Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1859-04-07
ImPOr tant from Nicaragua
Seizure of American River Steamers

Correspondence N. Y Herald.
AsPINwALL. March 22.
Since the sailing Of the Illinois We have
important and exciting news from Nicar-
aqua. The British steamship Clyde, from
San Juan on the morning of the 29th, ar
rived here yesterday afternoon. The ia.
nous Colonel Schlessinger, who has been
for some time the political agent of Joe
Whites company, was a passenger, aud
goes home in the Northern Light. loaded
down with protests and dispatches. Amer.
lean interests are aunihilated. defunct, dead
and buried in Nicaragua, and Joe White
company, agents. captain aud steamers run
of. seized, imprisoned and completely
blown up The bridges have been burned
and the employees have nothing to do but
to get away AS quickly and safely as pos
sible.
1t appears that the Nicaragaan govern.
n.snt has been looking out for hllibusters
on the Pa:ikc side for some time, and had
spies stationed on the coast to report the
arrival of any suspicious vessel. The
Goth Of February was the time fixed for
the arrival Of the invaders, and on the
night Of the 18th three Of tbs largest
bridges on the Transit road, from the lake
TO San Juan del Sur, were burned down
These bridges. from fifteen to twenty in
number. had all been lately built and re-
paired. and one Of them is said TO have
cost oi 100.
On the afternoon of the End of March
the United States sloop % war Decatur ap-
peared off San Juan del Sur and sent her
boats Oh shore for water. The slepless
spies Were on the alert; and taking the De-
catur for fillIbuster craft, and the water
boats to be fillcd with armed invaders. the
greasers fed to The bushes. thence TO the
President and reported the country already
invaved and filled with armed men. Mar.
linez's bosom swelled with patriotism. and
was almost wild with the hope Of encoun
iering the enemy. Martial law was de-
clarsd. The war trumpet sounded, forces
were called out. and the President, having
placed the chair Of State in other keeping,
put himself At the head of the army All
the pomp and parade Of glorious war was
going in style to be seen and appie cia,ed
only in Nicaragua. when news came that
there were NO fillibuslers at San Juan del
Sur; that the ship was an American man.
of-war.
On the It'll of March an order or COM
mand. 81 oed by an official at Fort San
Carlos, dated the 10Th, was served on
Captain Holton, Of the lake boat Glass; Yr-
sarri. then lying at the head of Toro Rap
ids. to place the steamer Immediately un-
der the guns Of Fort San Carlos. twenty
seven miles distant. An hour was given
Holton to reply; and if at its expiration he
refused to comply with the order, himself
and men were to be regarded as 'suspi
cious to the peace of the republic
The order was served on Holton by an
officer of the Nicaraguan army, accompa
MED by armed soldiers. Upon his protest.
ing against such proceedings. and refus-
ing to obey the order, the officer and sold
iers took forcible possession of the Cass-
Yrsarri. and carried her to Fort San Car
los. Holton attempted, and asked permits
sion to leave the boat. but was forcibly
detained until the 18Th. when. at the inter-
position of Mr. Bills and Mr.. Schlessinger.
the agents Of the company. he was set at
liberty.
On the 18th similar order WAS served
on Captain Carman. of the Catharine Ma
ria. lying at Castillo Rapids. from the
commander effort Castillo. He declined
complying. and the Catharine Maria was
seized by Nlcaraguan officials. Carman
hauled down the American flag in token Of
a compulsory surrender. The command
ant then sent to the fort, got the Nicara-
guam flag, and hoisted it on the Catharine
Maria.
In view of all this Nicaragua has thrown
open the Transit free to the world. Read
the following:
1.-The Senate and Chamber of the repub.
lie Of Nicaragua decree
Art. !. The Transit route over the
Isthnaus Of Nicaragua is free for all ma
tons; consequently there is not recognized
or permitted over it a monopoly in favor
OF any person or company
Art. 2. TIE Decentralization and trans
porration of troops. arms and munitions of
war cannot be permitted. except in accord
anee with a treaty stipulation to that effect
with the republic.
Art. g. The government will regulate
the manner of making the transit effective.
consulting the security and convenience Of
the republic. ua
Art. 4. The government will also take
upon itself the imposition Of aehssge for