Señor Allan A. Burton to William H. Seward, January 18, 1866

Mr. Burton to Mr. Seward

Sir: Referring to my number 174, which related to the firing on the steamer Antioquia in March, 1864, I now have the honor to enclose the annexed correspondence concerning that occurrence, in addition to that heretofore submitted.

The true nature of this case will be found more fully stated in a paragraph of my number 196.

I regret to have to add that I have no expectations that any proceeding will be taken to punish Señor Berrios.

The assurance given by the secretary in concluding his note D, that he would notify me of the result of the orders given to the State of Bolivar, is practically equivalent to saying that he wishes to hear no more on the subject; for, as no steps will be taken, he will have nothing to communicate, and will not mention the affair again unless I call his attention to it, to be answered by a repetition of the promise.

I have already waited more than a reasonable time, without receiving the promised notice.

I have honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,

The Governor of Magangue to the Secretary General of the State

UNITED STATES OF COLOMBIA—SOVEREIGN STATE OF BOLIVAR—NUMBER 35.

CARTAGENA.

Your note, No. 148, of the 19th ultimo, including that addressed to your department by the governor of the province of Baranquilla, has been read, and, in obedience to the orders written in the margin thereof, I report as follows:

At the time when the shots were fired at the steamer Antioquia by the soldiers of the guard stationed on the confines of this place, in the south of the province, I was confined to my bed by an acute fever which had prostrated me, and neither saw nor knew anything that took place on that day; but I was afterwards informed that as the steamer Antioquia was approaching the point occupied by the soldiers, the sentinel in due time hailed her repeatedly, without the captain paying any attention to the call for changing the movement of the boat, and a white flag was then set up as a notice, and, nevertheless, the boat kept swiftly on her course, regardless of everything, although the whole guard were running after her demanding that she should land, and then go on her way undisturbed. But the soldiers seeing that she did not check her speed, nor any sign that indicated it, and seeing, finally, that she was not inclined to land, but, on the contrary, instead of turning to the landing, struck towards the opposite shore, which indicated that she was going out of reach—then the soldiers fired on her, having orders to that effect from the military commandant in chief, given in consequence of the steamer Tequendama, or her captain, having made irritating sport of the authorities of the plaza. So, taking these things into consideration, it was to be supposed as probable that the steamer Antioquia was going to imitate what the Tequendama had done, and thereupon the guard fired into the pilot-house of the boat, striking it almost in the centre.

The guard had followed the boat a distance of about three hundred and twenty-five yards from the point where they were stationed before firing, and it cannot be said that the steamer was seeking a good landing, for the whole shore from where she was first hailed is a good landing,

I submit the foregoing as the report which has been demanded of me.

I am your attentive servant,

ANDRES GUTIERREZ.

April 26.—Return the note No. 35, that it may be signed by the governor of Magangue.

By the citizen President:

United States of Colombia, sovereign state of Bolivar–Number 43–The governor of the province of Mangangue.

I return to you, signed, the official note which by an oversight, involuntary, on my part, I left without my signature. I thus answer your note No. 243, section of government, dated April last, 26th.

I am your attentive servant,

ANDRES GUTIERREZ.

The Secretary General of State, Cartagena.

May 14.—Let this be filed.

March 10, 1865.

A copy:

M AMADOR FIERRO, Secretary General of State.

A copy:

ENSPR. DE LA TORRE, Assistant Secretary.