The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-05-20
Central America.

New YORK, May l3.-A Panama
letter of May 3, gives the following
account Of the tragedy that recently
occurred at San Jose dc Guatemala:
1t appears that the Commandant of
that post, Col. Gonzales. had some
personal difficulty with II. Il. Ms
Vice Counsul, John Magee, in refer
ence to clearances for vessels living
in port They had exchanged blows
on the street On April "a, Gonzales
summoned Magee to come to his Of
fee The latter excused himself, aud
alleged that lameness prevented his
walking. A party of armed soldiers
was sent to bring him dead or alive.
Magee was arrested and thrown into
cart and jolted over the stones to
the government headquarters here
Gonzales, not daring to shoot him,
took the butt Of pistol and strack
his prisoner violently in the face,
heaping on him, in the meantime,
very obscene cpithets. At the same
time the COmmandant declared that
he should receive four hundred lashes,
and if he should survive this torture
he should be shot the next morning.
The unfortunate Vice Consul vainlv
invoked protection from his aag, and
the remonstrance of Mr. James, Uni
ted States Consular Agent, was also
disregarded by the Commandant.
The Pacific Mail steamship Aii-
zona arrived at San Jose from San
Francisco at noon, but her presence
did not keep the Commandant from
his purpose. He seized the telegraph
station, planted two cannon on the
wharf which commanded the Arizona
as she lay at anchor, and then pro-
cccded to work out his own plans
At four o'clock in the afternoon Ma
gee was brought out, stripped of his
coat and vest, and thrown PROSTATE
on the stone floor -Four soldiers sat
on his hands, feet and head, and four
others proceeded to administer lashes
with rattan sticks, the Commandant
coolly keeping tally Of the stripes.
After two hundred lashes had been
inflicted, the victim became insensi-
ble, and the surgeon Of the port in
terfcred, protesting that the man
would die if his torture was contin-
ued. Thereupon the remaining two
hundred lashes were postponed until
the next morning, Immediately be-
fore the hour appointed for the exc
cution Magec was then taken back
to his cell With a helish refinement
Of cruelty, the Commandant visited
his victim several times during the |
night, and placed the muzzle of his
revolver against Magee's temples. !
asking, "Why don't | shoot your
and don't you want me to put you
out Of your misery ~
RumOrs Of these extraordinary pro- /
ceediDgs had reached Salvador, and a |
detachment of troops, under General |
Solona, was dispatched to Jan Jose /
lie Guatemala These came in sight |
ust as Magee had been placed in po-
sition to receive the remaining two
hundred lashes The Commandaat,
seeing his downfall near at hand, or
iered his soldiers to fire upon Magee.
They refused, and be then fled to the
Arizona lie was followed by boat
bearing an order from General 5 To-
IA on the captain Of the steamer Ar
zona to secure him and return him
% shore; but as Gonzales was ascend
ng the side Of the steamer be was
ired upon by some of the passengers,
hree shots taking effect in different
parts Of his body. He managed to
get into the boat, aud was taken
ashore, but lived only few hours.
No clue to the person who fired on
he Commandant could be found
The log of the Arizona notes that
hrcc shots were fired by unseen
hands among the passengers. Great
ears of serious outbreak were ex-
and the steamers guns were
oaded and turned upon the town.
The United States Minister at Sal
-adOr, Williamson, sent a dispatch
,rdcring the detention of the steamer
'ut the captain, considering the or
Ter was designed to keep the ship
until the safety of the foreign resi-
tents was assured. decided to disre-
gard it, and sailed for Panama on
he 2jth of April