Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-13

them several times, and while chasing them
about the deck, fell, riddIed with bullets.
New YORK, September u. The Pacific
mail steamer Hypocolon, which reached
this port to-day, brought from the Isthmus
some of the passengers who were on board
the steamship Acapulco at the time OF the
killing of General Barrundia by Guate-
malan officers, while the Acapulco lay in the
harbor of San Jose. An eyewitness of the
tragedy gives the following narrative:
'The steamship Acapulco left San Fran
cisco August Is. On her arrival at Aca-
pulco, Mexico, General Barrundia, ex-Nin-
lister Of War of Guatemala, came on board
from the Starbuck, a sister ship. He was
known to be hostile to the present Govern
ment Of Guatemala, and it was understood
that he was on his way to San Salvador He
was attended by two men as body guards.
When the ship arrived at Champerico,
Guatemala, the authorities who had been
warned that Barrundia was on board at
once sent off two boat loads of soldiers and
demanded that the General be surrendered
to them.
FUTILE ATTEMPT AT COERCION.
Captain Pitts peremptorily refused to
aceede to this demand. The attempt was
made to coeree him by withholding clear
ance papers. But after a detention of "a
hours, Captain Pitts persisting in his re-
fusal TO deliver General Barrundia without
an order from the Government, the vessel
was permitted to resume her course. This
was August Z, and Oh the evening of the
same day the steamer arrived at San Jose.
No sooner had the Acapulco cast anchor
than two boat loads of soldiers were sent off
from shore to keep close watch that no one
without proper credentials should leave the
vessel for the shore Within pistol shot of
where the Acapulco lay were two United
States gunboats. CAPTAIN Bits had tele-
graphed to their commanding officers from
Champerieo, requesting assistance But his
dispatch was not delivered. Now he made
a personal appeal to them for help. The |
response was that the men-ofwar could do |
nothing without an order from the port Cap |
tain.
THE GENERALS REVOLVER USED.
Next day the ship was again invaded |
by the commandant nf a special force of |
men, accompanied by another boat load of |
soldiers. This time the Guatemalan Off |
GERS came furnished with an order of ar |
rest signed by the American Minister Miz- |
ner. After being politely introduced to |
Captain Pitts, the commandant produced |
his papers and made a formal demand for
the delivery of General Barrundia. Then
the commandant directed that all the cabin I
passengers be ordered below. When this
order had been executed, the entire force of
Guatemalan officers proceeded to General
Barrundia's room, Captain Pitts going
with them. As soon as the room was
reached, Captain Pitts, after deprecating
the necessity of surrendering his passenger
TO the authorities, began to read the order
for the Generals arrest
General BarrundIa quietly met them at
the door, but at once divining that all was
over he reached into his room for his revol-
yer, and making the remark very good
fired. The bali just missed Captain Pitts,
who, together with the commandart, ran to
his room, locked the door, and hid under
the bed, leaving the man hunting the spe-
cial officers Barrundia was short-sighted
man, and being very nervous was unable to |
do any damage, though he chased them in
and out of the saloon, firing wildly. At
last the officers, firing from different points,
dropped him, riddled with shot, on the hurri-
cane deck. The brave commandant there
upon came from his hiding place, walked
up to the dead man and fired into his skull.
ADDING INSULT TO INJURY.
''The dead body was rolled up in a piece
Of canvas, and aid being summoned from
the other boat, as the General was a very
heavy man, the ghastly burden was bundled
down the gangway into one of the boats and
conveyed ashore to be sent to Guatemala,
where it was inferred the next dav. The
other boat, conveying the gallant perpe-
traitors of the deed, their revolvers openly
in their hands, made a detour
round by the United States war ships on
their way to the shore. As they left the
ship some smilingiy waved their hands.
and one placed his thumb to his nose and
extended the other fingers in familiar and
manner. Still the incident was
not over. The Guatemalans had to wipe |
their feet little more on the suffering ship, |
and she was not allowed to proceed until
the baggage belonging to Barrundla had
been searched, presumably for evidence in
others. This was submitted
to-the gunboats still silent and sleepy, not
100 yards away. Indeed, at the time OF the
tragedy an officer from one of them was
aboard the Acapulco.
hen General Barrundia had first come
aboard his baggage had been searched. and
hIs arms consisting of two revolvers, a
sword and dagger, had been taken charge of
by the Captain. But somehow, after the af-
Tray, SIX other revolvers and about 40
rounds Of cartridges were found. His BODY
guard, at the commencement of the fighting /.
had ran below and been locked up tor !
safety. About 40 shots were fired in all. /.
THE AMERICANS INDIGNANT.
FINALLY the disagreeable affair was at an
md, at least for the time being. and the !
teamer was allowed to proceed. She sailed
lway with dropping colors, the very breeze.
Is one passenger remarked, seeming 10 have
lied away out OF pity and shame. The
Americans aboard were full OF indignation S
md shame at the whole affair. Ugly ru- b
Dors were ahoat about blood money. as +
bough money had influence somewhere in \
eeuring the surrender OF the man. MANY a
openly expressed regret that the 4
American flag was theirs. c
Captain Pitts, it was generally held. was
,artly excusable Tor his action, seeing that
e had applied in vain to the warships Y