United States Consul to George Williamson , American, December 31, 1875

Mr. Duke to Mr. Williamson.

Sir: This consulate, on the eve of the 29th instant, filed a protest from Mrs. Julia Martinez, (as printed, copy inclosed,) complaining of an outrage having been committed by Captain Douglass on an American steamship, the Mohongo, he having brought her son, Lieut. Col. J. Ma. Peña, as a prisoner (conveying at the same time, as his guard for safe-keeping on board, two Costa Rican officers) from the port of Punta Arenas, Costa Rica. She also, at the same time, protests against her son’s being sent back to Punta Arenas in an American vessel, she having been informed that the court of Salvador pretends returning him as a prisoner under the same guard that brought him (here) to La Libertad on the 22d instant, and asking me to instruct the captain of the steamen Arizona, now expected at the port of La Libertad, on its trip to Panama, that once on board of said steamer to allow him to disembark at any neutral port that he may think proper; and judging that the petition is well founded in said protest, to the effect I sent a dispatch to the captain of the American steamship Arizona, informing him that should Lieut. Col. J. Ma. Pena be sent on board, that once there to consider him as on American soil, and at liberty to disembark wherever he pleases. I have inclosed you a copy of my dispatch sent to the captain of the Arizona.

By all that has been told me by passengers by the same steamer that landed at La Libertad and arrived here, they say that it was publicly talked of on board when they left Punta Arenas that the person of J. M. Peña was being carried to La Libertad as a prisoner, and that at every port after they left Punta Arenas, which they stopped at, he (Pena) was locked up in one of the state-rooms as a prisoner by the two officers sent by the government of Costa Rica, and permitted by Captain Douglass and officers of the Mohongo. It appears that they allowed their vessel to serve as a prison for the government of Costa Rica.

I have informed the Department at Washington of what I have done, and hope it will approve, as well as yourself, of the steps I have taken, so that a similar outrage is not committed or allowed by this consulate as by that of Costa Rica.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,