The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-09-13
BARRUNDIA'S DEATH.
Story Of an Eye-W Witness Of the
Tragedy.
An Order Of Arrest That Vas Virtually tie
Generals Death Warrant
COWardly Behavior Of These Who Were
Commissioned 10 Execute lt-lndig-
nation Of the Americans.
Special Dispatches to THE MORNING CALL

NEW YORK, Sept 12.-The Pacific Mail
steamship Colon, which reached here to
day, brought some of the passengers who
were on board the steamship Acapulco at
the time of the killing of General Barrnndia.
and one of the eye-Witnesses of the tragedy
told the story to the representative OF the
Associated Press. 1t appears that General
Barrundia came on board at Acapulco,
Mexico, and was understo, d to be on his
way to San Salvador. He was attended by
two Of his men as body-guard. When the
ship arrived at Cham ericO. Guatemala, the
authorities there demanded that Barrundia
be surrendered. Captain Pitts peremptorily
refused to do so. They withheld his clear
ance rapers for twonty-four hours, but
finally allowed him to proceed.
BOARDED BY SOLDIERS.
When the vessel arrived at san Jose two
b0at-loads of soldiers were sent off from
shore to see that no one without proper
credentials should leave the vessel. Within
piStol-shot of her were two UDi.ei States
gun-bOatS. CAPTAIN Pitts Lad telesraphed
their commanding officer from ChampeIic0
requesting assistance, but his dispatch had
not -been delivered and now lie made per-
sonal appeal for help. Tie response was
they could co nothing without an oder from
the Port Captain.
BARRUNDIA DEMANDED.
The next day the ship was again invaded
by the Commandaute, with a special force
of men ard another boat-load of soldiers.
The Guatemalan Commandante produced an
order Of arrest signed by American Minister
Mizner and made formal demand for the
delivery OF Barrundia. Then he directed
that all the cabin passengers be ordeIo1 be-
low. When this order had been executed
the entire force proceeded to BauundlaS 5
room. Captain Pitts went with them. When
The room was reached Captain Pitts, after
r Gepreca,iDg the necessity of sure ndering
his passenger, read the Older for his arrest
FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE.
Barrundia had quietly met them at the
door, but at once divlning that all was over
reached into the room for his revolver, and
making the remark, Very good" fired.
The bail just missed Captain Pitts, who,
together with the Guattmalan Commaudante.
ran to his room, locked the door AMI Lid
under the bed, leaving tie man-hunting to
the special ceficers. Barrunda was short
sighted man, ard being very nervous, was
unable 10 do any damage, though he chased
t e men out into the sa,Oou, firing wildly.
At last they dropped him, rddled with shot,
On the hurricane deck.
DEsPISABLE DEED.
The -commandan'e thereupon came
. fro his hRA,eplace, walked up 20 the dead
MAJ and N bullet INTO his skull. The
dead body way Lolled up in piece of canvas
and C dnyeyed oh~shore in one OF the boats.
The other boat, conveying the gallant perpe-
traitors Of tue deed, with then reyolyers
Opeuly displayed, male detour around by
the United StStes war-ships. As they lett
the Acapulco some smilngly waved their
ha ds, and one placed his thumb to his nose
and extended his fingers in tile Well-knOwn
insulting manner.
BARRUNDIAs BAGGAGE SEARCHED.
'.Still the incident was not over" said the
gentleman who told the foregoing. The
Guatemalans had to wiDe their feet little
more on the suffering ship, and she was not
allowed to proceed until the baggage be-
longing to Barrundia was searched, pre-
sunably for evidence discriminating others.
This was submitted 10, the American gun
boats still remaining silent, not hundred
yards away. Indeed, at the time OF the
tragedy an officer from one OF them was on
board the Acapulco"
THE AMERICANS INDIGNANT.
The Americans on board were full Of in
dignation and shame at the whole affair.
Captain Pitts, it was generally held, was
partly eXcuSable for his action, seeing he
had applied in vain to the American war
ships for assistance, and was confronted
with the order from the American Minister.
The passengers condemned the action OF
the men-of-War, for they maintain that, in
any event, they might have taken charge Of
BarruHdia until some definite expression of
VIII had come from Washington. They
aSO condemn the action Of Minister Miner,
who, they thought bad no right TO sign
mans death warrant-for they submit that
at the time he did it he knew it amounted to
ihat-no matter what the character OF the
victim.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 12-In the House TO-
morrow McCreary of Kentucky will offer
tie following resolution:
EesozUed, That The killing Of General Bar
ruudia Oh The steamer Acapulco by the authorl-
Ties Il Guatemala, while GU board an American
shlU and While under the protection of the fiag
Of tile United States, demands an Immediate In
vesgigation, and The President Is requested, If
n1 incompatible win public interests, TO lay
leyore tue House OF Representatives all the in-
formation In his possession concerning this
transaction.