The New York herald., 1869-02-22
SOUTH AMERICA.
THE WAR IN PARAGUAY.
Defeat Of Lopez and His Retreat to
the Mountains.
ARRIVAL OF BLISS AND MASTERMAN.

The United States and Brazil NAH steamship MIS-
sssppi Captain Socum, arrived at this port yester-
day from Rio Janciro and intermediate ports.
Nessrs Bliss and Mastel man, the recent prisoners
Of President Lopez in Paraguay, came passengers
the mississippi, with orders TO report to the De-
partment Of State at Washington.
Fun details OF the interesting news by this arrival
win be found IN our correspondence below
Statement or Bliss and Mastcrmnn-Their
Arrest, Torture, Forced Confessions and
Delivery to the Eleet-The Allied Victories
Surrender ot the Parnsuayans-Retrcat of
Lopez TO tho Mountains-Occupati0n of
Asuncion-iIinister NFcliahon.
RIO JANEiRo Jan. 20, 1869.
Bliss and Masternan go passengers for New
York by the steamer Mississippi. Your readers are
aware that they were arrested on charge Of con-
spiracy, on the 10th OF September last, when they
were accompanying Mr. Washburn TO the river from
Asuncion. to take passage down to Montevideo
The history OF their adventures and suffering as
related by Mr.. Bliss is as follows:- -
Upon their arrest they taken to the Police
Office, Ironed and placed in separate cells. At
nirhiIall they were brought forth, mounted upon
mules, and under guard, ridden eighteen hours to
the encampment of Lopez where they arrived at
noon next day. They were Immediately hurried be-
fore the military tribunal, where they underwent q
they were for The nrst time IN thirty hours allowed
resi- and food. The next day they were again called
before the judges, and by the repeated application Of
torture forced 10 subscribe to all that was ex
acted Of them. 1hey were then returned to their
place OF Imprisonment, an open space on hillside,
where they lay, shacked and unshetered, for fort
night Ihey were afterwards removed to small
straw huts in the open plain where they remained
until their surrender TO Rear Admiral G. II. DAVIS
the 10th OF December last.
The Wasp arrived at Angostura on the sth OF De.
ccmber. The Admiral opened communication with
Lopez, demanding the surrender OF Messrs. Bliss
and Masierlnan. Lopez offered to comply with the
demand condition Of their being received as pri-
soner5 and conveyed to the United States Without
being allowed to communicate with any territory
belonging to the allies at war with Paraguay. The
Admiral accepted the proposition and ordered Fleet
Captain Ramsey and Commander Kirkland Of the
Wasp, to proceed to Lopezs headquarters, In the
neghborhood Of Angostura, and arrange the details
OF the transfer. They appeared and took seats be-
fore the tribunal which was composed Of six judges
three priests and three military officers and organ
tied after the most approved inqulstorlal fashion.
This trb unal had before stated, forced these
fortunate persons by the most barbar0us treatment
and repeated application OF torture. to confess all
tnat was required Of them. including, among other
statements the admission that Mipister washburn
had taken prominent part In the supposed con-
spiracy-all Of which confession they claim to be
false pot, names dates aud incidents being purely
Imaginary, but wrung from them above stated,
with the threat Of certain death unless the revelation
was i complete and satisfactory TO the judges and
tie tyrant Lopez.
