The morning call., 1893-10-03
HE STOCK AND THE WHIP.
Two Hundred Lastes on the
Bare Back.
CRUEL PUNISHMENT FOR THEFT.
American Seamen Forced TO Witness
the Barbaric Treatment of Ten
Launchers at Acajutla.

over the lower classes and revolutions are
fought to satisfy personal ambitions and
qualifications. many incidents occur which
are never heard of in free America.
These stories would shock the sensibilities
of our liberty-lOving citizens, and even
:send a chill through the less independent
yeomanry of Europe were facts to be made
public.
The autocratic power invested in COM
mander of the Central American army. the
head of Government Office or in the COM
mandant of port is even more of study
of despotism unalloyed than is the permis-
sion to rule given to a prison-keeper in
Siberia.
Yesterday the schooner Vine, which re-
Gently returned from a trip to Central
America, doeked at Lombard street. and
last night the following exciting story was
obtained from Captain Dahlern, her
master, and also from ex-members Of the
crew of the steamer st. Paul.
While the Vine was anchored off Ace-
Julia, San Salvador. the ST. Paul, which
was then under charter TO the North
American Navigation Company, was dis
charging consignment of general mer-
chaDdise by means of lighters. The sec
ond day after the arrival of the Vine some
trouble was experienced between the
fightermen and the freight clerk checking
the cargo from the st. Paul from the
lighters to the pier. A case OF alarm
clocks had broken open when being un-
loaded and the contents exposed to view.
The "lsuncheros" could not withstand the
temptation of purloining a number OF
the timepieces, each Of ten launcherOs help
ing himself to one clock. The broken
case was examined by the Custom-house
officers and found to be ten clocks short.
Then the trouble commenced.
A report of the theft was made to the
e0mmandant Of the port. who is said to be
bfood-thirsty tyrant Of the first water,
snd all the military force of Acajutla,
including the commandant himself, set TO
work to ferret out the thieves. The home
of every boatman was searched, with the
result that the poor ignorant reones were
nearly frightened out Of their wits, and
finally one of them made confession
which resulted in the arrest OF the other
nine who were implicated in the rob-
berry.
: The commandant set his wits to work to
think of suitable mode of punishment
for the prisoners. The ten launcheros were
brought before his dignity for examina-
.-tfoD. and as a preliminary punishment
were ordered to be fasteued into stocks
made of heavy logs split through the
center and constructed to clasp together on
the arms. and legs of the victims.
. For twentv-four hours the ten con-
demned men remained in agOniZing posi-
tions without food or water. At the end
Of that time the cOmmandant gave orders
that:on the following day the prisoners
should receive 200 lashes apiece from
switches of hard wood. A small supply
OF. food was given to each man and
e drink Of water. They were then taken
from the stocks and given little exercise.
that they might be better prepared phys
fcally for the terrible ordeal ahead of
them, then they were again fastened in
their torturing wooden clasps.
The appointed day and hour came to
hand. 1t was the occasion for h.uch dis
play of military pOmp-that is for a Cen
trail American seaport village. The cold.
blooded commandant was present in a very
exalted condition. and at the town plaza
detail of soldiers. who were to execute the
Gar of Acajutla's orders, we're drawn up
in line.
The doomed launeheros were removed
to the outskirts of the town, the inhabi-
sants thereof. soldiers. custom-house Off
GERS ard men from the vessels in the road
stead. following in the wake of the prison
van. The poor wretches begged and plead
ed for mercy. but they might as well have
appealed to a stone wall as TO their tyrant
or any of his folio wers.
:: In secluded spot beneath the shadows
. Of spreading trees the prisoners were
placed in row and their backs laid bare
of clothing. The rabble laughed and
chatted pleasantly. and none of the pris-
oners' friends dared bestow upon the suf-
feTeTs so much as kind look or an en-
contaging word. at a given command
about twenty soldiers placed themselves
ina file, first being provided with a stout
switch, which, they were given to under
stand. they would have to use with vigor.
The commandant gave the sign to CON-
mence the torture; the switches whistled
in the air and came down upon the brown
flesh of the prisoners. Piercing shrieks
and low means were heard. a long. livid
streak of red marked every exposed back,
then the sound of swishiDg whips became
more numerous. Each blow was counted
until ten was reached. then there was a
slight pause and fresh soldiers took the
places of those who had become wearied
by their work of torture. The suffering
wretches prayed for mercy, but their cries
were not answered.
After about hundred blows had been
delivered not sound save an occasional
groan could be heard from the ouivering
human beings, red with their own blood
and covered with marks of the whips.
Nearly every man of them had lost con-
sciousness. and the remainder CT their
lasting was received while they remained
In this condition.
After the two hundred blows had been
delivered the senseless men were removed
to the quartet. where their wounds were
washed and cruelty treated. Then the
commandant passed sentence that they
should serve three years each at hard
labor. Only those who know something of
=" Central American conyict-labor life can
appreciate the enormity of his verdict.
This is the story told OF justice in Central
America by men of American vessels who
were obliged TO stand serenely by unable
to offer protest. ''It is good argument.