Record Data
Source citation
"Letter from Panama," The Daily Picayune, 1 July 1857, p. 2.
Newspaper: Publication
New Orleans (LA) Picayune
Newspaper: Headline
Letter from Panam
Newspaper: Page(s)
2
Type
Newspaper
Date Certainty
Exact
Transcriber
Michael Blake
Transcription date
Transcription
The following text is presented here in complete form, as it originally appeared in print. Spelling and other typographical errors have been preserved as in the original.
Letter from Panama
_________
Another Party of Walker's Men Returning
[Special Correspondence of the Picayune]
Panama, June 19, 1857
After I mailed my letter of same date as this, the bark J.R. Mora arrived in thirteen days from Punta Arenas, with 303 filibusters, being Lieut. McCorklo's party. There are probably about 150 deserters yet in Costa Rica, but they will mostly remain there.
President Mora writes to Com. Morvino, that in consequence of the bad faith of Walker in destroying the guns and ammunition, after his capitulation, he feels no obligation on his part to observe the articles of agreement, by sending away the filibuster force at government expense. Nevertheless, for charity's sake, he concluded to send them as far as Panama. I understand that the price paid for the charter of the bark was $7,500, Costa Rica finding the provisions, viz.: plantains and rico. The men are mostly in good health, but very dirty and almost naked. Many of them are barefoot, with only an old pair pantaloons, black, rugged shirt and felt or straw hat. They started from Virgin Bay on the 19th,marching on foot all the way except when crossing in bangoes, the Gulf of Nicoyn. But one died in the passage to Panama.
Com. Mervino syas he has no authority to pay any money for the transportation home of this party, but offered to give a draft to the railroad on the United States, without recourse, for their passage to Aspinwall - $.25 each- which has been accepted, and the men are now piling into the cars. I do not know how they are to get to the United States immediately. There are no U.S. vessels in Aspinwall, except the sloops-of-war Saratoga and Cyune, and it is not probable these vessels can leave with them until the return of Com. Paulding in the Wabash. The small company has telegraphed to Com. Mervino that it will not take them even if their passage is guaranteed.
The J.R. Mora is a small iron bark, of almost 250 tons. She was formerly the U.S. revenue cutter Polk. You many readily imagine the poor fellows must have had a hot time of it, cooped up in this little craft thirteen days, under a blazing tropical sun.
The Mora brings no papers and no news.
Latest
A telegraphic dispatch has just reached us of the arrival of the Roanoke at Apsinwall. Com Mervino is going over, and he will probably get the men either on the Granada or Roanoke.
F.W.R.