The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-07-11
COLOMBIA.
Matters the Isthmus-The Case Of Captain
Creighton of the Three Bells-A Shameful
Swiudie.

Matters the Isthmus-The Case Of Captain
Creighton of the Three Bells-A shameful
Swindle.
PANAMA, July 2, 1859.
since the departure OF the last mail on Esd ultimo
nothing OF importance has occurred here, and al
though two steamers have arrived from Santa Mar
tha the Fioride en- 9th nit. and the Caribbean on
I'd inst no mails whatever have been received, nor
have | any later accounts from the interior than
those given in my last.
The steamer Henry Chauncey from New York ar
rived at Aspnwa at half past seven A. NJ. on 29th
Her passengers crossed the Isthmus same day and
sailed during the night for san Francisco per steam
ship Montana.
Although we are on the eve OF the glorious Fourth
steps nave yet been taken by Americans residing
on the lsthmus for the due observance of the day
as has been customary in former years. An enter
tainment is announced by the opera Company
now here for the evening OF the 80, dedicated TO
Americans III honor oftheir national anniversary.
The British bark Celestial which put III here some
months ago in distress, bound from San Francisco
10 Great Britain, and which was afterwards con-
demned rs unseaworthy. was sold at auction on
18th uii.
On Saturday last Rev. Father Curley preached on
board the L. = ship Yantic at AspinwaI. After the
ceremony be stated that he was with the help OF his
friends, building a Catholic church in AsDinwalI,
and would be glad of any assistance from the
sailors however small. that they chose to give. A
paper then circulated among the /" jolly tars.n
and they subscribed $40 which the wardroom off,
GERS promptly made up to $500.
Coloael terrar recently appointed United States
Consul TO Callao, Peru passed through here on the
I'd INST. south, to assume his office.
The British steamer Venezuelan, Captain Creighton,
sailed from Aspnwall for Liverpool on the ID inst
mad occasion some time ago to state In my CORE
spondence to the HERALD that the medal ordered by
the United States government 10 be presented to
captain Creighton as testimonial OF the great ser
vice rendered by him when master OF the British
ship Three Bells, some fifteen years ago. In saving
several hundred lives from the unfortunate steamer
months after the publication OF my letter the medal
was furnished Captain Creighton, and very beauti-
fu specimen OF workmanship 1t Is, though 1t was no
way creditable to delay It SO many years. have
now another rather strange incident to mention IN
Sommsnded at the time. The San FRANCISCO, 1t viii
ne remembered, was q new steamer belonging to the
i'acinc Mail steamship Company, and bound from
assengers, some 500 United States soldiers on
nosrd. Some days after leaving New York she en-
vountered a hurricane; her machinery became DIS
oled got into the trough or the sea- her cabins
we're washed OF her decks with hundreds OF living
numbered. Captain Creighton happened 10 come in
ne track of the sinking steamer IN his ship the
three Bells, when he undertook the noble task Of
stvng what remained of the living from the wreck.
eight days he labored necessarily In his arduous
his a Captain Watkins and oe sAs
whom he took to New York. In order to make
some OF his cargo by throwing it overheard, which
did not hesitate TO do and he arrived In New
York IN safety, proud or having done his
duty towards his fellow beings on the news
of his heroic conduct being made known IN the
United states, not only the government appreciated
his services by ordering the presentation alluded to,
but the prayers OF hundreds OF happy families were
offered up for his future welfare and happiness, ana
still more tangible proof or the gratitude OF tue
Americans was offered In the fact that q subscrlp-
tion list was opened, to which thousands, rich and
poor contributed their mites and purse OF f5 600
is2500O) raised as further evidence or
the gratitude that was felt for Captain Crlghtons
services But now comes the changing scene from
the most generous and liberal gratitude to the
make every shlpowner in Great Britain blush to
think OF. rhe TACT l am about to relate has, be-
lieve never been made pubic, ana Captain Crlgn-
himself IN the honesty and purity OF his heart,
would never speak Of 1t. The S25,0j0 was given to
him and reunited to the owners OF the Three Bells
gov, on supposing 1t would be safe with
them: but conceive the captains astonishment
and disgust on arriving home after thirteen
days passage, and applying for the amount, TO be
told that the money Deionged 10 them ana not 70
him, as he was simply their employs. The loss on
cargo and delay OF the ship were fully made up at
the time py the United States government. Captain
Creighton has never asked for the money since, nor
did re ever receive dollar OF II. nope IL Is not
too late now, alter lapse OF fifteen years, to make
known IN New York contemplate an act. IL
should lie published In every newspaper and every
Great Britain. Captain Creighton, ] am
GLAD to say, has Outlved his loss, and Is Just as
happy, II not rich, "a II he had the amount In his
pocket. The transaction has not dried up the milk
oil human Kindness in his neart. lie commands a
line steamer now, and is still the wholesOuied gene
rous, self-sacrlhcing Old sea-dog he was when he
rsked his life eight days to save the passengers and
crew Oh sinking ship, and no greater favore with
crew or passengers walks ships deck to-day