The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-12-15
THE NICARAGUA ROUTE.


s>>~-~~~~~c~~>>~~~~~~o~
from Captain Randail-The Amerlcan
ntsc and Pacific Ship Canal Company
Grant from the State OF Nicaragua
er from a Cslifornian-iEhe Amended
>arIer Of the Company.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
letter Of Captain Cavendey, pvbshed in your paper
18th inst m excupaton Of his conduct in deserving
steamship Hermann, at Panama, would be permitted
ss unno,iced by me- ii mot that some gross er-
are contained in il, and silence on my part might be
II ned into admission Of the truth Of his assertions.
steadily refrained from indulging in any newspaper
roversy and have permitted the many attacks that
been made on TO pass uncontradicted, but as Ia
case am accused OF sending the Hermann TO sea
large number Of passengers, unprovded with pro-
provisions and stores for me voyage feel called upon
rove the falsty Of the charge, and show that have
buehout the whole transaction pursued prudent and
per course.
be Hermann sailed from New York on the oath day of
ust, bound for San Francisco Rio Janeiro, valpa
and San Juan del Sur, with instructions that in
ecessty arising to change the port at which she was
TOP further orders would be transmitted to Valparaiso
ship had on board when she sailed from this pat,
ut twelve hundred tons Of coal and provisions cos ng
he aggregate twenty thousand dollars as the bs
\ on hle IN my Office will prove. She was con-
hed to Charles Coleman Co., OF no janet
ecs of provisions and coal were made, amounting n
sgpr regae to twenty thousand four hundrei and Sc
teen collars and at Valparaiso further purchases OF
and provisions were made, amounting 10 fourteen
klsand eight hundred and two dollars. The whole num-
Of souls ON board the vessel at her departure from
York, passengers and crew, was nve hundred and
k-one hundred of these composing the crew. The
BIC can Judge whether the ship was properly provided
ot The whole number Of cabin passengers was less
twelve, about twenty five second cabin, and the re-
rA<asre AC IA uOtp q
eugers daintes the inference is irresistible that
ship abundanty found in every necessary for her
The wear 1854 in the month OF February, I sailed
m this port in the steamer Yankee Blade, with
bne hundred persons and about ninety passengers.
provision bill of that ship about ten thousand
ars: my Disbursements in Rio tor coal and provisions
Ieseven thousand five hundred dollars and in Vaipa
DO, knowing that large number Of passengers would
let me al Panama disbursed about six thousand dol
for fresh provisions coal, &c On this outlay car
b larger ship than the Hermann, and from
lama at out thirteen hundred persons, including
wv. Contrast the two cases. Mr.. Editor and draw
r own inference 70 how far the Hermann
provsoned for the number she carried. In this con-
;on would ask permission to state that Messrs Cole
u Co., Of Rio, and William l.. Hobson, of Valparaiso
my conslgnees and v0uch for the truth of this
kement, they are gentlemen in every sense of the
d Captain Cavendey states he had but three hundred
lars on board the ship on her departure from New
k. H. has not rendered any account OF that sum
ome twelve hundred dollars received, according TO
pursers statement, from passengers, as the difference
wecn steerage passage and cabin passage, a number
ng changed from steerage TO cabin before leaving the
Of New York, and am informed that large num-
changed 10 the second cabin. The difference may be
esncr, but as yet has not been, accounted for
Whoever may have agreed 10 protect the interest Of
tam Cavendey aud meet any liabilities due TO fall
on his account, can only say that was not party
kny such arrangement and never agreed TO assume
responsibility. Any reasonable disbursement for
family would have been cheerfuly met; but when
led 10 protect his endorsement for borrowed cash for
nsactions with which had concern, II scarcely
expected would respond. advanced Opt. Cavendey
thousand dollars on account Of wages, as receipt
the Office will prove, and, in addition
sundry bills, amounting TO some three hun
ID dollars more. He states in his letter he
one Of the owners OF the Hermann. How he could
Ike such assertion, when he had in bis possession
ister Of the ship, in which IL appeared I was sole
ner and he knew had become the purchaser Of the
sel from her former owners, leave him TO explain.
