Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-06-26
THE PLOT OF THE FILIBUsTERS.

No SMALL degree OF interest has
been aroused by the recent attempt
to seize Lower California and set up
therein an independent government.
The San Francisco Chronicle claims
to have obtained information on the
subject from Walter G. Smith, editor
Of the San Diego Sun, who was con-
necteI to some extent with the plot.
In Tuesdays issue Of that paper,
Mr.. Smith is credited with making
the following statement:
''The English Colonization Com
pany was alone at the bottom Of the
so-called raid Of flibusters. The
scheme WAS never intended as n fill
clustering proposition, but was TO be a
revolution OF the residents Of Lower
California, nothing more nor less.
MAJOR Scott came to me, originally, a.
the agent and general manager Of the
English Colonization Company. Scott
is royal engineer. member Of Cen
eral WOlseley's army, stationed in
India aud came TO Lower California on
a twO-years leave Of absence. This
leave Of absence expired aud he is now
on his way TO join his regiment. hav-
ing been refused a second leave OF alb
sence. This is one OF the prime fac
tors in the failure OF the revolutionary
scheme.
"Maior Scott came TO my office IN
San Diego early last winter and intro.
duced himself. He said that he had
been recommended to call and see me.
He told me further tina, he wanted TO
employ a man Of brains and energy
to raise a row in Lower Cali!or.
mia. Then he unloaded his plans.
He wanted a number OF Americans 10 |
locate Al Ensenads, to take up their
residence there and become citizens O.,
Mexico. A: the proper moment an
uprising OF the people would take
Place, arms and ammunition being
smugsled into the territory
from the United States. An indie
pendent g1verumsn: was 70 be Sc: up |
in Lower California, with Eusenada as
the capital city.
~ accepted Major Scotl's propoSi.
lion and a; his invitation made a trim
% Lower California. II the scheme
lad carried would have made p clean
$4,000 by the operation. Nv print
ng office intended 10 remove 10 En-
'enada and start daily paper there
hat would become the Official organ
u the new independent government.
was TO be made Governor-GeneraI al
. large salary. Before I visited Ense-
ada, at Major SCOTS request, I me, |
General Edward Hil 4: the Hotel
lei Coronado, where was living
Nth my family General Hill was
pending the winter at the hotel.
lie is from Michigan and Nas with the ,
iNteenth Regiment Of Michigan ,
'olunteers during the late rebellion. .
Icing an accomplished man and an
xpert upon military Affairs. I looked
pom him as 4 valuable man for
iajor SCOTS scheme. and he accsp;rd ,
~ invitation TO accompany me 10 {
.nsenada. was anxious that he Q
hould look over the ground carefully e
ON military point Of view. We
isited Ensenada, examined the pro- :
osition with great care and were en- n
.rtained for several days by Major n
,ott and ,he other officials Of the il
nglish colonization company. /
Upon our return from Lower Cali r
'rnia we consulted with Ranford '
'or;hing. the surveyor. Il. \. S,eph- =
Is who had Travelled all over the d
sninsnll and was well posted upon 5,
resources. and the various other n
,ntlemen who have since heen -
lmed in connection with the schema. :,
e consulted them more esps- -
ally to obtain their views upon the ~
ferent propositions involved. II Al
- our intention not to make a raid "
BON Lower California. but As have u
Iied, 70 take up our residence there u;
ID IN six months TO become lawful -
liens OF Mexico. We held several .,
ceilings in san Diego. but none Of
EN- were regularly organized or %
isial. They were merely confer of
ces, at which We discussed possibiI- N
Is aud probabilities. ID
1t Is my opinion that Major Scott ~,
d other plans in view, with which
were uEacquaintef. am satisfied th
u he made connections, similar TO in
'se made with Us, in other quarters. vo
fae:, he may have had half a dozen "a
INJECTIONS, so that in case Of the fall- ~ -
OF one or more he could fall back ~
IN one Of the others. The trouble fol
h Sco:t was that he talked much IN
| allowed too many mel, some of lie
m irresponsible fellows, TO know az
inside secrets OF his scheme to in ~
-urate a revolution and take posses ~ ~
] Of Lower California. re-
Colonel Foster, the special agent Of
Department Of Justice. has care an
y investigated the facts in the case. a
called upon me and I told him oil
It 1 knew about the affair. You NJ
see that he viii place the blame ~ -,
rely upon the English Colnniza- me
Company, and will completely lin,
nerate the Americans who were by
,igled into the scheme by Major
TN =
ma
thi,