The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-20
The San Jose Prevented
From Leaving Port.
AT CORINTO IN NICARAGUA.
Mate Robinson Taken Prisoner
and Held Over.
THE BENNINGTON IN HARBOR.
But She Did Not Scare the Cheeky
Central Americans Bit.
The Steamer Here.

First Officer Robinson of the steamer
San Jose spent two weeks IN COrlnte,
Nicaragua, as a prisoner because ne threw
a grndstone at the head of a launchmah
and struck woman.
The affair caused big row in the little
port. and although the gunboat Benning-
ton was within 100 yards of the San Jose
the Nicaraguan authorities boarded the
American vessel with armed men and at
tempted TO take Robinson ashore. Cap
tain Russell of the San Jose is no chicken.
however, and they didn't get his mate
until the American Consul had come off
for Elm ana promised TO protect him while
the San Jose was absent at Panama.
The trouble occurred when the ship was
on her down trip. 1t was on the afternoon
of July 20. when the vessel was all pre-
pared to depart for the south.
Captain Russell had issued an order for
bidding launchmen from coming on board
of the SaE Jose while she was taking on
or diScharging cargo.
A fellow who had been repeatedly told
to keep off the ship was ordered into his
boat by Mr.. Robinson, and a sCuffle en-
sued. The launcherO struck the chief
officer in the eye and ran for the rail and
jumped overheard.
ing coffee and the fellow swan for it and
got into it. Robinson seized piece OF
grindstOne and hurled it at him, but the
missile did not hit the fellow; instead. 1t
struck a woman on the forehead and
knocked her senseless.
The boa, pulled back to the shore and
nothing more was thought Of the occur
renee until boa;load of officers came off
from shore aud demanded the surrender
Of Robinson.
Captain Russell refused to give his man
up. Then the boat pulled back TO shore
and the San Jose was refused clearance
papers.
The skipper would have run out to sea
anyway. but he was Informed that if he
did so he would be fred upon from Point
Carton, upon which is situated a battery
Of Krupp guns, three in number. In
passing this pOint the San Jose would have
to go within 100yards of the battery, so Cap
tain Russell decided not to take the risk,
the San Jose having a large number of
passengers on board.
The Bennington was not very far distant
from where the San Jose was anchored,
and an attempt was made to communicate
with her, but it failed.
After several hours delay. during which
time the San Jose was watched CLOSELY by
armed boats, IL was decided to send Rob-
lnson ashore, provided the United States
Consul wOald insure him fair trial. The
Consul was sent for, and under his pro-
lection the chief officer was taken to the
quartet. or Jail.
The San Jose sailed then with the un-
Outstanding between Captain Russell and
Mate Robinson that the steamer would
call for the latter on her up trip.
The crew of the bennington are said to
have interested themselves very little in
R0bnsOn'S case, and a short while after
he was arrested and the guns at Point
Carton had been s6Otted to fire on the
American flag he gunboat coolly steamed
away tor La Liberlad. This is an unoffi-
cial statement, as Captain Russell and
Mate Robinson refused to give any partic-
uars OF the trouble.
Robinson stayed at Corlnto two weeks.
and had 10 square his case by paying ali
The expenses OF the trial When his ship
came back he was taken on board OF her
again.
II did not intend TO strike the woman"
he said. but simply in moment of anger
threw the stone at the man. / was arrest
ed and taken ashore" Mr.. Robinson
would say no more.
Great excitement prevailed on the San
Jose when 1t became known that force
of armed men had boarded the ship in
sight Of an American guubOat The com
mandant impudentlv demanded Robin.
sons surrender, but he did not get any
satisfaction out of Captain Russell.
The NlcaraguanS meant business, for
they sent squad of men to load the guns
in the battery.
Captain Russell admitted that the shin
had been in trouble. but he declined to dis
cuSS The affair at length.