
che was released. The Captain demanded large IN.
deDIity which being rcfased he absndoned his ,sel
b the Chian Government, and will represent the
feeis 10 the United States Government The Panama
Star has the following ON the subject:
"The shp Sports LAO was chartered 10 VALPARAISO
ofee at tue ports If Cooa, Mes,hOnes Gatico, ia-
susra and Tames all of which ports indicated on
all cbsIs and sailing directions as being IL toe re-
public Of Bolivia AT CObUa il was agreed that
the SpOrtsman should 90 to Santa N aria or Consttu
ton instead of Tsmes, and accordingly was dispatched
for that and the other ports by the Castoni-H9use
authorities at CObia who also placed OH board C1s-
tOn-Ilouse officer TO attend to the Weighing OF the
metals. On the 19lh of August he arrived az the
port Of Santa Maria Consultation, snd began to load
On the following day, 10Th, when the Esmeralds came
10 anchor the bay, and id dnenately began 10
sake possession OF the country 10 the name OF the
Chill Government by planting the Chill flag frng sd
iutes and other ceremonies appropriate to such 0cca'
eions following them up by ordering Capt. Thompson
% prepare to receive on board aa officer aud file OF
naTDes ana 10 take his ship 10 The pof. of Cadera,
and there place himself and chip in the bsuds Of toe
Chill authorities for being found loading within the
Gbllian boundaries, without the proper license. 10
all Of which Capt Thompson protested said that by
the chants purchased by him but few days before 10
Valparaiso and by his book Of sailing directions, he
vhs in Bolivian T.rritory-shOwed his sailing hcenee
and gave them to understand tnat the moment any
force attempted 10 board his vessel he should
at that moment haul down his coOrp Ia keo of sub
mission t. Superior force. Several communications
pass. between the two vessels to no effect, when Oh
The 24ih August Lieutenant and file Of marines from
the Esme took possession of the Sportsman. Ihe
- nfair imre diate told
fh. mselves prisoners OF wa-handed over the ship
register to the officer then commanding, and hauled
down the American ensign. The Sportsman was then
taken in W by the Esmeralda, and brought TO tnis
port Two days after arrival the register Of the ship
uss returned to Cept. Thompson with note from toe
Commander of the Esmsrada, that ne was at liberty
90 Jake the ship to any Bolivian port north OF Mess
lones but not to touch at the south yard. Captain
Thonpson refused to receive the register, and was
cent by the American ce CoEsul to the Governor OF
Caidera. Captain Thompson has catered protest.
copies of which have been sent to the Amsrlcsn n
ister atlSantlsRo, and tie lntenoents oi Aaeai'a'
Here the matter rests for the present.
EAR1HQUAKE.-There had been severe shock OF
an .ar,bauake in Peru of which letter from Puiza,
dated August 80, gives the following account;
At O'Clock on the morning of the 2Oth the most
severe shock Of an earthquake ever remembered was
felt here, which bad done damage to the amount of
$500 0OO The shock lasted about nnute and forty
i've seconds aud every house in the town has suffered
more OF lese.
The police have had 100 houses taken down that
were in dangerous state, aud number Of tue
shurcbes have been completely destroyed. The da
age done is estimated at 500 O0O. The river of
Puira which had been dry, Suddenly rose; in other
places the ground opened and jets of dark-coloted
water were elected. There is no record OF aay smi-
lar phenomena having taken place At Pata the
effects Of the earthquake were less severely felt.
THE GUASo CHARTERS "A correspondent cf TIE
Panama Star and Her0id writes from Cslso, or the
12h of September, as follows.
Considerable excitement exists among the gcsno
chsIterers owing to aresolution passed By tse Con-
veniion rs follows:
ARTICLE |. To ascertain whether gusuo has been
sold at u hers price than could be obisined.
ART. =. What the causes of the deprec nj on in
value Of guano.
ART 3. II it is possible to obtain q grester price,
and in what manner.
ART. 4. II the guano chsIterers have strictly com.
Piled with the conditions Of their contracts.