Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-11


that as on as OBrien touched the deck
/ OF the Fran he was virtually master OF
the ship. Captain Beruldsen bowed to
his commands with the complaisance of
one who heard the clink Of 800 British
sovereigns in his locker every time the
ship iurched.
O'Bren and the Captain stopped the
vessel when about half way down the bay,
and landed in a small rOwboat. 1t is ru-
mored that they were met at Perth Amboy
by one ofex-President SOtO's agents, who
gave them instructions concerning the
landing of the goods al Corn island.
When they arrived at Corn island, where
they expected to meet the City OF Mexico
under command Of Gen. Delgardo, they
were much chagrined TO learn Of That YES
sel's mishap.
An eEtry in the log book, made at King
stOn on Feb. %, states that the Captain
telegraphed to Lord & Austin to inquire
what was to be done with the arms. They
replied, TO land them in bond at the Gus
tom house, and return TO New York. The
| British authorities refused TO receive the
ammunition, and 1t was therefore taken
to Fort Augusta and landed there.
! The Captain said last nj ght that he had
a perfect right to accept the goods" for
transportation as merchandise, provided
! they duly passed at the Custom House.
! 'lt wasn't my business TO inquire what
use they were to be put TO-" said he. "My
ship sails under the Norwegian flag, and
am secure from everyOody's inter-
ference"
Yesterday afternoon Jacob Baiz, Consul
! General OF Honduras, sent for Capt Be-
ruldsen to come 10 his Office. The Cap
| tain came very promptly because, not
I outstanding his denial OF it, he knew
| very well that under the neutrality laws
! his vessel was liable TO seizure. In fact,
I the ConsuPs message contained an init
nation to that effct Consul BaiZ cross
examined him very sharply about his pro-
ceedings.
A prominent merchant said that the OBJ
! jectiye point of the expedition was the
! island OF Ruatan, which is the property
| OF Honduras, and lies within sight of
Coal island. 1t commands the mainland,
and as base for operations it would
have beer OF great value to the insurgents.
There is not doubt in my mlnd," he
continued, ''that the Captain knew all
| about the matter from the very first.
consider it fairly probable that the Hon
! duran government will ask the United
States and Norway TO punish this breach
of the neutrality laws. / understand
/ that such a step has been already taken
| in the City of Mexico affair, aud that the
| papers are now In the hands of the au-
! thOrities at Washington. Soto is the cor
ner stone of the whole fabric, and Halli-
| day, Ball and Conner and two other men
| whose names / nave forgotten, who have
| just returned in the Fran, probably got
their orders from Soto in person before
| leaving the city.
''SotO has always posed as dyed-in-
| the-wOOl Democrat, and he enjoys nothing
better than airing his own greatness by
| haranguing a mob. He has got pluck,
however. He was a clerk in the Ministry
under BarTiOs, receiving $50 a month
when that energetic individual was
searching all Guatemala to md a man
| brave enough to sign decree eXpelling
! the Order of Jesuits. Soto volunteered,
and Barrios made him Secretary of State.
He signed the decree, and escaped assas-
sInation by barring himself in his mouse
for an entire month.
'He will never rest easy under defeat.
| Only the other day heard that he was
negotiating the sale of his magnificent
residence on Fifth avenue. What does
that mean? 1t means that Marco AureliO
! Soto will be In Honduras at the head of
an army before three months"
Capt. Beruldsen admitted that he ex-
pected to receive ''a slgnal'' when of Coal
island, but wild horses could not drag out
| OF him what this signal was to be.
The mate said: 1--WE expected to meet
| some friends there who would have an or
der for the cannon and guns, but we heard
they were not coming, and so we made
straight for jamaica"
The Fran is to 90 out OF the flibuster-
| ing business and return to its old Occupa-
ton, the fruit trade; at least, so says
Capt. Beruldsen.
The reporter called last night at the
house of ex-Presldent Soto on Fifth ave-
nue., but was told Dy the servant that MIR.
Soto was not in. Mr.. Soto was at home.