The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-11-09
FIRED ON OLD GLORY.
THE HONDURAS GOVERNMENT MUST
APOLOGIZE OR FIGHT.
Sent Seven Shots After a Pacific Mail
Steamer Y ying the Stars and Stripes
Because She Carried a Po-
litical Fugitive

NKw YORK, Nov. Z "A special cable
to The Herald from La Libertad, Hon.
duras, dated yesterday, says: Hon.
duras fred upon the American flag
this morning. By the alleged order of
President Vasques and by special
command of the commissioner of the
port OF Amapala seven shots were
fred upon the Pacific mail steamship
Costa Rica, flying the stars and stripes.
as she steamed away because she re-
fused to surrender one of her passen-
gers to the Honduras government.
United States Minister Baker was on
board the Costa RIGA at the time.
The passenger about whom the
trouble arose is Policarpo Bonilla who
recently led the revolution in Hon.
duras but was defeated by General
Vasquez. He then fed to Nicaragua
and with 80 adherents joined the army
of President Sacza, engaged in an at
tempt to quell the rebellion. Bonilla
decided to leave Nicaragua in order to
relieve the government OF all RESPONSE
bility of harboring him. He there
fore sailed from Corinto for Guatemala
Nov. 4 on the Costa RIGA. American
Minister Baker and more than
100 other persons were fellow
passengers. They arrived yesterday
morning at Amapala, port OF entry
of Honduras on the Pacific coast and
at o'clock in the afternoon the com
mander of the port, Villilla, demanded
that Captain Dow surrender Bonilla.
When this request was refused threat
was made to sink the ship and 1t was
asserted that President Vasquez had
given strict orders to that effect.
This, with an official protest against
the refusal to surrender Bonllla, was
presented to Captain Dow at 9 o'clock
and clearance papers were only issued
to the ship after nightfall when it was
too dark to leave the harbor with
safety, A government official came on
board at $3.50 o'clock this morning say
ing new orders had been received from
the president insisting on the delivery
of Bonilla or the bombardment OF the
ship. Captain Dow replied that the
commander of the portwould receive
an answer in half an hour, but before
that time expired he steamed away.
Seven shots Were fired after the Costa
RIGA, although she flew the American
flag. None of the shots struck her,
however, but it is feared that the
steamship City of Panama, lying in
port, may be injured, because the FIR
ing continued some time alter the
Costa RIGA was out of range
The congress OF Honduras has con-
ferred upon Vasquez full power to
make war upon Nicaragua whenever
the revolution or invasion Of revolu-
tionsts from that republic occurs,
RECEIVED AT THE CAPITAL.
WASHINGTON, Nov. THE secre-
tary of state was at a cabinet meeting
today when the dispatch from Baker
arrived. A prolo- ged session OF the
cabinet to Q O'clock gave time for con-
sideration of the subject, and it was
probably discussed. Captain Dow, in
command of the Costa RIGA, is the
same captain who harbored Barrundia
several years ago, who was killed on
his ship while attempting to hide, and
made forcible objection to the
removal by the government
in whose waters his ship lay.
1t has been established that politi-
cal refugee who is a passenger as Ba-
rilla was cannot be taken from a ship
which he is on. The chance presence
of the United States minister on the
vessel in this case is not considered to
make any difference in the diplomatic
aspects of the case.
Nothing could be learned at the de-
partment of what reply was sent Min
lister Baker or what steps it Is pro-
posed to take in the matter. 1t would
ordinarily be expected under the cir
cumstances that an energetic protest
would be lodged with the Honduras
government. The incident was dis
cussed in the navy department. The
Alliance sailed Yesterday from San
Jose to Acajutla in San Salvador.
Whether the movement was occasion
ed by this incident is not stated at the
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