The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-09-13
BARRUNDIA'S LAST FIGHT
AMERICANS ON THE SHIP INDIG-
MART AT HIS KILLING.


Ugly Rumors That Blood Money was
at the Bottom of Mizuer's Order for
His Surrender-Two American Men
of-war Lying in the Harbor at the
Time.
NEW York, Sept. 12.-The Pacific mail
steamer Colon, which reached this port to-
day, brought from the lsthmus some of the
passengers who were on board the steamer
Acapulco at the time of the killing of
Gen. Barrundia by Guatemalan officers,
while the Acapulco lay in the harbor
of San Jose. The Associated Press is in
debted to an eye witness Of the tragedy for
the following narrative: 1.-The steamer
Acapulco left San Francisco Aug. 13. On
her arrival at Acapulco, Mexico, Gen. Bar
rundia, ex-ministerssof war OF Guatemala,
came on board from the Starbuok, sister
ship. He was known TO be hostile to the
present government OF Guatemala, and it
was understood that he was on his way to
Salvador. He was attended by two men as
body guard.
DEMAND FOR HIS SURRENDER.
"When the ship arrived at Champerica
the Guatemalan authorities, who had been
warned that Gen. Barrundia was on board
at once sent Off two boat loads of soldiers
and demanded that the general be surren-
dered to them. Capt Pitts peremptorily
refused TO aocede TO this demand. An at
tempt was made 10 coerce him
by withholding clearance papers, but, after
a detention of twenty-four hours, Capt
Pitts persisting in his refusal TO deliver Gen.
Barrundia without an order from the gov
ernment, the vessel was permitted TO re-
sume her course. This was Aug. "a, and on
the evening of the same day the steamer
arrived at San Jose.
TWO BOAT LOADS OF SOLDIERS.
"No sooner had the Acapulco cast anchor
than two boat loads OF soldiers were sent
off from shore to keep close watch that
no one without proper credentials should
leave the vessel for shore. Within pistol
shot OF where the Acapulco lay we're two
United States gun boats. Capt. Pitts had
telegraphed to their commanding officer
from Champerico requesting assistance, but
his dispatch was not delivered. Now he
made a personal appeal for help. The
response was that the men-of-war could
do nothing without an order from the port
captain.
AN ORDER FROM MIzNER.
1.-THE next day the ship was again board
bu ny DDb COtniuunUhuJ OF special
force OF men, accompanied by another boat
load of soldiers. This time the Guatemalan
officers came furnished with an order of
arrest sigued by the American minister,
Mr.. Miner. After being politely intro
duced TO Capt. Pitts, the commandant pro-
duced his papers and made formal demand
for the delivery Of Gen. Barrundia. Then
the commandant ordered that all the cabin
passengers be ordered below.
BARRUNDIA CALLED TO HIS DOOR.
when this order had been executed the
entire force Of Guatemalan officers pro-
ceeded TO Gen. Barrundia's room, Capt
Pitts going with them. AS soon as the
room was reached Capt. Pitts, after depre-
eating the necessity OF surreDdering his
passenger to the authorities, began TO read
the order for the generals arrest Gen.
Barrundia had quietly met them at the
door, but at once divining that all was
over, he reached into his room for his re-
volvers, and making the remark every
good" fired. The ball just missed Capt.
Pitts who. together with the commandant,
ran, leaving the man hunting the special
officers.
BARRUNDIA'S FINAL FATE.
''Gen. Barrundia was Il short-sighted man, ,
and being very nervous, was unable to do
any damage, though he chased them in and
out Of the saloon, tring wildly. At last the
officers dropped him from different points,
riddled with shot, on the hurricane deck
The brave commandant thereupon came
from his hiding place. walked up to the
dead man and fired into his skull. The
dead body was rolled up In a piece
of canvass, and aid, being summoned
from the other boat, as the general
was a very heavy man. The ghastly burden
was bundled down the gangway into one
Of the boats and conveyed ashore, to be
sent TO Guatemala, where it was inferred
the next day.
AN INSULT ON DEPARTING.
"The other boat, conveying the
perpetrators of the deed, their re-
volvers openly displayed in their hands,
made detour round by the United States
war ships on their way to shore. AS they
left the ship, some smilingly waved their
hands, and one placed his thumb to his nose
and extended the other fingers in familiar
and we'll known way.
THE SHIP AGAIN BOARDED.
"Still the incident was not over. The
Guatemalans had to wipe their feet little
bat moro on the suffering ship, and she was
not allowed to proceed until the baggage
belonging to Gen. Barrundia had been
eliminating others. This was submitted
to, the gunboats still silent and sleepy, not
100 yards away. Indeed, at the time of
the tragedy, an officer from one of them
was on board the Acapulco.
BARRUNDIA WELL ARMED.
"When Gen. Barrundia had first come
aboard. his baggage had been searched and
his arms, consisting of two revolvers, a
sword and dagger, had been taken charge
of by the captain. But, somehow, after the
affray six other revolvers and forty rounds
of cartridges were found. His body guard
at the commencement of the fighting had
run below and been locked up for safety.
About forty shots were fired in all.
Finally the disagreeable affair was at an
end, at least for the time being, and the
steamer was allowed to proceed.
THE AMERICANS INDIGNANT.
1.-THE Americans on board were full Of in
dignation and shame at the whole affair
Ugly rumors were ahoat about blood
money, as though money had had an inhu-
ence somewhere in securing the surrender
OF the man. Many passengers openly ex-
pressed regret that the American flag was
threatened. Capt. Pitts, 1t was generally
held, was partly excusable for his action,
seeing that he had applied in vain to the
war ships for assistance and that he was con-
fronted with an order from the American
minister At the same time, feeling pre-
vailed that had the captain shown the same
firmness at San Jose as he did at Champe-
rico the man would not have been shot.
THE MEN-oF-wAR CONDEMNED