Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-02-29
THE GOLD DISTRICT FIGHT.
Why the yeneEueIsns Send Troops tn Il
Frontier

w
Frontier.
GEORGETOWN, BRITISH GUIANA, Feb
ruary 2i.-The air here is full of war and
rumors of war between the officials, police
and citizens of the British Colony and the
Venezuelan forces in the adjoining States,
and it seems quite likely that an armed
encounter will soon take place
The scene Of the trouble is the vicinity
of the rich gold district on the Yuruari
river in Venezuelan Guiana. 1t seems
that news having reached the capital, Ciu
dad Bolivar. Orinoco river, that eXpedi-
tions under British officials were on their
way to the Yururari district, troops are
about to be or have been sent from there
to prevent an invasion Of the Venezuelan
territory.
There has also been report that one OF
the expeditions from here has been arrest
ed by Venezuelan authorities. There is
little 20 veryfy this, however.
The first expedition which lett here last
month was one led by Mr.. Michael Nc
Turk, the Bartica Magistrate. The second
one is under Mr.. I'm Thurn and Inspector
Greene. Both are police forces. The last
to depart was the like the first, bent on
certain mission, and it is now understood
to have followed that under Nc Turk, it,
purpose being the establishment OF post
either in the Yururai district or near it.
1t is thought nothing has happened to
the McTurk party as yet, though he is
said lately to have had some trouble with
his own men. Both parties started for the
frontier by way OF the Esss qnipo river III
steamers. The Yururai itself empties
into the Cutani, whose sea outlet is by the
E5sequibo. Therefore the British forces,
evidently, if they have gone by the way OF
Essequibo, expected good deal Of over
land travelling They must, in this case,
have had q tough Job on hand, for the
region Of their route is savage one.
There were rumors that the Demerara
government had telegraphed the British
Island Of Barbadoes to have an English gun
boat sent up the Orinoco river. Certainly,
in case Of trouble the Eagli5h have the
benefit of fine strategic positions, with
British Guiana on the cast and northeast
Of the Venezuelan State and the British
Isles Of Trinidad on ita north. The Ven
ezueleans have no navy to speak OF, AMI
British gunboats could steam mp the
Orinico to Ciudad Bolivar, and shell the
city and smash its old-tashioued fort TO
the rivers edge without the slightest pros-
pect of any opposition Of account Or
they could take English troops from Barbs-
does or Trinidad where there are military
stations Of considerable importance and
land them at Les Tables, the por; oil tbs
Orinoco for the Yururai district. A forced
march Of about 6 days would take the
troops 10 the mining district. The story
from the Venezuelan lire about starting
out troops to Ciudsd Bolivar TO prevon. iu-
vasion is brought here by parties on Ven
ezuelan schooner called the Active, which
carried a load of cattle from that city.
These parties state that just before they
left the capitol Of Venezuelan Guiana on
their sail down the 0rinOco river the news
of the British secret expedition had reach
ed the ears of the State and military au-
thorities there 1t was Immediately deter
mined to intercept the expeditions by |
which the Baitish intended to make this |
flank movement on the Yuruaria district. |
1t Was resolved to send two bodies OF
Venezuelan troops, one OF 800 and another |
of 300 men, to LIS Tablss by steamer. |
They were to join at that port and march |
to the mining district ever the usual routs |
from the rivers bank and then on TO the |
frontier. The people who bring this news
Venezuelsns, anl, being here on business,
look at the most peaceful possible aspect |
of this movement Of troops, claiming that |
it was distinctly sisted at Cindad Bolivar |
that the expedition was not dispatched
with hostile intent, but only % prevent
she two expeditions sent from her from
crossing the Venezuelan frontier and enter
ing the mining country.
They state, however, that the troops |
have been carefully selected from the gar
rison at Ciudad Bolivar, and that the off
cials, the soldiery and the people are
m sch wrought up at what they consider
England's effort TO possess itself OF the
rich gold mines.
1t is said, and the VeRezuelans on the
schooner admit the fact, that under per
mits from the custom house at Ciudad
Bolivar, cigars and rum were being regu-
larly sent into the Amaculala and Barima |
Referring to this the Royal
Gazette, of this place, says that however
iustifiable this may appear under the
claims the position Of the |
colony Of British Guiana in regard TO the |
boundary line is slch that they have no |
other name for this traffic but the ugly one
of cnntrahantism