The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-06-05
Jouett's omeiai Report.

WAsHINGToN, June Admiral Jouett
has made an official report TO the NAVY
Depaftmei Of his recent trip to Garth
agena for the purpose of taking num-
Der of commissioners in order to make.
If possible, a peaceful settlement with
the revolutionists. He arrived there
May 18th, after the insurgents had at
tackled Carthagena and had been re-
pulsed. Admiral Jouett found that the
whole of the insurgent force before
Carthagena, numbering 1900 men, had
embarked on board their steamers and
were ready to retreat to Baranquilla.
He immediately sent an officer
to the leaders of the insur-
gent forces, General Guitan and
hernandez, and informed them that
they could not leave the harbor with
their steamers without hls consent. and
that if they attempted to do so he
would prevent their departure by
force. He also informed them that he
desired to see them on board the flag
ship Tennessee as soon as possible. Gen
erals GulJan and Hernandez both came
on board this vessel the same evening
and the admiral had long interview
with them. From their statements. and
also from the testimony made by out
SIDE parties. he was convinced that al
hough there may have been some ir-
regularity originally in getting posses
SION OF the vessels, they were only con-
sequent to the state of war which
existed at Barranquillo. They were used
by agreement and the insurgents were.
giving compensation for their use.
Admiral Jouett did not regard it as ad-
visable to take forcible possession of the
steamers or to detaln them longer dur
ing an important military man@uyre of
the insurgents, even if they were seized
without compensation. The admiral
urged General Guitan and Hernandez
to make efforts towards q peaceful set
tlement OF the difficulties between the
two hostile parties, and they both con-
scented to do so. General Guitan sent
two OF his officers to Barranquilla to
lay Admiral Jouett's proposition to
mediate before General Felipe Perez
Three days later, General Perez sent a
letter to Admiral Jouett. thanking him
Tor his proposition, but declining to take
any steps in the matter until he should
receive some information as to what
steps the United States would take.
! The admiral took no further steps at
that time to secure settlement of the
troubles. Admiral Jouett reports that
the sickness among the American forces
has increased rapidly. He SAYS:
Yellow fever now seems liable to be-
come epidemic at any time, as there
has been number of fatal cases among
the marines. am informed by the
board of surgeons appointed to inFesti-
gate matters, that there are now three
vessels in the harbor at Colon. all with
numerous cases of yellow fever and that
the disease is also prevalent in the
cities of Aspinwall and Panama"
In regard to the political con
ditions of the Isthmus the Admiral
says: Il am happy to. state
that matters seem to be entirely settled
and the Isthmus has now better and
stronger government than it has had
for many years, and this promises to be
permanent"
The Colombians, he further saws.
now have garrisons along the line of
transit, and they have an ample force
to protect it and foreigners. They have
relieved the American forces of all duties
on shore, except guarding the trains,
and they were to assume that duty on
the 18th Rltimo. The Colombian authori-
ties, the Admiral concludes, seem very
anxious to assume all the duties OF pro-
tecting transit and foreign property.