Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-10
FOUGHT FOR A DAY.
Revolutionists in Honduras Defeated
In a Big Battle.
MANY INNOCENT PEOPLE KILLED.
international Questions Spring Up Over
War Vessels Acts.
FACTS OF THE BoMBARDMENT OF cEIBA

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPATCH1
NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 9.-Letters from
Honduras report big battle in the inter-
ior, some say at Botijas, others at Danli be-
tween Generals Nuila, commanding the
revolutionary forces and General Villets,
commanding those of the Government in
which Nuila was defeated after fight of II
hours and retreated toward Nicaragua.
Belfat, which was occupied by the revolu-
tionists has surrendered to General Ordonez
OF the Government army. The foreign
residents of Ceiba complain that no notice
was given of the intended bombardment of
Ceiba, by the Pizzati and that in conse-
quence number of innocent people in
cluding one woman were killed.
The residence aud Office of the American
Consul, B. Tocca, was riddled with rifle
balls, two men being shot on the premises
The Stars and Stripes were floating over
the Consulate before and during the bom-
bardment. The residence of the agent of
the Oteri, American line, also had the
American banner flying, but that as well as
the residences of the French and Spanish
representatives were badly wrecked by the
bombardment. The town was good deal
damaged and so were the other towns on the
coast bombarded by the Pizzati.
Serious Questions Have Arisen.
The Honduras affair, although settled,
promises to cause some serious interna-
tional complications. Threats are made by
the foreign and American owners, whose
property was destroyed by the lombard
ment of Ceiba by the steamer Pizzati, to
bring suit for damages against the owners of
that vessel, the nationality of which will
have to be established. The Pizzati car
ries the American register and hoated the
American flag, but during the lombard
ment of the coast towns acted as man-of-
war of Honduras, and Captain Henry Piz-
zati, although an American citizen, held a
commission as aGeneral in the army of
Honduras.
Santo Oteri, the owner of the Pizzati,
says that before the vessel entered into the
service of the Government at all, General
Leiva had obtained the consent of the
United States War Department at Wash
ington that the Pizzati be used as a war YES
sci for the Legitimate Government of Hon.
duras He thinks that ought relieve him
of responsibility in the matter of an in
demnity. President Leiva., of Honduras,
gave the Captain of the Pizzati written
guarantee that he would accede to any de-
mands for compensation that the Captain
would make for his services, leaving him to
fix the price. The Pizzati will remain in
the service of the Honduras Government
few weeks longer until it is certain that the
revolution is ended.
International Complications Possible.
A telegram from Guatemala to-day an
nounces another international complication.
This telegram was from Captain Challoner,
of the steamship Joseph Oteri, belonging to
Mr.. Joseph Oteri, of this city, brother of the
owner of the Pizzati, announcing that his
vessel had been refused the right to enter
any Honduras port. The Oteri was the
steamer seized by the revolutionists and
used in the capture of Truxillo and carries
an American register.
It was charged that the officers of the
Oteri were friendly to the revolutionists
and connived at the seizure of that vessel
and its use against the Government. The
latter evidently accepts this story, for it has
refused entrance to the Oteri, which LETT
here few days ago with large cargo of
freight for any port of the Republic. As the
freight is perishable, this refusal will entail
a heavy loss on the owners of the vessel. A
protest was accordingly entered and an ap-
peal made by telegraph to the United States
Secretary of State for protection.
The owners of the Oteri claim that the
Honduras Government cannot shut their
vessels out of that country because one of
them was seized by the revolutionists and
used against the Government The Oteri
was the only vessel denied entrance to Hon.
duras. The report from Guatemala that the
ports of that country have been closed to
commerce are untrue.