Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-09-18
BARRUNDIA AFFAIR
AN WITNESSES STORY OF TIE
BUrCHBRY.
Vain Appeals Miner and American Naval
0feeS-Facs Of the Tragedy On the
Acapaloo-Ths Generals Friends
Saved by Mate

following story of the shooting, Of
which he was an eye witness.
The General had IS trunks, two boxes
and % valise a. PoSita, his secretary,
carried q Satchel containing $500.
Capt. Pitt had the luggage searched and
found six revolvcrs and hundreds Of
cartridges. Two more pistols were
taken from Barrundia'S pockets. A
crowd assembled 90 see him of.
Several GautemalanS, whom Barruu-
dia recognized as enemies. were ON the
Acapulco. One of these, Mangue Tor
rino, hired negro boatman TO send
telegram 90 the authorities at Champe-
rico, SD that Barruudia might be arrested
when the vessel landed there. Barrun-
dia So distruSted his enemies ON board
that after his second meal i'm the cabin
he retired to his state room-No. . on
the upper deck-and had his meals
served there by his secretary.
FAILED IN TuE FIRST ATTEMPT.
ON August 25 the Acapulco sailed,
and the next morning reached Cham
peric0. auchoring a mile and % half Off
shore. The anchor had not settled be-
fore four boats, loaded with black armed
soldiers, left the quay and pulled 10 the
vessel Commander Telferrio was in
the first boat. lie asked Captain Pitt
90 lower the gang plank. The request
was refused. The Captain said be
would permit the Commandant 20 come
ON board alone. but would not allow "a
soldier tO put foot ON the ship.
ON deck TelferriO told Captain Pitt
that hc had am order from his Superiors
for the arrest of Barrundia, and de-
manled that the General Doe turned over
to him 40 once. Captain Pitt refused to
give Bawuudia up, and ordered the
Commandaut of the ship. The surf
was running high and the black soldiers
were nearly all sick.
From Champerico Captain Pitt sent q
telegram ou August 2G % Lansing Il.
Miner. United States Minister to
/ Guatemala, asking him 20 send the
American mau-of-war Ranger from San
Jose 90 prevent Barrundia's enemies
/ from taking him Oft the vessel. The
Acapulco left Champerico at noon
/ August 81 aud reached san Jose DE
/ |Guateman seven hours later. Every
+ one ON Captain Pitts shipwaS delighted
to find the American war vessels Thctis
and Ranger lying there. The Acapulco
anchored half mile from the Ranger
rnUlrlESs ArpEAIS TO AMERICAN or
FICEE>.
That night Capt Reiter, of the Ran
ger. and several other naval officers Wis
tied the Acapulco. Capt. Pitt explained
tho situation, and said be hoped they
would NOT allow Barruudia TO be taker
from his vessel Capt. Bciter replied
..I do not sec that We can DO anything
Tor YOU without am order from the Por
Captain, meaning Secretary of the
. Navy"
Capt. Pitt then asked for a file OF ma
.rlues 90 protect his passengers iron
violence. This request was also re
fused. Pitt received no reply 70 hi
Telegram 90 Minister Miner who wa
lat Guatemala. - miles away.
At 1880 o'clock the Acapulco wa
boarded by Gen. Torrielie and five
policemen. who had come from Guate
mala t0 arrest BarrundiI. Ten blacl
soldiers came with the policemen, bu
remained in their boat. TOrriell,
showed Capt. Pitt letter from Ministel
/ Miner. saving 10 was the captains duty
Co surrender Barrundia, who would mo-
he harmed. except for his political Of
fcnsc~. Pitt said 90 the passengers: 81
have t0 surrender Barrundia. Tak'
the ladies 90 the lower cabin. There
were three ladies ON board.
THE KILLING OF BAREUNDIA.
Barrundia's state room opened on al
aisle. on either side OF which We're SiN
other rooms AmidShipS q mast p0SSeC
through the center of the aisle. Capt
. Pitt knocked ON the door and it was i'm
Stantlv opened, and Barruudia stood be-
fore them. He was six feet three inches
.t9u. 45 years old. had black hair and
long drooping mustache. He SPOKE
French ana Spanish. and Pitt under
stood English only. The latter reaC
the letter and Gen. Torielle interpreted
Barrunda understood all before the
second line was repeated by the Cap
tain and exclaimed: "Bueno. Bueno
Good, Good. Jumping back into the
statcroom hc pulled two reyolverS IRON
under his bunk and fired point blank "a
tbe men before him. They fed ar
through the aisle. came near sticking
Ian tine mast amidShips, turned 10 Ih'
right. jumped into a >tateroom an'
closed the door Barrundja was at theii
heels. firing as he ran. Missing the
men he ran around ON the outside anC
fired a bullet or two into every state
room. hoping To- hit some one by chance
Pushing forward, Barrundia cam,
.uuwittingly within half a dozen Ieet Oh
the five special officers who had not gone
4 into the cabin with Torrielle, and were
hiding behind hatch near the pllo
house. An five blazcd away at Barrun
|dia. who fell dead 40 the first volley
The officers stood over the body ano
emDticd their rcvOlvcTs into lt. INT
firing WAS done So close that Barrun
dia's face was burned black with pow
der. Nine bullets entered his head
ms FRIENDS SAVED BY A PLUcHY MATE
Leaving Barrundia'S corpse the i've
officers began a search for his friends
Posita aud LaroQuc. BrOwS, the hrSI
mate. had locked them iu state room
and stood guard at the door with re
ue1ting rifle. The murdererS were
cUWeu. me utdu uouE WIS LANA "+"t
ped In hammock, dragged by the heels
along the deck and down the gang PLANK
into q boat that carried it ashore
American Naval officers ON land heard OF
tine killing of Barrundia and went on
board the Acapulco to get the particu
lars. They made no comments.
That afternoon Commandant Torrlell'
notified Capt. Pitt that he must not sail
Two hours later six men came aboard
with orders 70 take Barrundia's baggage
ashore. They We're given an invoice oil
Tine baggage. and spent an night copy
ING the hundreds Of letters and papers
found I'm the dead mans trunks. TheSC
COPIES were taken ashore to implicat'
Others I'm Barrundia's plots.
The Acapulco sailed on August ..
and Posita and LaroQuc got of at La
Libertad. san salvador, on the follow
ing day.
GUATEMALA'S DEFENSE.
Trying to saddle the Blame on Captain
Pitt.
IN.