The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-26
READY FOR WAR.
How Col. George Gibbons Proposes to Resist
English Encroachment in Venezuela.

New YORK. Feb. 25-The World this morn
ing says: The clarion tones of the trumpet OF,
war are at this moment, il report is to be be-
heved, awakening responsive echoes in the mar
tlal breasts of at least one hundred hitherto
peaceful New Workers. and 4, 900 other American
citizens scattered through various parts of the
United States, noticeably in the South. Il 10
from the window OF Office Broadway that
the bugle call to arms is being sounded, and
Col. George Gibbons is said to be at the little
end of the trumpet. He has not yet, however,
begun to make the noise which will be made
when, at the conclusion Of great commercial
conference which ia to be held in New York
within the next sixty days. it is found las it no
doubt will bel that the American governments
refuses 20 take up the war trumpet and blow
it its account. It means that
American industries IN Venezuela must
be protected from British interference
whether the President and his Cabinet say so
not 1t may not, perhaps be generally
known that an American syndicate representing
At least SO. 600 000 and headed by the well-to-
do California banking firm of Mackay, Flood Is
OBrien, have had its eye for many years on the
trail running between the Orinoco river and the
absurdly rich mining district of Caratai, Vene-
zuela. just as Jacob Sharp used TO have his eye
on Broadway. and attempted some time to
establish q steamship line between New York
and the mouth of the Orinoco river. with rail
Il
difficulty about the little railroad and semi
monthly steamer scheme arose. so says Colonel
Gibbons, through the objections of the
British government, whose policy of agrandize 4
ment is clearly and plainly labeled in
Venezuelan affairs. Associated with Messrs.
Mackay. Flood & O'Brien In the above mon
toned proposed enterprise were such comfort
ably fixed landlords r w. Tavlor, of Califor-
MIA: George w. Roche of Savannah, Ga; B. A.
Whitman. Peter Doremus Henry Siefke and
Peter Ashton, of New York city; Charles L.
Bull of Charleston. S. c., and several others
In connection with the steamship and railroad
these gentlemen also organized land and emf
grafton company. All those interested in the
scheme were Americans, and the Venezuelan
government made the syndicate large conces-
sions There are now 200 Americans in the
mining district of Venezuela-many OF them
from New York-who were sent thither by this
syndicate. They think that the United States
ought to protect them and their interests, and it
There is about slo.00O.oOo of New
York capital invested in Venezuela,
and it is IN jeopardy if England persists in her
scheme of territorial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. That
Colonel Gibbons is satisfied with the warlike
outlook is aoundantly proved by his own state
raise an armV Of 100 600 frishmen in this coun-
try to resist Great Britain. They are ready at
all times to strike a blow at the English govern
ment and are heartily in sympathy with us IN
this Venezuelan movement"
He says that he has recruited 5000 Ameri-
cans, of undoubted courage. who will proceed to
Venezuela under his leadership, and take po-
officers in the conflict with Great Britain. And
when they get there they will not according to
his statement. be in a defenseless condition, for
within the past month 90. 900 stand of improved
firearms have been purchased by the California
syndicate and shipped to Venezuela. TO be used
in the war. The same syndicate. by the way,
will also guarantee so the Colonel says, all SOL
diers who go from this country, $50 month
during their term of service. To svade
the neu trality laws. the army big small.
the may be, will be shipped South, labeled.
every mothers son of them, emigrants, but
their kits will consist of Colts revolvers and
other likewise peaceful agricultural implements.
1t must by means be supposed that the
Venezuelans are sitting idly by waiting for
Colonel Gibbons and his warlike companions
to arrive. If this government refuses to inter-
fere, army of determined Venezuleans, 60. 600
strong, which organized ana has been
drilled for the past year under the leadership
of General Millen. old soldier of fortune and
a former New York journalist and General
Gordon, South Carolinian. late Of the confeder.
ate army. will be put in the field to resist Great
Britain's contemplated encroachment.