New-York tribune., 1890-05-22
CALIFORNIA FILIBUSTERS.
a SCHEME TO SEIZE A PART OF MEAlCo
REVEALED.
ORGANIZING AN EXPEDITION TO PROCLAIM
REPUBLIC IN LOWER CALIFORNIA AND
THEN SEEK ANNEXATION TO THE
UNITED STATES.
Try rg1EeKArH TO THE tribune

San Francisco MAY I'll" The Chronicle this
morning prints a four-eolumn dispatch from Los
Angeles giving details of a conspiracy OF Hi
busters to seize Lower California from the NeXf
can officials organize a republic ana theh Sc
cure its annexation 10 the United States. lhls
scheme has been discussed here for several wears.
II came to the surface last year during the great
rush to the Alamo gold fields near Ensenada,
when several thousand American miners were In
Lower California. but the Mexican authorities
took special precautions, and no uprising oc-
curred This present account gives the names
of the leaders, the amount OF money subscribed
and the plan of campaign. 1t seems that the
chief conspirators are Walter G.. Smith, Editor
of The San Diego Sun" said TO be a personal
friend of Vice-Ppsident Morton; Colonel Ed
ward Hill, real estate speculator. of Los Angeles;
Captain Harris large landowner; Augustus
Merrill. who is a Grand Army man, and b. A.
Stephens. newspaper manager. Mr. Smith
secured from the Mexican Land and ColOniza-
tion Company an assurance of 81 OO. 900 backing
This is an English company that owns and controls
concessions the peninsula made by the McXi-
can Government TO the international Company Of
Mexico. For several years the affairs of both COM
panies have been in a complicated condition.
The officers of the corporations claim that this
condition is due to the fact that Mexican officials
on the peninsula, from Governor down, have been
bleeding the life out of them by pursuing a
policy in the management of Governmental af
fairs detrimental the land interests of the COM
pany. To crcumvent this the companies were
forced to eXpend thousands of dollars, and the
salvation of the Mexican Company, the members
assert finally depends securing the anncAa-
ton of Lower California TO the United States
A paid lobby is now in Washington working under
the direction of the corporation 10 bring tins
about. AS the prospects of action being taken
by Congress are decidedly slender, and as the dis
position OF the Mexican Government IS 10 preserve
the integrity of its domain the Mexican Lana
and Colonization Company grasped at the fill
clustering scheme, which was to introduce a large
number of Americans into Ensenada, under the
guse of an excursion from San Diego, give a
great ball at the Hotel Iturbide, in Ensenada
get the Mexican officials drunk. then bring out
their arms, capture the fort take possession of
the town and proclaim the independence OF Lower
California.
The success of the scheme depended on tbs
discontinued Americans and MeXicans in the coun-
Try a large proportion Of whom would ca -cry
Join such a movement. \ lobby was also sent 10
Washington TO work up the sentiment in favor
OF annexation. Meetings were held in San Diego
and Los Angeles during the last few months and
senada next August. One of the cOnspiTatOrS was
sent East TO purchase arms and large number of
men known TO be i'll favor Of dnneXing the terri
tory were sworn i'll as members of the flibustcr-
ing expedition. The leaders even had prepared a
proclamation 10 be issued and had selected
The officers whom they wanted under :he Lew
government. Smith niodestly took the Office Of
GOvtrnOr-Generel About fortnight ago the
eOnspiratOrs began 10 suspect that thciI plans
had been divulged. They suspected several mem
bers of treachery, hut the truth is that n san
Diego reporter >rcretcd himself in room adj
Joining one where they held meetings. and oh
tained full notes of all the plans and discussions
which he relates in The Chronicle
An interview with the Mexican consul, MI
COney, at san Francisco, to-day, shows that he
has known Of The scheme for some time lie
declares that the Mexican Government Will never
part with this territory, and attempts 10 seize
il by force would ne sure 10 end IKE Walker ;
attempt in Nicaragua. He said that the OiiicIal-
at Ensenada were warned early this year 10 keep
a watch on the San Diego fibustcrs and 10 arrest
any one who acted sUspiciOusly over the border
lie expressed his confidence that Mr. Elaine would
never countenancc any such attack Is this, and
the conspiratorS would thus be placed between
two fires.
There are others lere who declare that leadin@
Mexican officials in Lower California have been
aIfyroacLed on the subject of annexation, and
that President Diaz himself has been interviewed.
These officials il i declan.u. all agreed To allow
the flibusters 10 proceed, making only such le-
distance as was necessary TO preserve appearances.