New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-02-23
THE PARAGUAY OUTRAGE.
ARRIVAL OF BLISS AND MAsTERMAN IN NEW
YoRK-THEIR STATEMENTS LATIvE TO THE
wAsHBURN DIFFICULTY = THEIR SUFFER-
JNGs IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF THEIR

|
| YORK-THEIR STATEMENTS RELATIVE TO THE
| wAsHBURN DIFFICULTY THEIR SUFFER-
| 1NGs IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF THEIR
| RELEAsE-TYRANNY AND CRUELTY OF LOPEZ.
The two members Of the American Legation in
Paraguay, Messrs Porter C. Bliss and George +. Mas
teaD, who were so cruelty imprisoned by the tyrant
Lopez arrived here on board the Brazil mail steamer
Mississippi on Sunday. After short stay in New
York, they win proceed to Washington to report to
the State Department for trial. on the charge of con-
spiracy against Lopez They were conveyed as
prisoners from Asuncon to Rio Janero on board one
of the United States vessels and were there requested
by Rear-Admiral Davis to take passage of the
4 regular mail steamers for New York, and present
themselves to the Secretary of State for such dspos
| ton as he might see fit to make of them. They
| rive, consequently, under charges. although they
have not been treated as prisoners since leaving Rio
nor are they even under parole.
| Mr. Porte1C. Bliss is from Western New-York and
went to South America eight years ago with Minister
Webb. He has travelled great deal on the Eastern
| shore Of the South American continent, engaged
partly in business pursuits but chiefly in ethnolog
cal linguistic, and geographical researches He is 30
years Of age. Mr. Bliss bears evidences of the suffer
ing which he has undergone, and one can look at
him and hear bis story without seeing in gait. GEES
| ture cOuntenance, and expression, abundant con-
| frmaton of the narrative of cruelty and outrage.
| Mr.. Masterman is an Englishman who went to Par
aguay years ago to join the medical staff of the
Paraguayan army He is about the age his
companion, of slight figure and handsome features.
and bears a decided appearance of the gentleman.
His dark hair turned half gray during his imprlson
ment. He suffered much less than Mr.. Bliss how
| ever and his health does not appear to have been
| much shattered The following succnct narratives
of the imprisonment and suferings of Messrs Master
| man and Bliss, for which we are indebted to the
gentlemen themselves, will be found highly inter
| esting.
The ALLEGED CONSPIRACY AND THE ARREST
MessTs. Bliss and Slasterman were arrested by order
of Lopez charge of completely in plot said to
have been formed in Paraguay for the overthrow of
President Lopez. No such conspiracy, however ever
existed-at least not TO the knowledge of Mr.. Bliss;
and he emphatically declares that no member Of the
| American Legation in Asnncion ever had anything
whatever to do, either directly indirectly, with
any movement against the government Of the Para
guayan President. The conspiracy story was con-
cocted by Benigno Lopez. brother Of President Lo-
PEI, uDdur peculiar circumstances, 10 his
selfish ends. Benigno II seems, having access to the
| National Treasury 40 Asuncon, had distracted
thersfrop very large sum of Of money;
the President he caused Benigno to be put on his trial
for the robbery lie had committed The ohense having
been proved, the culprit threatened with the
terrible vengeance of the tyrant; and it then
that in the hope Of averting the impending blow, he
pretended TO dvulge the secret of conspiracy, in
| furtheranco of the end Of which, he stated, the
money had been taken from the Treasury. To give
plausibility TO his invention he named as his accom-
plices United States Minister WashburD. the Para
guayan Minister OF Foreign Affairs Berges the Por
former Of whom, he said had q tnowl-
secretary of the organization. Lopez believed the
statements of ms brother; several of the parties
against whom Benieno had informed were arrested;
and on the 10th of September last, as hessrs. Bliss
| and Masterman. in company with Mr.. Washburn,
were on their way from the American Legation TO
embark in IT, g. steamer with the intention Of pro-
| IN Wpro rcd
in the streets of Asuncion, aud forthwith taken 10
the Paraglpyan camp, about 80 miles from Acunson.
We shall let Mr.. Bliss relate, in his words the
story OF the treatment he experienced while III the
hands of Lopez:
suTTERISGs or THE PRISONERS
was taken irons, says Mr. Bliss 90 the camp near
Angosua kept there under sentry for OF the time
with every Preesuon to prevent my escape In the first
and ,, Spodt MN ' %ens person
| was also robbed Of almost every
1aS ON ses IN tho ., nyeyG1s clothes ss
for three months with irons Of 40 pounds weight on my
legs one sentry kept guard over me by day and two
Tribunal 20 different days on one occasion was hours
on stretch before IT. another 49, and at other times
u dSys We bad absolutely no shelter Serward branches
were tied esether and the s' IN Inc ed n, was Gu.
about four feet high and IN sloplnH inclined form,
not high to %nS IN f5sc Ssd g wn RShRS TO
upon tho ground, having no intercourse with any.
body sentry with eaea one keeping ", over
The only variation We had from TINS horrible monotony
After about month moved to another hut, In
order 10 write pamphlet putting In narrative form my
statements before the tribunals There were some few
nleyiations after the change II great aeyia-
ton roof that would shelter me better from the
kept on aud iG ali had to eat was little
boiled k beef, but without salt. After time
Sy nos allowed % aSy oSa than the boiled bes
but IL great relief for me to have something 70 do
sraws. Lopez made those who inquired for us believe
ting plenty OF money and that would not leave Para
quay any condition Ny irons were removed on the
Ith December, just before was gwen up
THE TORTURE.
Messrs Bliss and Mastemnn were subjected to tor
ture of the most cruel kind in order to cXtort u
fesson from them Of the existence OF conspiracy
against Lopez Mr.. Bliss thus describes the torture
I'VE were tortured with conrlyance TO which Lopez
cnffed In the presence Of the tribunal and have been
beaten the head with drawn sword In tho
Cero Ur1Iguaydna something similar TO what we call
bucEns 1t consists Of placing VIM S,sSt under tine
from one TO the other which on being usht
force the head down the as Sn 6s s
belly aud causing great pain IN he back ana me other
m mInutes Even after was brought on board the
Wasp could not stoop without having strong remnls
ceuce of the torture IL made mo sek lor so'er uays
Mr. Masternan tainted away under IT,"
THE BLISS PAMPHLET. -,
The pamphlet which Mr.. Bliss wrote while
prisoner consists as already minated OF the
substance of the statements made by him before tho
Tribunals Court composed OF three priests, TWO OF
whom were liscalesp or prosecuting attorneys, the
third acting Ms Secretary The accused were allowed
no counsel and no opportunity whatever OF defend
ing themselves; and the charges made oy inc pros
ecutors were put into just such forms as suited the
PURPOSES of Lopez and his myrmidons The state
iHents exorted from Bliss before thls lripuhn were
considered 80 important, that no was ordered 10 put
them in writing, in q connected form, with view to
their publication. -, =, ,.,,
"Of course" he says there was not word OF truth
in them They consisted OF only what was Obliged 10