Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-05-19
EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURE.
The kidnapping of a Young New Yorker
His Escape From Central American
Servitude.
NV YoRK Nav Is.

The New York Herald prin.s an extraordi-
nary narrative of the kidnapping of young
New York boy at New Orleans, and of his
being taken on board u vessel and carried to
Guatemala where, in company with 66 others
In similar plight with himself, he was sold
to railroad company operating at Puerto
Barrios. Hi, account of the scenes he wit
messed and the sufferings endured by himself
aud his unfortunate associates while he was
at Puerto Barrios is given with great clear
ness and with full recollection of every in
cident. 1t is as follows:
My name is Edward Santa Rosa. Twas
born in New York city April %. 1866, of
Cuban parents. My father, Augustine Santa
Rosa and my brother Antonio, aged % years,
were killed with Captain Frv in the Virginius
affair. l left New York for Nebraska, and
from there went to New Orleans, arriving
there on the 9th of September last with the
purpose of going to Key West, Florida, to
visit 4 sister. On the I'd of October was
enticed on board the steamer Ella Knight
under the belief that she was bound for Key
West. But the vessel landed me with 66 9TH
ers at Puerto Barrios, in Guatemala. When
Jim O'DonAld of Glasgow. Scotland, the man
who entrapped me at New Orleans, along
with the captain and mate went ashore,
heard him call out, Here are my cattle for
which am to get $40 per head" We were
landed in small boats and counted. Where
upon O'Donald went up to the offices of J. P.
Bouserron, president of the railroad company,
and received $670 for this shmpent of 81
men. Bouserron, though a Kentuckian,
spoke French fluently. N. B. Day of Chat
tanoOga, Tenn, is vice president. As we
were landing Mr.. Day sung out, "Hurrah,
look at the boys, there is plenty of money
there" Mr.. BouserrOn said to some soldiers,
$50 to searching" The soldiers were under
the command of tall, white man. If any of
our number objected to being searched his
money and arms were taken from him by
torce and there WAS tree near at hand and a
lash was shaken to show him that he would
be tied up and whipped. As we were brought
ashore in small parties those remaining on
board did not know what was in store for
them until they, too, were forced to give up
their property. President Bouserron sat at a
table with box at hand, into which he
dropped the money as it was passed to him by
the soldiers, after taking it from our party.
As it was never intended that workmen should
ever earn and be paid enough to get away
from Puerto Barrios they were at once robbed
Of what money they brought with them in
order that the door of escape might also be
closed against them. Guatemalan soldiers
stationed at Puerto Barrios were our jailers.
The men were tortured day and night by
gnats, mosquitoes, venoinous snakes and
worse pests. Paul Johnson, one of our 81,
was stung by 12-foot snake and was dead in
an hour. Work at Puerto Barrios was COM
menced IN July, but during August and Sep
tember there were not many men secured In
October they began to get their supply. New
Orleans was filling up with people and
O'Donaid and Stallings knew how to get them
to Puerto Barrios. Figuring up the receipts
of laborers up to January IA, when left,
find that there were at work when our party
arrived, 677; at work when left, about 200
so this accounts for AT. When a man had
worked faithfully for what he considered a
sufficient time to pay the company. and he
did not insist upon his pay, but was glad to
quit and say nothing by very civilly asking
for pass from President Bouserron, it would
be granted. By this pass he could pass the
guard on the wharf and be allowed to take Il
small boat for Livingston, ten miles distant,
across the bay, whence sailing vessels go to
Belize, from which passage may be had to
the outer world. 1t was the custom of the
foreman or overseer to carry cowhides which
the men call black snakes, and their use was
of daily occurrence. Even the weak, inoffen
sive workmen, who refused to work because
unable to do so, were not spared the lash. II
laborer would not go to work he was denied
food. The men were kicked till they left sick
beds to return to work. The system was one
of torture, but life was kept up. The men
only cost the company $40 per month.
After enduring this life about three months
young Santa Rosa gained the sympathy of
one of the contractors who obtained his re-
lease and subse quently prevailed upon the
master of a Spanish schooner to give him
passage to Belize, whence he reached New
York.