Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-04
ExitES FROM BLUEFlELDS
They Tell the Story of Their E1pul-
sion.
Sent Away From Home without BE-
ing Informed of the Charges
Against Them.

lie NEW OrleanS IlmeS-DemOcrat has
the following from Port Limon, Costa Rica,
September 4, 1894:
The following exiles from Bluefields.
eleven in number. arrived in this port. via
Puntarenas. this afternoon: F. ID. Hatch
(English). acting her British nlajesty's vice
consul: G. s. Hodgson (native), clerk su-
preme court; S. A. Hodgson (nativel Judge
supreme court washington Oliver QGnglish),
clerk; A. Markiand Tyler English), editor
and owner Of the Bluefields Messenger; G.
b. Witbank (American), planter; w. II.
Blown QEngish), merchant; j. n. hampton
(American), planter; Charles Paterson ina
tive. vice president; J. W. Cuthbert ENG
lish), attorney general. and J. o. Thomas
(t'nglish), judge supreme court.
These are all prominent business men in
the reservation, most of them leaving con-
siderable property behind. They are I'M
decided as to their future movements. their
lntertion at present being to remain here
until some definite action in regard to their
arrest and detention has been taken by
their respective governments.
They all express themselves highly in
dignant at the reports of some of the Amer
lean papers to the effect that their actions
are in sny way responsible for the upris-
ing of July ). This they emphatically deny,
and they say that the only foreigners who
were at all implicated in this uprising left
the country Immediately that they found
the part they had played made them sub
ject TO arrest by the Nicaraguan govern
ment ard after being refused protection by
their resi- ectiye consuls and the captains
of the war vessels. They say that during
the whole trouble but two lives have been
lost, and these were of two Nicaraguan
soldiers, who were killed on the evening OF
July u.
MIR. LaMptOn's Statement.
The following is a report of the affair,
given by Mr.. j. b. hampton. and of their
arrest on the 10th of August and their
treatment by the Nicaraguan authorities
since that date. The statement is made in
the presence of E. ID. Hatch, W. Fl. Brown,
q. b. Wiltbank and other members of the
party. who corroborate 1t in every particu-
lar. They say that no accurate report has
yet been sent out by the resident reporters
entertain of the Nicaraguan authorities.
The data OF this account are Witnessed 10y
Mr.. TaylCr of the BIuedeIds Messenger. who
apparently has gone to great pains in keep
ing records of every detail.
Mr.. hampton says: ION the morning of
August IT, twelve of US, all residents in
Bluefields, and business men of more or
less prominence. were notified by the chief
OF police, In the service of the Nicaraguan
government, that DIR. Jose Madriz, special
commander Of the Mosquito reservation,
desired to see us. This call was willingly
answered. 1t being the opinion that 1t was
tiers appertaining to the causes that brought
about the troubles in the reservation On
arrival at the government building We Were
met at the head of tn, stairs by armed SOL
dfers, who demanded to know our business
ard on learning II, the officer in command
Carried up our respective cards and we were
at once admitted into the council chamber
Here We were rotified to consider ourselves
as prisoners OF Nicaragua, and decree was
read to the effect that We would have to
proceed at once to Managua to answer GER
tain charges, and in case OF refusing to 60
we would be expelled from the country.
On inquiring the nature Of these charges
the Nicaraguan minister of war told US that
ne was unable to give them, upon which
eISnt OF the twelve present, including f ID
Hatch, william NJ. Brown and G. B. Wilt
bahk, elected to leave the country on the
grounds that the Atlantic coast had been
declared by the Nicaraguan government TO
be under martial law and therefore they
were entitled TO be tried at the place OF
their arrest-Bluefields. The others agreed
to go to Managua. to answer whatever
charges might be brought against them.
We then asked for time to wind up our
AFFAIRS and II was agreed by the attorney
general that three days should be given us
Tor that purpose. After consideration Nv
the Nicaraguan officials. however this con-
cessfon was countermanded and we were
given one hour only to consult with our
people. and this had to be done IN writing
with copying ink. and a copy taken by the
Nicaraguan government At this time We
were all penniless and without extra cloth
ing or bedding. but this fact was treated
with perfect Indifference by the Niceraguun
authorities. We were taken to Managua.
From this point we were sent to Punta-
renas. We have never been informed OF
any charge or charges against us. In fact.
we are just as well informed as when Ne
left Bluefelds."