New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-20
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DExcE IsIAND-syIrs AT AsPIvwAIL.


DExcx Is1,AND--sUIrs AT AsPIvwAIL.
AspinwalI. United states Of Colombia April o.
The United States Consul at Aspinwan has made .
report to the state Department, giving an account OF
the iIltreatment OF the crews Of American VS.
sells which went ashore on Islands to tho north OF this
city The complaints have been forwarded directly
10 him by American residents on these islands 40.
cordlng 10 their account the vessels Caribbean, ",
Il. Bell, McKnown and Isaac Dodge suffered shpwreck
upon the Islands of Old Providence and San Andress
during some Of the heavy storms that marked the
recent winter 10 this part Of the world The Crows
having barely escaped from The surf that breaks con-
stantly against tho coral Shore were not received
as such unfortunate creatures should be, but were
met by host OF pirates, who stripped them Of their
clothes and after the storm seized all the remaining
effects on board their ships Having wandered about
In helpless condition, they at last met some Aniea-
cans and told their wrongs The local authorities
did nothing. The State Department vii as a report
shows establish Consular Agency at Old Pros1.
dence 30 protect the interests Of American seanea
and residents. Moreover, having notiied the Navy
Department Of these pirscies tho Secretary Of the
Navy has ordered tho Admiral Of the North Atlantic
squadron TO detail vessel to visit the port AMI male
thorough investigation OF those compisinfs IL 10
probable that the United States cruiser Atlanta, now
wing IN this port will be sent upon this mission
soon "a she Is detached from her present duty and
starts on her way North.
An incident that has caused moro pttar feeling
betweep Americans and Colombians than any other
Is tho action Of the Government toward tho Boston
lee Company, Years ego, when Aspin~al was
much smaller place than 1t is at present. this com
panv was formed and made proposition to the Gov
arnmeut which was eagerly accepted. 1t agreed to
furnish enough ice to supply the demand on the
Isthmus at . fixed rate, and In case IL feh shors
and could not for any length OF time, supply all
reasonable customers, it was TO forfeit large sum
daily. on the other hand &c wanted permission to
sell ice for certain number Of years AL went Wsh
and business prospered with the Boston Ice Company
But early In the year the Governments began to cast
envious eyes on its earnings and finally ended y
closing up its business and starting Governmens
ice company. The Boston Ice Company appealed TO
the United States Government. 1t has also entered
a claim in the Colombian courts, and IS awaiting
decision.
In the meantime the Colombian Ice Company has
been sngularly unfortunate. True the first load Oh
Ice arrived safely and disposed Of TO the former
customers of the Boston Company. But the second
vessel is not forthcoming. For tho past two weeks
the supply has been growing short, and for few
days there was not pound to be had In tho city!
In the large storehouse Of the Boston Ice Company
lie 3o0, 900 pounds Of fee, and at present. 1t has
Government permission to sell. But is VIII not
sell any, fearing that 1t win injure its claim for dam
ages. Ono Of the features of this petty strife was
the melting OF Whoie schooher-ioso VI 10 "s0A 'i'
tropical 1t bad been sent hero before the bos-
ton Company was closed up, and the company was
not permitted to sell 1t, give it away, or even lsnd
It. So the entire cargo remained in the stream until
1t melted.
Another arbitrary act on the part OF the Colombian
Government is the effort to reclaim land given to tho
Panama Railroad Company. When this road was
started the Isthmus, and while AspEvall was
city Of little importance the Governments made large
grants Of land to the company return for buildns
the railroad This land has been improved at the
compsnys expense, new streets have been laid out
and houses erected, until a city has sprung up.
The greater part OF all that Is good In the town can
be directly attributed TO the railroad and its geDer
expenditure OF its earlier earnings. Now the
Government wishes to collect from the company the
entire rents paid 10 IL by people living this land
This is the basis of another suit before tho courts
At present engineers are computing the outlay OF
money from railroad earnings IL is feared that the
Government win eventually win the case and cripple
the railroad.