The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-09-13
THE BARRuNDiA AFFAIR.
The story Told by = Passenger on tn
Steamer.


New YORK, Sept. 12.-The Pacific Mail
steamship Colon, which reached here to-
day, brought some Of the passengers who
were on board the Acapulco at the time OF
the killing Of General Barrundia. An
eye witness told the story 10 an Associated
press reporter.
IL appears General Barrundia came on
board at Acapulco, Mexico, and, il was
understood, TO be ON his way TO
San Salvador. He was attended
by two soldiers as body guard.
When the ship arrived at Chanperico
Guatemala, the authorities there de-
manded that Barrundia be surrendered.
Captain Pitts peremptorily refused to do
SO. The authorities withheld his clear
'ance papers for "A hours, but finally al
lowed him to proceed. When the vessel
arrived at San Jose two boatloads Of sol
diers were sent of from shore 10 see that
no one without proper credentials should
leave the vessel. Within pistol shot OF the
Acapulco were two United States gun
boats. Captain Pitts had telegraphed
their commanding officer from Cham
perico, requesting assistance, but the dis
atch had not been delivered. He now
made personal appeal for help. The
response was that they could do nothing
without an order from the port captain.
The next day the ship was again invaded
by the commandante, with special force
of men and another boat load OF soldiers,
The Guatemala commandante produced
the 'order Of arrestn signed by American
Minister Miner and made formal de-
mand for the delivery of Barrundia. Then
he directed that all the cabin passengers
be ordered between decks. When this
order was executed the entire force pro-
ceeded TO Barrundia's room, Captain
Pitts with them. When the room was
reached, Captain Pitts, after depreciating
the necessity Of surrendering his passen-
ger, read the order for TO arrest. Bar
rundia had quietly met them at the door,
but at once divining that all was over,
reached into his room for "A revolver and
making the remark, "very good" fired.
The ball just missed Captain Pitts, who,
together with the Guatemalan command
ante, ran to his room, locked
the door and hid under the bed, leav-
ing the man-hunting TO special officers.
Barrundia was n short-sighted man and
being very nervous was unable to do any
damage, though he chased the men out Of
the saloon, firing wildly. At last they
hurricane deck. The brave eommaDdant
thereupon came from his hiding place,
walked up TO the dead man and fired n
bullet into his skull. The dead body was
rolled up in piece OF canvas and COLI
veyed on shore in one OF the boats, The
other boat, conveying the gallant perpe-
traitors of the deed, their revovers openly
displayed, made detour of the United
States warships. As they left Acapulco
some smilingly waved their hands.
Still the incident was not over, said the
gentleman who told the foregoing. The
Guatemalans had to wipe their feet lit
tie more on the suffering ship, and she
was not allowed to proceed until the bag.
gage belonging to Barrundia was
searched, presumably for discriminating
evidence. This was submitted to by the
American gunboats, still silent, not 10t
yards away. Indeed, at the time of the
tragedy, an officer from one OF them was
on board the Acapulco.
Americans on board were full OF indig
nation and shame at the whole affair
Captain Pitts, il was generally held, was
partly excusable, seeing that he had ap
| piled in vain to the warships for assist
aDce, and was confronted with an order
from the American minister.
| The passengers condemned the action
OF the men-of-war. for they maintain il
any event they might have taken charge
| of Barrundia until some definite expires
| sion of will had come from Washington
| They also condemn the action of Minis
ter Miner, who they thought had no rigb
to sign the mans death warrant, for the,
submit that at the time he did il he knew
il amounted to that, no matter what wal
the character of the victim.