Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-02-04

I'm M\ -
MINISTER EGAM.
itself in insulting slurs towards our men as
they passed the Gillian man-of-war in the
boats, and in the derisive and abusive epithets
with which they greeted every appearance Of
an American sailor Of the evening of the riot
Capt. Schley reports that boats from the Gillian
warships several times went out of their course
to cross the bows of his boats, compelling them
to backwater. He complained of the discourtesy
and 1t was corrected.
That this feeling shared by men of higher
rank is shown by an incident related by Sur
geon Stitt, of the Baltimore. After the battle
OF Placilla, he, with other medical officers Of
the war vessels in the harbor, giving volun-
tary assistance to the wounded in the hospitals
The son Of Gillian army officer Of high rank
was under his care and when the father
discovered it he flew into a passion and
said he would rather have his son die than have
Americans touch him, and at once had him re-
moved from the ward. This feeling is not well
concealed in the dispatches Of the foreign office
and had quite open expression in the disre-
spectful treatment Of the American legation
The Gillian bOatmen in the bay refused
even for large offers OF money, to return
our sailors who crowded the mole to their ship
when they were endeavOring to escape from the
city on the night Of the assault. The market
boats Of the Baltimore were threatened and
even quite recently the gig of Commander Evans
Of the Yorktown, was stoned while waiting for
him at the mole.
The evidence of the sailors clearly shows that
the attack was expected by the Gillian people,
that threats had been made against our men,
and that in one case somewhat early in the
afternoon the keeper OF one house in which
some of our mon had gone closed his establish
ment in anticipation Of attack which he ad-
viSed them would be made on them as darkness
came on.
In report Of Capt Schley to the navy depart
ment he says: I'm the only interview which
had with Judge Foster, who is investigating
the case relative to the disturbance before he
aware of the entire gravity OF the
matter, he informed me that the assault
upon my men was the outcome Of hatred for
our people among the lower classes because
they thought we had sympat hized with the Bal
maceda government on account of the Itata
matter, whether with reason or without he
could Of course not admit, but SUCH he thought,
was the explanation of the assault at that time.
Several OF our men sought security from the
mob by such complete partial changes in
their dress would conceal the fact of their
being seamen of the Baltimore and found it
then possible to walk the streets without mo-
lestation.' These incidents conclusively estab
fish that the attack was upon the uniforms
the nationality and not upon the men,
The origin Of this feeling was probably found
in the refusal OF this government to give recog-
milton to the congressional party before it had
established itself in the seizure OF the 1tata for
an alleged violation Of the neutrality laws, in
the cable incident, and in the charge that Adm.
Brown conveyed information to Valparaiso Of
the landing at Quintero It is not
my purpose to enter here any defense
of the action Of this government on
these matters It is enough for the present pur-
pose to say that if there was breach OF interna-
tfonal comfy or duty on our part, it should have
been made the subject of official complaint
through diplomatic channels or of reprisals for
which full responsibility was assumed.
We cannot consent that these incidents
and these perversions of the truth
shall be used to excite murderous
attack upon our unoffending sailors and the
government of Chill go acQuit of response
bility. In fact the conduct of this government
during the in Chill pursued those lines Of
international duty which we had 81 strongly
when this country was in the throes Of civil
conflict. We continued the established diplo-
matte relations with the government in power
until it was overthrown and promptly and
when it established The good offices Of
the government We're offered to bring about
peaceful adjustment, and the interpretation of
Mr.. Egan to mitigate seventies and to shelter
adherents to its congressional party were ef-
fective and frequent. The charge against
Adm. Brown is too base to gain credence with
anyone who knows his high personal character.
Recurring to the evidence OF our sailors, I
think it is shown that there were several dis
tinct assaults and so nearly simultaneous to
show that they did not spread from one point.
A press summary of the report fiscal shows that
the evidence OF the Gillian officials and others
was in conflict to the place of origin. several
places being named by different witnesses TO
the locality where the first outbreak occurred.
This, il correctly reported, shows that there
were several distinct outbreaks and nearly at
the same time to cause this confusion.
The La Patria on the same issue from which
I have already quoted after describing the kill
ing of Riggin and the fight which at that point
extended to the mole says: lat the same
in her nj he sail
ors fought fiercely with the people of the town
who believed to see in them incarnate enemies
of the Gillian navy
The testimony Of Capt Jenkins of the Ameri-
Valparaiso for repairs and who was a witness OF
some part of the assault upon the crew of the Bal
tmore, is strongly corroborative OF the testimony
of sailors when he says he
saw CHILEAN sentries drive back a sea-
man seeking shelter from mob
that was pursuing him. The officers and
men of Capt Jenkins ship furnish the most
conclusive testimony as to the indignities which
were practiced toward Americans In Valparaiso.
When American Sailors even OF the merchant
ships, can only secure their safety by denying
their nationality, it must be time to readjust
our relations with government that permits
such demonstrations
AS to the participation of the police, the evil
dence OF our sailors shows that our men were
struck and beaten by police officers before and
after arrest, and that one at least was dragged
with a lasso about his neck by q mounted po-
liceman.
rifle shot fired by policeman soldier on duty
is shown directly by the testimony of johnson
in whose arms he was at the time and by the
evidence of Charles Lagen, an American sailor
not then member OF the Baltimore's crew, who
stood close by and saw the transaction
The CHILEAN authorities do not pretend to fix
the responsibility of this shot upon any particu-
lar person, but avow their inability to ascertain
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