Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-01
COWED THE sALvADOREANs.
Plucky Bearing of Capt. White OF the Cit,
of Panama.


| of Panama.
| letter received by the San Francisco Chron-
tcle yesterday from San Jose de Guatemala
throws some new light on the seizure OF the
Pacific mail steamer City of Panama by the
| Saivadorean authorities. 1t shows conclus-
lively that the attempt to seize Salvadorean
| refugees was an exact repetition of the BAR
runda affair, except that Salvador in this latest
case was the aggressor and desired to do pre-
cisely what she protested against Guatemala
doing in the case Of Barrundia. The CORE
| spondent says
| The steamer received at Gorinto. Nicara-
! qua. as passengers for Guatemala, Gen. Letoua
Gen. Hernandez. Senors Ayala and Rivas and
L. T. Brannon. They bought tickets for San
| Jose de Guatemala. Gen. Letona WAS one OF
/ the most popular generals in Salvador. a mil
! llonaire, but had been in exile for nearly five
| years. President Ezeta of Salvador bitterly
hated Letona. because in 1885, when Letona
, was commander-in-chef Of the Salvadorean
! army and Ezeta was only private. Ezeta was
detected in stealing and by Letona's orders was
! given 100 lashes.
Letona has spent his exile in Honduras and
Nicaragua. but he has known that Ezeta would
give large sum to secure his capture on SALIVA
dorean soil and that his life would not be worth
cent if he fell into Ezeta's clutches He
! had perfect confidence, however. in Capt. White
: Ol tne lily OF 1dndNa. anu re evenb proved,
/ this confidence was not misplaced. Hernandez
Il also an exile who has spent his time in Nj
, caragua. Ayala is the legally elected president
I of Salvador, but deprived OF his office by
J the intrigues Of Ezeta and his brother. RIvas
/ was a colonel in the Salyadorean army and a
nephew OF Gen. Rivas, who captured the
Salvadorean capital last year while Ezeta was
preparing to repel the attack by Honduras. Gen
| Rivas was defeated and Ezeta had him shot and
| his body exposed for three days at the capital
4 20, III
presidency. Brsnnon il railroad contractor
! Of Scranton, Penn, to whom the Saivadorean
government owes large sums for railroad work
He was prescribed because he mixed in poll
tics.
1t will thus be seen what strong motives Ezeta
had for desiring to secure possession OF each of
| these refugees When the steamer reached La
1 Union the commandant and four officials came
+, on board. One official, named Portocarrero is
| a notorious character who was concerned in the
poisoning OF President Nelendez and in the kill
ing of two men at San Miguel This fellow tried to
! get into an argument with Rivas and Brannon
and pick quarrel, but they suspected his de-
\ sign and retired to their cabins. few hours
later the commandant notified Capt.
| White that he would not give an order
| for the dispatch of the steamer until
| he had heard from Ezeta. Shortly after
Capt White was surprised to see the COM
mandant leave the ship in furious rage, swear
| ing that he would not dispatch the vessel till
1
| again refused to do, saying that he was under
| the protection of the American flag, ana he
would defend Letona to the last extremity.
A launch with soldiers was left alongside, and
| at O'Clock, no attention having been paid to
| the ships warning whistle. the steamer left for
La Libertad without papers. There she was
| seized by the Salyadorean government Ostensi-
bly, because she left La MON without the neces-
sary papers. After some correspondence the
commandant at La Libertad came on board and
&h.t he had h
charge of the ship. At the same time report
came from the shore that Ezeta was soon ex-
pected with strong force Of troops to take
the refugees at all hazards. The plan. it was
reported, was TO attempt the arrest Of Letona,
which they knew would be resisted, and then
shoot down all the refugees. Capt. White and
Purser Garland held a consultation and then
the captain ordered the cOmmandant to 60
ashore. All hands were armed and the hot
water hose was coupled on ready to sweep the
deck in case Of an attempt Of the Salvadoreans
to board the vessel The commandant left the
vessel hurriedly, evidently impressed with the
preparations for fight.
Ali hands were on guard that night. The
following day a reply received from the
captains message to the Pacific Mail officer at
Panama, and there is strong ground for suspi-
cion that this message was held hours on shore.
1t gave orders to proceed. and the steamer left
the port at once for San Jose. where the refu-
gees were warmly welcomed. The steamer did
not touch ut Aca)utta because the captain
feared that Ezeta would be there and make an
attack.
As the vessel steamed by a train was seen to
leave the town for the interior with troops on
board that fact showing the wisdom OF the
captains course. There was great rejoicing at
San Jose over the American captains pluck.
1t is understood that Minister Pacheco has re-
ceived the strongest instructions from Mr..
Blaine demanding that inquiry into the delay
of the vessel be prosecuted with vigor, and
that Salvador be made to furnish an ample
apology.