Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-03
President EZeta of Salvador, Car
rying Things with a High
Hand.
He Plans to Take Passengers From
an American Vessel BY
Force.
Among Those Demanded is Patrick
BERGMAN, a Citizen of the
United States.

SAN JOSE, Guatemala, Sept An
incident which occurred at La Libertad IN
the republic of Salvador ten days ago,
bore some resemblance to the Barundia
affair, which happened on the steamer
Acapulco in San Jose de Guatemala during
the late war between Salvador
and Guatemala. One of the parties
concerned in this case, however,
was an American citizen. The Pacific
mail steamship company steamer, City of
Panama, stopped at Corinto, Nicaragua,
Aug. 5, on her regular north bound trip,
and among the passengers on board were
Patrick Brennan, an American citizen
residing in Salvador, and four
native Salvadoreans, all former
officers of that government.
These men had incurred the displeasure of
President Ezeta and were regarded by him
as revolutionists. The steamer reached
La Libertad Aug s and Ezeta desired
Brennan to enter his service and
enlist mis- railryad employees. Brennan de-
clined to do so and it is supposed that
in this way he incurred Ezeta's displeas-
ure. The four SalvadoreanS whom Ezeta
wished to seize were Don Ayola. who
claims to have been legally elected presi-
dent of Salvador, but who had been de-
prived of the Office; Gen. Lotona, com
mander Of he Salvatore n army in 1886 but
who has been an exile for the past FIVE
years: Gen. Hernandez, wealthy exile,
and Col. M. Rivas, of the Salvadorean
army, nephew of the Gen. Rivas who
was executed at Ezeta's orders, for the
part he took in the late civil insurrection
Officers demanded the surrender of Bren-
non and his companions Capt. White
refused to comply, and the commander of
the port went to the steamer with a boat
load of armed men and informed Capt
White that the latter could consider him
self under his orders, as he had come to
take possession of the steamer and arrest
the men. Capt. Whites indignation
was aroused at once and
without waiting to discuss matters at all,
he told the commandant if he did not
leave the steamer Immediately he would
throw him overheard The commandant
evidently perceived that Capt White was
disposed to carry out the threat, for he
withdrew from the steamer without fnr-
Their discussion. A short time before the
steamer sailed Capt White was informed
that President Ezeta had been notified
of the occurrence and had gone with a
large armed force to Acajutia, the next
port in Salvador, intending to take off the
refugees at all hazard. Capt. White &C.
ccordingly determined not to 60 to AGA
Julia, and on arrival at San Jose de Qua,
temala laid the facts before United States
Minister Pacbeco. The men whom Ezeta
desired to capture are now In Guatemalan
territory and Ezeta has requested
Guatemala to surrender them. The exact
details of the charges made against The
men are not known. Brennan resided in
Salvador for some time and is a contractor
He is said to be a man of means and some
prominence in the country. During the
late war with Guatemala his business ope-
rations were interrupted and If was at
President Ezeta S request that he accepted
. commission III the army of Salvador
He enlisted his railroad employees in the
service and was instrumental in winning
one or more battles in which he was en-
gagged. At the close of the war he retired
from military service.