Messrs Bliss and Masterman were again called be-
foe the tribunal, having been previously warned
not to attempt TO take advantage OF the presence Of
the unled States officers to deny the truth Of their
Confessions or 10 throw themselves upon their pro-
tecion. Their written confessions were then read,
aud having been openly acknowledged by tnem
Ileir signatures to the document and the a. gotta
tons were completed. On the 10th OF December
y wee ps On board e wasp ey we're
received as prisoners anu guard placed over them
70 prevent their communicating with unauthorized
On the 18th Of December General Mcmahon, who
apparently had not figured in the negotiations and
transfer, landed at Angostura and was honored win
grand military reception, L0pez's body guard re-
celvlng the General when he landed. The Wasp
then took her departure for Monevidco where sne
arrived on the 1stn OF December. On the same day
TIE prisoners were transferred to the lagship Guer
riera. She sailed from Montevideo on tue 10Th and
arrived In Elo Janciro on the 24th OF January ON
the 10Th Messrs. Bliss and Masterman took passage
on the Mississippi for New York, with Instructions
10 report to the Department OF State Immediately
upon their arrival In the United States where, doubt
the circumstances OF this curious and perplexing
Tue HISTORY OF this conspiracy as given by Mr. Bliss,
Is follows promising, however. that such
thing as conspiracy ever existed, at least not 30
lar as Mr.. waShburn Or himself or Mr.. Masterman
were cognizant of:-ln the beginning OF the last
year Benigno Lopez, brother Of the Marshal was de-
tccted In the fraudulent abstraction Of nearly o
m,ion OF pesos IRON the national treasury at Asun-
cion. He was arrested and arraisDed for the
offence. Fearing the wei known vengeance OF his
Lrotner he, IN order to divert the danger from him.
sell, declared that the money was intended for q
revolutionary movement 10 overthrow the Marshal
aid, to give weight and FEASIBILITY 20 his assertion,
named as accomplices United States Minister Wash.
burn Minister Of Foreign Affairs Bcrgcs, DIR. Carre
ras, late Prime Minister Montcvdeo; Scnor Rodri
Pucz Secretary OF the late Oriental Legation; Leile
Pereira, Portuguese Consul, aud Coonei Venancio
Lopez, his brother, and declared that MIR. Masterman
Was informed OF its workings and tnat Mr. Bliss was
secretary OF the organization. With the exception
Of the brothers Lopez all the above named persons
were living ut that time In the American legation.
Carreras, Rodriguez and Leiie Perera we're demand
ell on the 2'tn OF June, 1858. Beng informed by Mr..
wasnLurn tnat he could not anord them protection
they LETT the legation and were Immediately ar
rested July II, 1885, Carrcras was shot ON the nth
floIn and, by a rumor which came down the river
before the last mail sailed for Rio. 1t was reported
cal prisoners had occurred since the captuaton ut
Angostura, and the remainder OF the alleged con-
spirators were among the number. How true the re-
port may be cannot say; yet II Is In keeping with
some Of the acts Of the cruel Lopez.
Following up this first success as soon as he could
attacked again on the llth OF December at vileta
while the allied feet engaged the water batteries in
could not long withstand the double dreadful fire OF
thc allies They gave way gradually and rereatcd
Cugaabaitl. This second victory was not blood
less one for the allies however, as they SUFFERED
largely IN the loss oi oinceis anu men-tle reports
Coliicting as regards the number, but 100 men
may be considered near the correct figure. 1hc
Leayy rains, added TO the exhaustion OF the allies
held them In allegiance rom any further offensive
movement until the 21st OF December, whea the
Marquis dc Caxias ordered . general assault upon
tac entire line Of the Paraguayan intrenchments
which tney carried limo by linc, after a severe con-
ct OF thirty hours ending IN complete defeat OF
tas laraguayan army a few only, iess than hun
drNd, escaping anu securing themselves within the
c.fenccs immediately around the headquarters
4, Lopez ana In the water batteries at An
gcsiura Figating upon q slnall scale was
kupt up until the 10Th OF December, when
Previous 10 united assault, a council OF war
held In the allied camp, taoy estimating that t
would cost at least 1900 men 70 take tho place: and
10 prevent n possible, any further efus0n Of blood,
tlcy sent under Gag OF truce o proposition 10 the
cAeny to treat for peace. orders from Lopez hav-
ig been received to disable the guns and make way
fo themselves bess they could, they Immediately
entertained the proposition and after plain
mcnt 81 their condition being placed before them W
tie commanding officcr O vote was taken BY the
u.AA a1ana