Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-28

In the meantime the captain OF the Column
pened. He at once dispatched a ccmmuni-
cation to Minister Madris, expressing re-
greet that the soldiers had been delayed In
| and men-of-war to transport the Nicarag-
uan troops to Bluefelds The launches and
boats were at once dispatched to Biuehelds
Bluff loaded with Nicaraguan soldiers, and
steamed into Bluefields with the American
flag floating above them.
Capt. Stewart. learning that the Mica
raguan soldiers were about TO land, made
preparations to prevent such action I'm &C
cordance with the agreement he had made
with O'Niel and Cavasas. He withdrew his
forces, however, when the soldiers APP
preached under the protection OF the Amer
| lean nag. Captain Stewart went into camp
and invited all British subjects and all
other persons Of friendly nations desiring
his protection TO join him, and many hun
| dreds did so.
Fled to british Protection.
"A few hours later. Minister Madris is
sued proclamation demanding that all
American and English marines leave the
place within twenty-four hours Capt.
Sumner, with the American marines sneak
ed on to his vessel early in the morning.
| not leaving a man TO protect the Americans
there and giving no notice whatever Of his
action. As soon as this became known the
American residents destroyed the Ameri-
can flags in their possession and sought
protection from Capt Stewart an English
| man. Capt. Stewart refused TO leave the
town in any specified time, stating that he
would remain until all British subjects and
| Others requesting his protection had board
ed the Mohawk. He remained ashore four
days. He then took his party TO port Ii
| mon, Costa Rica.
las soon as the Mohawk had left Minister
Madris summon ed a council. which had
been appointed at the request of Cavasas,
Capt Stewart and Capt. O'Neil The menu
| bers Of the council were thrown into jail
without trial and fed on bread and water
The council had been appoineed at the re-
| quest If the American commander, O'Neil,
and the members were assured in writing
that they would be protected. They were
| imprisor ed, however. with the full knowl-
| edge of the American men-of-war, and
| given no protection whatever. The COM
mission included three Americans,a wealthy
planter named Capt. Willbanks, Samuel
| hampton. and a Mr. Taylor. Minister Mad
ris also imprisoned thirteen old officers. who
| served under Clarence. He arranged to
send them TO GreytoWn, and then TO Man
| aqua the capital of Nicaragua. The pris-
| oners were placed in small canoes and sent
In roundabout way to the south of Blue
| nelds to avoid passing the Am rican m1n-of-
war, but In endeavoring TO cross q bar the
| boats capsized and the men returned TO
| lSluefields Blun, and were there kept in jail
I'VE days, the commander of the Column
bia being fully aware OF the sitCa ton.
| The Yula had been down the coast, and
| on its return Minister Madris ana Cavasas
demanded that she should take the prison.
|
| refused to do So The prisoners knowing
that they would be shipped in canoes ami
| probably drowned. begged the captain Of
| the Iula to take them, and he accebed. The
| start was made at about O'Clock at night.
| While passing the American man-of-war
| her search-light was turned upon the Yula,
and the captain of the latter attempted to
| signal the latter vessel. The Nicaraguan
general thereupon formed his soldiers in
| line. and declared that he would kin the
captain and crew of the Yula IL they at
| tempted to make signal The Yula arrived
| at Greytown the next morning, and the
| prisoners were sent to Managua.
| The British Captains Prompt Action.
THE morning after the prisoners were
| taken away the Mohawk returned from
Port Limon, and Capt Stewart was In
| formed Of what had taken place the night
before. He started in pursuit of the luia,
but arrived too late. He then sent one OF
his officers TO Port Limon to communicate
| by cable with the British government. re-
questing that another -nan-of-war be sent
| TO Bluefields. The Mohawk returned to
Bluefelds Immediately. the captain was
| of opinion that the American men-of-war
| there were useless.
| "An foreigners abandoned their property
| and went TO Colon. Providence Island and
| Bocas del Toro. where they were safe un-
der the protection of the republic of CO.
lombia- Two days later the Mohawk sailed
to Port Limon, and Capt Stewart received
the following telegram from his govern
conflict with any one II possible
by August Is four superintendent OF
plantations-two Americana, named Allen
and Williams, and two Englishmen-re
ceived notice that they would be arrested
and sent to Managua the next day. They
fed to the Marblehead. the Columbia hav-
ing gone to Port Limon. and the Mohawk
them on board The Mohawk returned to
Bluehelds, and Capt O'Neil communicated
with him by letter. stating that two Amer
leans and two British subjects were aboard
the Marblehead, and that he tO'NeiD had
been ordered TO deliver up 10 the Nicara-
guam authorities on demand any Americans
or others who might board his vessel Capt.
Stewart took the men aboard the Mohawk
and landed them at Port l.imon-
Capt. O'Nefl All Right.
Now happened the most wonderful pro-
ceeding during the trouble at Bluenelds
Capt Sumner of the Columbia was at Port
Limon taking aboard coal, leaving o'Neil In
command OF the American forces at Blue
fields. Capt. Stewart OF the Mohawk boarded
the Marblehead and informed Capt. ONeil
that the Mohawk was about TO proceed TO
Port Limon, and he officially requested
that protection be afforded British subjects
by the Marblehead during his absence.
Capt; O'Neil promised 10 AFFORD the protec-
ton desired.
"A few hours after the Mohawk sailed the
Nicaraguans arrested a Chinaman end a
Jamaica negro. They claimed British pro-
t-Slon, anu l. " Nell was nOtlfled. lie
proceeded TO Minister Madris. and de-
manded the release Il the prisoners. Madris
wished to be informed on what authority
an American demanded the release Of the
Chinaman and the negro. In reply O'Neii
stated that he represented Capt. Stewart
and the British government, and IL the men
were not set free I'm one hour he would re-
lease them by force. The prisoners were at
once given their liberty, thus confirming
the opinion of all Americans at Bluefelds
that IL O'Neil had been In command the
Americans in that portion of the world
would have had no cause TO lose respect
for the nag Under which they were born
III this is true. and IL will be substantiated
II necessary by at least 100 people m Blue
fields. Capt. Sumner should be court-mar-
tailed.
when the Kearsarge was wrecked In
February while proceeding to Bluefields
Capt Howe of the British ship Cleopatra
locked after and protected both British and
American interests. and at the same time
the American press was abusing what IL
termed the British grab-game. A short
while ago. when Howe was at Newfound-
land, the Americans at Bluefields through
the press at Bluefields and by letter thanked
him for the protection he had given. He
answered that the only CLAYTON Bulwer
|