New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-23
ARGUING WITH REV0LHERS.
HOW AN AMERICAN CONSUL WAS TREATED
MAND AN APoLoGY-RUMoRs ABOUT A
FRENCH CoALING STATION.

The recent cruise Of tho Boston was, It turns out
fraught with diplomatic incidents fully important
her Investigation of the seizure of the Haytfen Re
public but concerning which the public have been SO
far ignorant The Boston first ordered to Liv-
ngston, Guatemala, to investigate the imprisonment
Of the American Consul at that place. and to demand
apology for the outrage II seems that the 1efe
politico," civil governor of the province IN which
Livingston is situated to that city on tour OF
Inspection, and drank freely Of the flowing bowl The
American Consul there boat and the iefe polit-
co" took notion that he would like that boat, and
thercupon demanded It. The American Consul ex-
planned that while he would like to oblge his Serene
nebriaeneSs he had for the boat and must refuse
TO give 1t up. 1hercupon the lefe'
threw the consul into most hor-
rble and filthy calaboose, and madc sundry
threats against him in more less coherent Spanish
There are about fifteen Americans in Livingston,
and when they heard of the outrage they remem-
bered the good old customs Of their native land, and
armlng themselves, started out to tear down the
calaboose and lynch the jefe poltco" he had with
hlm guard of twenty-five thirty native soldiers
whose anihllation the Americans considered would
only be incident in the evenings entertainment
But some OF the more conservative OF the Ameri-
cans prevailed upon the rest to try to reason with the
Governor before committing any overt act This was
DONE and owing to the strong respect for the smith
& Wesson revolver entertained In Guatemala, the
force Of the Americans argument was seen and tho
consul liberated after three hours imprisonment.
But the insult to The flag, from under whose folds
the consul had been dragged, not aoncd for and
the Boston was sent down to about IT,
Whom the cruiser arrived and nor guns frowned
threaeningly at the town, the Governor made most
full and ample apology He would have ssluted the
flag In token of hfs sincere repentance only he had
no guns or powder to do It With.
Things being satisfactorily settled at Livingston,
the Boston ordered to go at once to Corn Island
70 attend to important affairs there Corn Island
lies off the coast of Nicaragua and Is owned by that
Nation. 1t IS the key Of the proposed Nicaragua
Canal from military point of view Information
received at tho State Department that the United
States Of Colombia had set up some antquated claim
to the island and had entered into secret compact
with Franco to take possession Of 1t and oede the
French Government coaling station there This
would enable France to command the eastern en-
trance TO the Nicaragua Canal, thing which mani
festly could not be allowed by the United States.
When the Boston reached Corn Island It was found
that the Nicaraguan Government had also heard OF
the intended seizure Of the island and had sent
garrison thero with instructions to the commanding
ciccr forcbly TO resist any attempt to occupy the
place by foreign power.
Tho Boston staid there for some time and then
went to jamaica to communicate with Washington.
Thence she was ordered TO Hayti. Tho rest of her
eventful cruise is we'll known. The garrison which
the Nicaraguan Government sent TO Corn Island has
been Withdrawn, but whether the French st cherish
a scheme Of establishing cOang station there and
who possessed of that little wisdom which rules
tho vofld.'