Burlington Free Press

The San Juan Affair.

The following extract from a letter to the New York Tribune, gives the view of the Transit Company, of the recent demonstration of Capt. Hollins, of the Cyane, at San Juan.

SAN JUAN DEL NORTE, OR GREYTOWN,
Nicaragua, Wednesday, March 23, 1853.

Affairs in this part of the world having lately assumed a hostile aspect, and as a statement of things might prove acceptable, I will endeavor to give you the cause of a disturbance which at one time threatened the total annihilation of the depot of Vanderbilt's line of steamers, at this place, by the authorities of San Juan del Norte, or Greytown.

It appears that the authorities of this place, when first applied to by Mr. Vanderbilt's agent for a site for their depot, refused one on the same side of the bay on which the city is built, but had assigned them one on Point Arenas—a spit of sand which forms one side of the harbor. They proceeded and erected buildings suited to their purposes, as well for building small steamers to navigate the River San Juan as for the accommodation of the employees of the Company.

The inhabitants of the city of San Juan finding that with the growing trade, the modes of conveyance were enlarged and improved, and that passengers going and coming were not detained, boats being always in readiness to speed them on their way, thus depriving the people of Greytown from making money on the Californians, and that they could not induce the company to remove to their side of the bay, made use of the only alternative left them—that of compulsory measures.

With the determination of executing these purposes, the City Marshal of Greytown, on the 21st of February last, accompanied by an armed force, proceeded to Point Arenas, and leveled to the ground several buildings, the property of the Accessory Transit Company. They committed a like offence on a brick building, the property of Capt. McGerry, of New Orleans.

The agent and employees of the Company were unable to resist the force of those who carried on the work of spoliation.

Matters remained in statu quo until the arrival of the Cyane, Capt. Hollins, on the 10th inst., from Pensacola, which entirely changed the current of affairs. Immediately on her arrival in port, Capt. Hollins was waited upon by the authorities of the port and the agent of the Company, when, upon hearing the statements of both parties he decided on protecting, at all risks, the persons and property of the Company, who had claimed such as American citizens. A guard of marines, under charge of Lieut. Hunt, of the ship, was sent on shore, on Point Arenas; and the authorities still persisting in their determination, the ship was put in a position that she might, if occasion required, repel any assaults that might be made upon the concern.

That officer visited the authorities in person, and pointed out to them the wrong course they were pursuing. They returned for answer, that it was not their intention to destroy the Company's establishment, but to remove to the town the materials of the buildings already demolished, and which lay scattered and strewn around.

On the afternoon of the 11th, the Marshal of the city proceeded to Point Arenas and commenced reading a writ of ejectment, but was ordered to desist by Lieut. Hunt, of the Cyane, who said he was sent there to protect the property and ward off all intruders. That gentleman then left, muttering anathemas against the Cyane and her Commander. The next day they hauled down their flag—the Mosquito one—and fired twenty-one guns, which was hoisted again on the 13th, the day on which the English Consul returned from Bluefields. I am inclined to think the latter course was pursued by order of the English Consul.

Captain Hollins, with a laudable forbearance and spirit of conciliation, used every means in his power to dissuade those misguided persons from perpetrating their vicious designs, which proving of no avail, the order was issued that no communication would be allowed between Greytown and Point Arenas.