Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1890-09-13
MAKES THE BLOOD BOIL.
APPARENT COwARDICE Of
u. y. OFFICIALS.
HOW GENERAL BARRUNDlA WAS
MURDERED.
INSULTS To OUR GUNBOATS
BY GUATEMAI.ANs.

| NEW YORK, Sept. l3.-The Pacific mai
steamer Colon, which reaches this por,
to-day, brought from the isthmus some
| of the passengers who were on board the
steamer Acapulco at the time of the kill
ing of Gen. Barrundia by the Guatemalan
officers while the Acapulco lay in the har.
Dor at San lose. The Associated Press is
indebted to an eye witness of the tragedy
| for the following narrative:
The steamer Acapulco left San Fran.
cisco August l3, and on her arrival at
Acapulco, Mexico, Gen. Barrundia. en-
minister Of war of Guatemala, came on
board from the Starbuck, Il sister ship.
When the ship arrived at Champerico,
Guatemala, the authorities demanded
that the general be surrendered to them.
Capt. Pittspcremptorily refused to acccde
to this demand.
August 9th the steamer arrived at San
Jose. No sooner had the Acapulco cast
anchor than two boat-loads of soldiers
were sent on from shore to keep close
watch that no one without proper ere
dcntials should leave the vessel for the
shore. Within pistol shot of where the
Acapulco lay were two United States
gunboats. Capt. Pitts made n personal
appeal to them for help. The response
was that the mcn-oi-war could do moth
ing without an order from the port cap
tain.
Next day the ship was again invaded
by the commandantc with a boat load
OF soldiers. This time the Guatcmalan
officers came furnished with an "order oi
arrcst" signed by American Minister Miz
ncr. The commandantc made formal
demand for the delivery of Barrundia.
Then the entire force OF Guatemalan Off
GERS proceeded to Barrundia $ room, Cap
tain Pitts going with them.
As soon us the room was reached Capt.
Pitts, after dcprecating the necessity OF
surrcndering his passenger to the author
tiles, began to read the order tor the gen
erals arrest. Barrundia reached into his
room for his rcvolvers, and, making the
remark, Very good" fired. The ball
Just missed Capt. Pitts, who. together
with the commandantc, ran, leaving the
man-hunting to the special officers.
Barrundia was a shOrt-sightcd man
and was unable to do any damage,
though he chased them in and out OF the
saloon, firing wildly. At last the officers
dropped him from different points, rid
died with shot, on the hurricane deck.
The brave commandantc thcrcupon came
from his hiding place, walked up to the
dead man aud fired into his skull.
The dead body was rolled up in piece
oi canvass and bundled down the gang
way and conveyed ashore. The boat
conveying tie perpetrators OF the deed,
their rcvolvers opened displayed in their
hands. made dctuur round bv the Uni
ted States warships on their way to the
shore. As they lett the ship some smilingly
waved their hands and one placed his
thumb to his nose and extended the her
fingers in familiar way,
Still the incident wasnot over. Guatc-
malans had to wipe their feet a little
more ON the suffering ship and she was
not allowed To proceed until the baggage
belonging tn Barrundia had been search
cd, presumably forevidencc discriminating
others. This was submitted to. the gun
boats still silent and sleepy. not 100
yards away. Indeed nj the time OF the
tragedy an officer from one OF them was
aboard the Acapulco.