The morning call., 1893-03-22
PRACHT'S PRISON.
1t Was a Dirty Honduran
HOVel.
He Tells His Tale to a "Cali" Re-
porter Upon His Arrival
Yesterday.

Herbert Pracht, who was recently men,
toned in dispatches from Central America
as having narrow escape from death at
the hands of the victorious followers of
General Bonlla's army in Southern Hon
duras, arrived in this city yesterday morn
ing from Colon. via Galveston. Mr.. Pracht
joins D. J. Parker of Amapala here, and
will accompany that gentleman TO Portland,
Or. and thence to New York.
sit was on the oath OF February" said
Mr.. Pracht on Park street, a Alameda, yes
teTday, when he was interviewed bv a
CALL reporter. "I was travelling from
Choluca, a small town ia Honduras. an
encountered General BOnlilas advance.
The country through which had to pass
was extremely rough and the roads were in
q fearful condition.
~ tried to avoid the soldiers, knowing
well the desperate character Of the Central
American half-breed, which class conn uses
nearly one-haf of Bonilla's followers. so
struck OF from the main road up a narrow
path through a dense forest.
81 must have travelled five miles when
was suddenly brought to a halt by band
of revolutiOnsts, mostly lab0rers who mad
quit the adjacent fields to join Bonilla.
Il was halted and searched and afterward
flaced under a guard Of six men and taken
back 70 the main line OF the reVolutiOulsts'
skirmisher5.
soon learned that an EHglishman and an
American were confined in a small adobe
house 0ss the way from where | was ini-
priS0ned in a dirty hut, the floor of which
was covered with slimy ooZe from which
arose the odOr like that of pig pen.
There did not appear to be any officer Of
rank higher than a corporal among our
captOrs-ln fact the army was a mere rab-
bic, made up Of launcheros from Amapaia,
poems, Indians and mule-drivers, with a
sprinkling Of soldiers.
The second day after my capture our
camp was attacked by about 200 Govern
ment troops that were on their way TO Join
the garrison at Ch0uca.
'lt was one of the fiercest fights | ever
witnessed. II was literally ha nd-tO- hand
struggle. Most of the fighting was done
with small arms and the machete, a broad
bladed knife used by the natives TO cut
their way through the Jungle
Guns were thrown away and the ma
chete welded with fearful effect. Once
force OF the Government troops nearly
reached the hut where was confined, and
| gave up all hope, for those people become
so frenzied when blood is being shed that
they kill any and every one in sight.
Finally the Government troops were de-
feated and beat a retreat toward Choluca.
Bonilla's men did not follow them.
The morning after this battle there was
some talk Of executing the Englishman,
myself and the other American. The com
htn SDtulclS MOuiu uaEt Dtcn ueDllS1
enough to have carried out this plan mad not
one of Bonilla's officers arrived in the nick
Of time, and were we Immediately released
with apologies.
"Our danger was not over yet, however.
Our friend. the officer, warned MS not to go
to ChOiuca as Bonilla's men under General
Sierra were preparing 10 take the town.
"Our horses were brought to us, and we
set out the following morning over rugged
mountain road for Tegncigalpa. The whole
country through which we passed was in
state of great excitement All manner of
rumors were extant, and one of these was
10 the effect that the rebels had captured
Amapala.
After perilous journey. during which
we suffered great deal from exposure and
fatigue. we reached the capital.
"Eyerything appeared quiet then, and the
Government was busy trying to satisfy the
world that there was no trouble 10 Hondu-
Tas. The telegraph wires were kept hot
with dispatches declaring that peace regned
and that tho rebels were few and far be-
tween.
Five hundred stands of Remington rifles
had been smuggled in TO Bonilla's forces
through the Amapala custom-house, and
the Government officials had just heard the
news.
"It took them by surprise, but 1t did not
appear to bother them in the least. A cool
denial Of the affair was published.
Yes, SIR" continued ar. Pracht, "af-
fairs are very shaky down there. What
those little republics need is TO be taken
under the shadow OF the wing of some
power then war in Central America will
cease, and one of the finest countries on
Gods green earth win be opened up 10
enteTpTlsing people"
While most cities and towns in this coun-
Try are Overrnn with office seekers, Tampa,
Fla, is minus men who VIII run for munich
pal offices. In short time it will be neces-
sary for that town TO elect a Mayor, City
Council ard various other offieials. but. as