The morning call., 1894-08-13
TORE UP THE PAPERS.
Governor DiaZ' Treatment of a
Bluefields Lawyer.
Nicaraguan Soldiers Sent to Make
an Arrest Resisted and
Four Killed.

NEW YORK, Aug. 1.-THE American
schooner George Whitford arrived to-day
from Corn Island, Nicaragua, with a
cargo of cocoanuts consigned 10 L..
Schopp. The vessel docked at the foot of
Veasey street. North River.
The Whitford brings news of an encoun-
ter between the natives and a few Mica
rsguan soldiers on July 8 last, during
which four of the soldiers were killed and
two wounded.
From what could be learned aboard the
Whitford, 1t appears that about July a
lawyer named Russell, who is Jamaican,
called on Governor Mexemo Diaz In refer
ence to a lawsuit in which he had been re-
tanned as counsel. The Governor declined
TO examine the papers. as they were not
in Spanish, and this led TO a heated discus
sion, and ended by the Governor tearing
to pieces the LAWYERS papers. This en-
ragged Russell. and he proceeded 10 lecture
the Governor severely.
The Governor threatened to arrest b i'm,
but did not do so. there being no one pres
ent at the time except the secretary.
Russell defied the Governor to do his worst
and orders were sent to Bluefelds for
troops to assist in the arrest.
Russell had gathered about him several
of his friends and openly defied the Gov
ernment to arrest him. On their arrival
the troops were ordered to arrest Russell
at once. Russell refused to surrender and
his party fired on the soldiers. killing four
and Wounding two.
The Governors secretary was slightly
wounded. as,was also a merchant who was
riding through the streets. 1t was not
known whether any of the Russell men
had been killed or wounded.
Russell and his friends thought their vic
tory offered a good opportunity to settle
other grudges, so with eight others they
set out to wipe the Nicaraguan officials
from thesface Of Corn Island. They ran
up against the remainder of the troops,
three in mum Der. Two more were killed.
The one left went into hiding, leaving the
Governor and his secretary to the tender
mercies of the Jamaican and his follow
ers. Russell advanced on the Government
house. and the Governor and his secretary
retreated to the cellar and barricaded
themselves in.
In the shooting the secretary. who was
wounded, opened fire with pistol.
w0unding Hale. one OF RusseltS friends.
Then the rebels retreated to the bush,
from whence they made another on
saught, burning two government houses
and the pier. This last act inflamed the
people and persons who had heretofore
been neutral. They surrounded the Rus
sell party, and on the following day Hale
and several others were captured. Rms
sell and Lincoln escaped but later were
captured at Port Limon.
Diaz emerged from his retirement and
put all hands in jail Then he resigned,
leaving strong recommendation that the
prisoners be sentenced to the full penalty
for the insult to Nicaragua. In Central
America this means death. When the
facts reached the authorities. Russell being
a British subject. it looked as il an ex-
plan atlcn would be demanded from Diaz.
Later, however. it was found that the
affair was not looked upon as an indignity
to England, but rather as a brawl.