The New York herald., 1871-09-15
Particulars of the Conflicts i'm
the Gulf.
The Cause Of the Mexican Attacks on
the Brothers and Harvest Home.
Captain ThurstOn's Account OF the Fights
with the Mexican Pirates and What
Caused Them-The Case Against
the Greasers Made Out and Filed
In the State Department.

Captain James B. Thurston, of the American bark
Brothers, who was attacked or Santa Anna bar,
Mexico. the 9th OF August last has arrived here
and fled at the state Department detailed state.-
ment Of his troubles with the AeEeafs His storyis
suppor!ea 5y the afdavits Of the officers and crew
Of his vessel together with the adavits OF Captain
E. G. Dickev, of the American bark Harvest Home,
who was a personal witness OF the attack made on
Captain Tnurston while ON board the Brothers.
TIE BARK BROTHERS
cleared from Baltimore in May last for Aspinwall,
from thence to coast OF Mexico to load for Europe
Captain Thurston arrived or Santa Anna bar early
in July FOR the purpose Of taking full and COM
plete cargo Of mahogany. The lading OF the
vessel had been nearly completed when Captain
Thurston, having occasion to go on shore, visited
the beach on the 2otn Of August. While there he
was accosted by what was said to be policeman,
and was notified that he held an order for the arrest
OF seaman named Augustus Sylver, who, 1t was
claimed, was indebted to o party living at Santa
Anna in the sum OF 5000. Appearing before the
Judge Captain Thurston was informed that the
amount claimed must either be paid or Sylver be
delivered to the civil authorities. The debt being
too large for the Captain to pay he stated that ne
would deliver up Sylver under protest, being fully
satisfied that it was only pretext to get him or
the ship. Captain Thurston then started to so on
board his vessel, but was
roRcIBLY DETAINED BY THE JUDGE,
and informed that two other sail0rs-a German
named Charles M. Linford and Chian named
Joseph Barger-desired to leave the ship and they
must also be given up. These seamen, said The cap
tain, had been legally and honorably shipped, they
were not Mexicans, and the surrender OF 80 many
Of his crew would leave him in distress. II they
were taken 1t must be by force, and he should lay
the whole matter before the United States govern.
ment To this the Judge replied "We do not care
for your government but shall hold you prisoner
until these three men are put on shore with their
clothes and the money due them." In the mean
time the boat Of Captain Thurston had been taken
possession OF by order Of the Judge and crowd Of
drunken desperadoes placed in 1t and directed to
board the bark Brothers and take Sylver by force.
This order was executed.
During the absence Of the boat Captain Thurston
was informed by the Judge that great excitement
prevailed among the people against him, and that
he occupied peril0us position. For safety Captain
Thurston was placed in the house Of exJndge Ney,
and the Judge and Mr.. Ney both remained with
him. on the liberation Of the seaman sylver
THERE WAS GREAT REJOICING,
and the mob proceeded 10 the place where Captain
Thurston was stopping, and. surrounding the house
demand that he should be given up. A. this time 1t
sitiOn he could see that most Of the men composing
the mob were armed with sabres machettes, re-
| would be taken the Captain ofrered to release
m to his Tn
the Judge refused, replying "No; VIII hold you a
prisoner until they are landed" Protests were in
| vain. The boat was again ordered to the bark
| Brothers for the German and Chllian seamen but
was called back by order OF the Judge who finally
gave Captain ThurstOn permission to return to his
vessel at his own peril, the Judge stating that he
had neither soldiers nor policemen to protect him
posing being under the influence Of liquor Dnrlne
the parley the second mate of the bark Brothers,
upon Captain Thurslon and secretly handed him a
revolver. The captain with much difficulty made
his way through the mob to the boat amid cries OF
'KIIL HIM KILL HIM
"Never let him leave the leach alive" The boat
was at once taken posse on of by tie desperadces.
but in spite OF them Captain Thuysion 'de his way
TO it and dered it to be showed OF. The was
not needed, and an appeal made to the Judge not 10
allow the Captain to Leave the shore G Captain Thurs
Judge, and on landing 1t started for the ship sec
ond time. Captain Thurston demonstrated with the
Judge Tor his IndecisOn. and having avOwed his
again ordered back ana the CAPTAIN stepped In
before they refused to obey, until the Judge stated
the two sailors claimed would b. delivered on shore
by the Captain the next morning, and was permit
led to return to his vessel.
on the following morning he weighed anchor,
should a. eae sent the
on shore according TO promise. On the same day a
letter was received from Ramon Rippoll clerk and
agent Ul the cOnsgnee OF the Brothers, who stated
that the captain could on shore In safety. and
on the following day letter was also received from
the same party requesting
A RBCEIPT FOR FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS
| for demurragc then due. Captain ThurstOn having
good TO DOUBT the sincerity OF the first INVITA-
iion, strengthened by the demand for the receipt
| for dcmurraFe which had not been paid, he refused
to comply with the demand. Rppoll In the last let
| ter stated that he would come on board aud de.
| spatch the vessel when really. On the 25th OF
August q letter was received from Mr..
Santas Pard0 the cOnsignee, requesting Cap.
tain Thurston to come on shore. AS the vessel mad
already cleared, and there remaining nothing to be
done except signing bills OF lading aud settling bills,
| and as the clerks had promised to come on board
| and do this, Captain Thurston declined to 60 on
| shore. The loading OF the Brothers was compile ted
on the 26th OF August and the same day the con
| sgnee, with Mr.. Rppoll, his clerk came on board,
and, as previously agreed, brought oil the bills,
together with the general account. which were
examined, approved and accepted, with his promise
| TO pay them that day. There remained nothing 10
| lading and draft The stevedore's boat which
brought Mr.. PardO ana his clerk, was to take the
stevedores gang going from the vessel TO the shore.
| 1t was alleged that the boat was not large
| enough for the entire party, ana the loan
| OF the captains gig was obtained under promise
| TO return on the following morning, when he would
come OF TO despatch the vessel. Nothing was heard
from the consignee until the next day at noon when
| again the ofer was made 10 pay the damage
AMOUNTING 10 $500, with twenty tons OF mahogany
| then on board, which would be ut the rate Of
TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS PR TON,
| although the average price or the wood was only
$12 per ton. CAPTAIN TbursOn replied that nc rep
| resented absent nartles. and that WOuld not lie