The morning call., 1891-01-25

| charged with various crl mes, arrived at The
! city of Guatemala on the American steamer
Acapulco, commanded by Captain Pitts.
| He had previously escaped to Mexico, but
on the 18th of August had crossed again
into Guatemala and arrived as stated.
-" The Guatemalan authorities demanded
his su rrender. but Captain Pitts refused TO
give him up until instructed to do so. The
captain thereupon telegraphed TO the Con-
su-Genera, asking for instruct ons, and l
being out Of the city at the time he was
autographed to deliver Barrundia over at
once to Guatemala. On the following day
returned TO the legation, and when the mat
ter was referred TO me | hesitated until
cou Id consult with President Barillas.
&" | Immediately called upon him, and he
informed me that Barrundia was fugitive
from justice, being accused of various crimes,
but that he would assure him freedom from
punishment for any political oifenses he
might have committed. asked that the
charges ana assurances of immunity from
punishment for political offenseS be sub
United to me in writing, which was done ut
once, and / at once telegraphed Captain
Pitts to the effect that it was his duty to de-
liver BarTundla over to the proper author
tiles.
THE CoAIMANDANT NOTIFIED.
"The Commandant OF the fort at San Jose
de Guatemala was notified and with three
policemen went aboard the Acapulco to Sc
cure the prisoner. Barrundla was in his
stateroom at the time, and Captain Pitts
went thither accompanied by the Command
ant to call him. He knocked on the door,
and when Barrundia was notified of their
errand he snatched two reVolyerS from his
bunk and opened ire on the captain and his
companion. They escaped unhurt anu man
aged to conceal themselves, but BaTrundla
continued nring wildly until shot down by
the police. That is the story OF the killing
just as it occurred.
Now, as to Barrundia, | desire to say
that ] never saw him in my life, nor did L
ever see Captain Pitts or the Acapulco.
From this il is plain that | could have had
no bias in the matter, but acted simply in
| the line OF what | considered to be my duty E.
| 1t is, conceive 1t, however, my further duty
| to state facts, and | Will say that Barrundia
was, without doubt, the most cruel man that
| ever lived in America.
| He had killed many persons in the most
| atrOcious manner and without any provoca-
| ton, and had been the cause OF the death of
| hundreds more. He had been educated for
! the Catholic priesthood, became an aDostate,
and when he came to power prosecuted the
| church with all the yindictIVeneSs of his
| cruel nature. The real truth of the matter
| is that it was not fear of the authorities
| that caused him to resist arrest, but he knew
| that the people OF Guatemala were terribly
| ncensed against him, and would do him mob
| violence If within their power.
| BARkUNDIA WAS NEAk-SIttUTED.
He was, understand, very near-Si tied,
! and that accounts for tue fact that he \ lied
| 10 kill both Captain Pitts and the CJm-
| mandant. 1 was told by Commander Reiter
! of the Ranger few days later that if ii had
not been for this fact he could have taken
| the Acapulco.
''At the time Of the shooting | was at the
| city of Guatemala. many miles away, and
|. could know nothing of what was going on.
| As Dean of the Diplomatic Corps my duty
| required me at that place, and l was so en-
! crossed i'll the effort to restore peace that
| could not give my attention tn single in-
cident of a war that had already cost hun
! dreds of lives. Affairs were in most crit
| ical state at that time, and IN spite of the
| fact that truce had been declared, the Gov
eTnments both of Guatemala aud Salvador
| were complaining that hostilities were liable
| to be renewed at any moment.
I'VE were at that very Instant in fact, ar
| ranging terms OF peace to which the Presi-
| dent of Guatemala had acceded, and which
| were dependent upon three conditions
| First, the hostile armies should retire over
| the frontier within As hours; second, that
! they should be reduced 10 II peace footing
within eight days, and third, that a treaty
of peace should be ratified within three
| months.
"As / was chiefly instrumental in bring
! ing about this condition of affairs. you viii
| appreciate my statement that | was occu-
| pipd with very important affairs | men,
| ton this to show that the Barrundia affair
was considered mere incident of the war.
THE FIRST NOTE OF DIsAPPRovAL.
" The first intimation | had of the fact
| that my actions were not approved by the
| home office was the receipt of Mr. Biaine's
! letter censuring me and ordering me 10 turn
the Office over to the Secretary Of Legation.
| This was received on the 18th Of December,
and consisted Of twenty-nine closely printed
pages, citing authority after authority and
| taking violent exception to the course had
| pursued. There was not a law library in
| Central America, but in forty years prac-
| tiee | mad acquired some knowledge of in
ternational law, and | think my position a
J sound one.
| In fact. 1 am inclined to think that Mr..
| Blaine was not the author OF the note sent
me, but that it was written by some clerk in
| the State Department and signed by the
Secretary without careful examin ation. The
most peculiar part of it was that at the time
l had before me copy of the dispatch from
ex-Secretary Bayard ordering the surrender
of Gomez under exactly similar circum-
stances, d"-ing the Cleveland administra-
ton, and this guided me to a certain extent.
"Wheu Mr.. Blaine's note was received /
Immediately forwarded a reply, n copy of
which | now have in my possession, and
which l will probably make pnbiic IN day
or two. | shall not do so until | have con.
suited with my friends. but see no reason
now why / should not do SO, as Mr.. Blaine's
note to me was given to the newspapers
three weeks before it reached me- In MY
position it may be well for me to suppress
The publication for the present. but vii
decide Tomorrow"
HE WILL GO TO WASHINGTON.
'Will you go to Washington ?"
:" think SO. Ii may be that | shall no
| need to do go. but all III inisters when re