The New York herald., 1879-12-20
TORTURE IN VENEZUELA.


AN AMERICAN CITIZEN CRUELTY MALTREATEn
BY VENEZUELAN oFFICIALs--THE ToRTUREs
OF THE INoUIsIrIoN REVIVED.
BOLIVAR, State of Guayana. yenezuela.(
Nov. 13. 1879 J
To THE EDITOR THE HERALD
wish to give your readers brief account Of an
atrocious outrage committed here in Venezuela.
and of which the writer the victim. What Is
known as the Caratal mining districtsis located in
the State of Guayana. Venezuela about two hundred
miles southeast of the town of Bolivar. which Is
the capital of the State. In the month Of June last
visited the mines there. had frequently done be-
fore. and remained there until the 18th Of Septem-
Der. on which day ready and expected to start
for this town route for New York. On Saturday
morning early. the 1ath of September. 1879. was
arrested on complaint Of an Italian lwho is now
discovered to be fugitive from justice from Iem-
erara) of having robbed him of $1,000. The civil
officer who made the arrest is known here ''com-
missary and his duties. believe combine somewhat
those of sheriff and justice OF the peace The al.
rest took place in the little mining of Chile.
about mile from the quarters Of the Italian with
whom had been stopping some time previous to
the arrest. After the arrest at Chile my arms
tied tight behind me aud. with escort Of three
four poems guard. was sent back to Eureka, the
italian and the conmissary who arrested me fol-
by the way, is full-blooded negro and an
lutionary general. My arms tied tight
that they became very painful. repeatedly
requested the guard to slacken the cords. but
without avail until one Of them asked me
what would give him to loosen them. told him
SIS. He slackened them up little and gave him
the IS. A very short time after this he dropped .
little way behind and another Of the guard up
and drew the cords tighter than A few mo-
II =
would give to have them Ioosened again. thought
this was getting rather monotonous. and were
then not far from our destination concluded to
bear the misery.
Arriving at Eureka l was taken into the room
where the safe was. The commissary then asked
me il had slept in the room adjoining. replied
in the affirmative. He had got another negro to in
terpret as the commissary spoke only Spanish with
erai more questions he told me- through the inter-
prefer, that was accused of robbng the safe tho
night before OF the sum OF 200 and ordered me TO
where the money (he had previously searched
my trunkl. OF course as knew nothing about any
robbery I could not tell him. Hs then had some
conversation with the Italian, who speaks Spanish
very fuently at the conclusion Of which the latter
got up and left the room. This civil officer OF the
government then ordered my arms to be again tied
tight behind me. then was raised up. and by tho
cord which tied my arms was suspended from
peg the WALL my feet being some distance OF
nually told through the interpreter that II would
knew nothing about it could not tell. 1t is mpos-
sible for to how long they kept me suspended
in this manner as it, OF course, seemed to me almost
eternity; but they lowered me down and returned
to the same position many times. They then
changed the manner OF torture-stretched q rope
the centre, raised my body up and thrust through
this spnoose until it passed around me little be.
low the breast then the rope hauled tight. and
I was left suspended in this manner. Tho agony
awful. l could only draw half breath.
~ two Of the poems would rush up and raise me up.
thereby relieving the pressure and enable me 20
speak. Then this civil officer would always say to
me:-"Tel where the money is ana we will let you
60 perfectly free and unmolested. After repeating
this many times was then taken down. and with
my arms still tied in very painful manner behind
me was led out into the forest about half mile
any house under the direction Of the ON
Ger, who allowed no one to accompany US but the
poems and the interpreter. that Shere might be NO
witnesses. On reaching suitable spot in the woods
rope was stretched across between two small trees.
and in the middle of this rope were arranged two
small peculiar slipnooses, and in these were placed
my bare ankles t The rope was then ZEN pulled t,ms'
1 had thought previously TO this that they had
nearly exhausted even spanish ingenuity in inaict-
ing physical suffering, but all had passed through
was as nothing compared to that which was now
compelled to endure!
HEAD INQUIsIrIoN.
Suspended with my head down. the ropc cutting
deep into the fesh OF each ankle my arms tied so
was kept in that position suffering from an awful
thirst. until my brain spun round and insensibihty
was coming 70 my n Ssrsd sdem aa"hst whsr
the questions and answers passed between US.
and the whole operation was gone through again.
This repeated many times, varied BY such
changes as only people with the same blood ~ the
old Spanish nquisitors could devise. They would
jerk the rope continually while IL buried In the
fesh of my ankles, and while suspended head
downward they would strike me with the backs Of
their swords. But have disposition to dwell
longer upon the awful agony suffered, the
cruciating torture that inflicted upon me by this
negro officer of the Venezuelan government Suffice
to say that all tho human frame could endure was
inflicted on me upon that awful day.
1t late in the afternoon before the negro civil
nfin fhaV Vana vnnlor rApfa andhf
had satisfied their curiosity to how much torture
American could stand aud still live. but when
lodged the nearest jail and kept there days
until the Judge OF the district gave the full
investigation when was discharged, with full
from the Judge that there nothing
whatever against me-not even suspicion. I
away jail the Italian followed and offered, for
5000. to clear me right then and there. had very
foolishly few days before while at his place.
allowed him that had several hundred dol
lars in my possession. aud from this carelessness
arose all my troubles. as will explain. This Italian
fugitive from Justice in Demerara. He
was apout to DO discharged for misconduct
from the employment of the mining company ut
Eureka; he was all prepared leave the country.
but he heavily debt. and as he knew he could
not leave the country with the money he had re-
ceived salary for the mining company he con-
cluded that he would spread the report that he
robbed. and rs he knew had some money with me
he thought would pay handsomely to keep out Of
jail. He failed in extortng the 5000 from me. but
he was discharged by the company. ana fed from
his dastardly attempt at blackmailing At all
It Is believed here by every who knew him that
thore robbery Ia the affair At all After my
discharge. and AZ soon was able to travel came
TO this town to lay my case before the American
Consul, Mr.. John Dalton, who forwarded statement
TO Washington and made demand upon this govern
men for satisfactory damages for the horrible out
rage. claim $4,000 damages. and certainly would
not undergo the ordeal again for twice that
money paid in advance. JOHN L. WHKELOCK.
INQUIRY
Tho Co,aborador, of Ciudad Bolivar. of November
4, contains a note addressed upon the above subject
to tho President of the State of duayana by the
Consul Of the United States. Mr. John Dalton. under
date of October 30 and an order given by that au-
thorty Se or +. Dalla Costa to the Prefect Of the
Department Roscio Mr. Dalton limits himself to
forwarding a copy OF Mr.. wheeiocks complaint.
pointing out tho enormity of the offence. request
ing the attention Of the President. and informing