Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-08-11
EX.PRESIDENT BARRIOS.
HIS Remarkable Career and Heroic
Death-His Friendship for the United
States.
A TALK WITH MR.. CURTIS OF THE SOUTH
AMERICAN COMMISSION.

AMAhlCAN COMMISSION.
Mr.. w. E. Curtis, of the South American com
mission, who is in the city, in speaking to &
STAR reporter to-day of the recent trip Of thu
commission, said that the man who stood 6
head and shoulders above all others the com
mission met was President Barrios, of Guate
maia. HE was as great q man in his way 81
either Napoleon or Grant," said Mr.. Curtis
he possessed all the natural gifts which tenG
10 make great leader, but he was lacking II
the advantages of education. He never went II
school day in his life. He was as brave as {
lion. and perfectly cool and composed in the
greatest danger. An attempt was made *
assasSinate him by throwing q bomb at him
~ ieii at his feet, and BarriOs quietly put hi
ioot upon the fuse, and extinguished 1t, remark
to kill me-
IN the conference between the commission
anu n barrlos last March the little seven-year-Old
uausnter OF the president acted as interpreter
seated upon her fathers knee At this meeting
Barrios said: when you 60 back to your people
come one of them. After have ccomplished
tne union of the Central American states in
tend 10 go to New York, where l now have a
house, 10 reside there and become Citizen"
AN EVIL OMEN.
IAN exciting incident happened in Guate
mala the night before Barrios left for the war
grand celebration was held in the opera
house In his honor. All the military bands Of
the country were united and rendered march
composed In honor of Barrios by the greatest
nuslcai leader In the country, who led the
mammoth band. The building was filled to its
utmost limits, and the greatest enthusiasm
prevailed prev , In the midst OF the celebration O
large banner or screen was lowered over the
front OF the stage with the inscription, "Vive
Ia Union de Centio Americana 'Vive 10 J.
Rufino Barrios, Hefe Militar' Below were popu
i Lar sentiments wishing him victory and success
Inc excitement was intense. Men and woman
rose TO their feet and cheered until they were
a tkH,r. L.
est the banner suddenly split in two, from the
weight OF the roller at the bottom, through the
name OF Barrios, and the lower half fell to the
moor; HAD an earthquake occurred the effect
could not have been greater. The cheering was
instantly turned to waling, and many people
lelt the building oppressed with the evil omen.
among them was BarriOS wife, who firmly be.
leVed IN the omen and was satisfied that the
death of her husband was near at hand. An at
ha, = mace TO again arouse demonstration
put IL Jailed dlSmally. The people were super.
stltious, and all but BarriOs, who was absent
ana was ignorant of the accident, accepted it
as premOnitiOn of evil Barrios left the next
morning at four O'Clock for the war and was
KILLED IN THE FIRST BATTLE
He died bravely," continued Mr.. Curtis "He
was sitting in his tent writing to his wife on
Sunday morning. His son had left only a
short time before at the head of a reconoitering
party. They soon met strong force of the
enemy and were driven back upon the camp,
Barrios rushed out OF his tent to learn the
cause OF the confusion. He took in the situa-
'ioii 'I a. Siiuce, ana SprlnSlnS Dare-he1ded
upon horse, called to his men to follow him.
ms voice acted like magic; for everybody wor-
Shiped him. They turned on the enemy but
Barrlos was killed early in the fight
FRIENDLY TO THE UNITED STATES.
"Barrios was more interested in fostering
friendly relations with the United States than
any president the commission met. He stated
that If he had his way Guatemala should trade
exclusively with us. He would so arrange the
customs laws that everything manufactured
here should be admitted into Guatemala free OF
duty, provided we would receive coffee and
sugar free The reports of Barrios' opposition
to the Nicaraguan canal were Indignantly de-
MED by him, and he referred us to the CORE.
spondence in the possession of Minister Hall to
show his position on the question. His only
objection to the treaty was the payment OF
S4OOO,oOO to Nicaragua by the United States,
He thought the right ought to be granted free,
for the advantages which would accrue to
Nicaragua from the canal could not be meas
ured with money. Nicaragua was in debt to
English capitalists. he said, and the money
would help the government out of its Difficult
ties. Hence his (BarriosD objection to the money
clause was received with great disfavor by the
NicaraguanS."