ve already alluded to the instructions given Captain
endey, viz, 10 proceed 70 San Francisco, via Rio
ero Valparaiso San Juan del Sur rescrving the right
amend his orders by letter at Valparaiso. Under date
september 0, 1858 wrote to Captain Cavendey fol
ks;-" You will proceed from Valparaiso TO Panama.;
after giving him some infor nation, say, 4" agent
meet you =. and a. the ne close 2, .ns le.e, @
ncct via Nicaragua. The enclosed from theNEw Yong
RAID will show you what they dongn
depsr,urc of the Cass Yrisarr and other small steam
70 be used for the transit OF passengers Mica
~, and that every exerton was being made 10 have
route in working order by the time nc would arrive at
bt Cavendey received the instructions at Valparaiso
proceed 10 Panama, and, in order 70 keep him properly
Eised an agent was despatched by the Pacific mail
smer OF October 90 with the following letter Of in
uctions-
" Epw ARD cAvxsprv Commander steamship Hermann
III Panama 10 San Juan del Sur and there waa for The
passensers 70 leave New ysrs on ns en- q No
apt Cavepdcy admits the receipt Of this letter but at
npts TO shelter himself from the consequences OF his
disregard Of his instruction by saying that the agent
d no credentials II the duty of Capt Cavendey 10
N San Iuau del nd her
Washington. On this point there oanno, be two
inons.
t Cavcndcy for his conduct the public must form their
IN conclusions. lie had positive unequvocal nstruc
us proceed 10 San Juan del Sur and await the arrival
the Washington In place Of obeying his orders be
ives the shp and orders his successor proceed direct
San Francisco, without stopping at any intermediate
IT. s Il any justification Of his conduct to say he was
ormcd by private lctts newspaper reports, or public
mors, that the Washington could not leave New York
that the route via Nicaragua was not opcnf HIS duty
% to obey his orders, but he chose TO violate them
q even admitting the force or truth OF all bis
|cIal pleading 10 sickness and distress In his
my, owing 10 the failure of certain parties TO fulfil
" pccunafy transactions, IN there shadow Of excuse
him In ordering his SUCCESSOR In command Of tho ship
proceed direct 10 San Francisco without stopping AZ
Iuanf II would not have cost anything 10 stop there
Jaun was on the direct route 10 san Francisco, and
n single additional ton Of coal would be required. II
imperative necessity Il know Of none that existcd)
crpcsed 10 prevent him obeying his orders, he was
UNI by every duty 70 his owners ey every obligation on
truc,ons 10 hts successor In command His refusal 10
po-nsy his positive orders 10 Mr. Patterson IN opposi.
10 the instructions he had receiyed-no only remains
explained but, In my opinion, IL not susceptible of ex
nation As "a the scarcity Of stores on board the
have the fullest reason 10 believe II will bo found,
the arrival of the Hermann al San Francisco, that
~ large amount II provisions will be found board
ery prccauton had been taken. special ageni-A q.
Ehbns-had been sent board the Washington 10 San
IA Sur with money and letters Of credit TO purchase
DIVISIONS any that might be wanted; and
any suffering wrong has been endured by the pas
gers the blame must rest Captain Cavendey for bis
otrdicnce of orders and dcserton ~ his ship II Dr.
arson whom Capt, Cavcndcy states he saw al Panama,
found the Hermann at that port, be, having
and letters cf credit with him, would have been ready
isburse any amount required for the comfsrt and con
of the passengers but regards the passengers
the Washington, Dr arson could do nothing, they
not then, did they for ten days Afterwards arrive
Panama, by which time DR. Pearson was nearly at San
bncsco
ne word relation 10 certificates Of certain storeep-
st ranama-that they would not credit the ship. The
Fmauu arrived at Panama on the 9th of November and
ed on the ilth. The only theory which am able
cunt for these Certificates is that I'm ling on cool re.
ton that ordering the vessel on 10 San Francisco he
ben guilty of great wrong he procured the certa
es as somc slight shadow n reason for his conduct.
could have sold them provisions, and had plenty 10
npe,e her voyage, the abundant stock laid in at
|paraiso was unconsumed Letters received from Mr..
lev the agent n, Panama inform me that the ship
N wan, of anything but some fresh beef, which ho
II xaA s.ufN r.