Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-06-25
TELLS ABOUT IT.
A CONFESSION FROM A CALIFORNIA FILL
BUSTER.
Details Of the Conspiracy Brought to Light-Ssri
GUS Charges Against the English COL
Onization Company - Parties
Interested.

SAN FRANCIsCO. June 24.-Walter c..
Smith, Governor General of the organized
filibusters, whose contemplated raid on
Lower California was recently exposed,
has returned to his Southern home, after
a weeks soiourn in this city. Prior to his
departure, Mr.. Smith made complete
confession. He said:
1.-THE English Colonization Company was
at the bottom of the so-called raid OF fill
busters. The scheme was never intended
as a filibustering proposition, but was 10 be
a revolution of the residents of Lower Cal
ifornia-nothing more or less. Maj. Scott
came TO me originally as agent and general
manager OF the English Colonization Com
pany Scott is a Royal Engineer, mem
ber of Cen WOseley's army, stationed in
India, and came to Lower California on
two years leave of absence. This leave has
expired, and he is now on his way 10
JOIN HIS REGIMENT,
having been refused a second leave OF alb
sence. He was one of the prime movers
in the revolutionary scheme.
Maj. Scott came to my Office in San
Diego. early in last winter and introduced
himself. He told me that he wanted TO EN-
ploy a man of brains TO raise row in
Lower California. Then he unloaded hfs
plans. He wanted a number of Americans
to locate at Ensenada, to take up their
residence there and become citizens Of
Mexico At the proper moment an uprs-
ing of the people would take place, arms
and ammunition being previously SNUG
gled into the territory from the United
States. An Independent government was
to be set up in Lower California, with En-
senada as the capital city.
II accepted Mr.. ScOtt's proposition, and
at his suggestion made a trip to Lower
California. Had the scheme carried, |
would have made u clean $4,000 by the
operation. Ny printing offices intended
TO remove TO Ensenada and start daily
paper that would become
THE OFFICIAL. ORGAN
of the new Independent government. ! was
to be made Governor General at large
salary. Before | visited Ensenada, at Mai.
Scott's request, met Gen. Edward Hill,
who was spending the winter in at San
Diego. He is from Michigan and was with
the Sixteenth Regiment of Michigan Nolun-
teers during the rebellion. Being an ac-
complished man and an expert on military
affairs, looked upon him as valuable
man for Maj. Scott's scheme, and he ac-
cepted my invitation to accompany me. l
was anxious he should look over the
ground carefully from Il military point OF
view.
I'VE visited Ensenada, examined the
proposition with great care, and we were
entertained for several days by Maj. Scott
and other officials of the English COleniza-
ton Company. Upon our return from
Lower California we consulted with b. y.
Stevens. who Travelled all over the PENN
sula and was well potted upon its resources,
and various other gentlemen who have
since been named in connection with the
scheme. We consulted them more espec-
| iallv to obtain their views upon the differ
ent propositions involved.
1T was not our intention to make raid
upon Lower California, but, as | haze
stated, TO take up our residence there ana
/ in six months to
BECOME LAWFUL CITIZENS
of Mexico. We held several meetings in
San Diego, but none of them were regular
| ly organized or official. They were merely
conferences, at which we discussed posi-
bilities and probabilities. 1t is my opinion
that Mai. Scott had other plans in view
with which we We're unacquainted | am
satisfied that he made connections, similar
to those made with us, in other quarters.
I'm fact. he may have had half dozen con
nections, so that in case of the failure OF
one or more he could fall back upon one or
the others The trouble with Scott was
that he talked too much and allowed too
many men, some of them irresponsible fcl-
lows, to know the inside secrets of his
scheme to inaugurate revolution and take
possession of Lower California.
Col. Foster, the special agent of the
Department of Justice, has carefully IN
vestigated the facts in the case. He called
upon the man and | told him what | knew
about the affair. You will see that he will
place the blame entirely upon the English
| Colonization Company, and will completely
eXonerate the Americans who were ln-
viegled into the scheme by Major Scott"