The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-05-23

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many assaults were committed. A
reign Of terror prevailed, and many
inhabitants fed from their homes to
the woods.
On February Is, the British warship
Cleopatra, Captain A. G. Howe, cast
anchor at Bluefelds Bluff, eight miles
from the town and renamed until the
9th, when she sailed for Colon, but
left on shore fifty marines supplied
with arms and ammunition. The Gle
opatra returned on March 4. On
March 5 the Nicaraguan soldiers re-
tired from Bluefelds, in accordance
with an agreement between the British
CONSUL and General Lacayo. The
marines went aboard the Cleopatra
and sailed for Greytown the same
evening. A police guard of twenty
five men was left in the town by La
cayo, however.
On the night of March 6 a fight
took place between the Nicaraguan
soldiers and, crowd of natives in Blue
fields; forty shots wear fred, and
two of the soldiers were killed. The
British Vice Consul, the American
Consular Agent and General Lacayo
himself joined in request that the
British marines should come from the
Bluff to the town and restore order
and quiet. The marines came down
and patrolled the town and restored
order, and they occupied the town un-
til March II, when the British war
ship Canada arrived and relieved the
Cleopatra. On March 20 the Canada
withdrew the marines, and two days
later sailed for Colon.
Captain Seat says that the Anieri-
can residents at Bluefelds feel that the
United States Government should
take some action in the form of a
treaty with Nicaragua, whereby
American interests would not suffer in
the future by the dictatorial power of
Nicaraguan Commissioner. During
the thirty-three years that the
Mosquito Government prevailed the
American interests were acquired
there, but the right of the Mosqui-
toes to issue leases and concessions to
foreigners was never denied by Mica
ragua until Commissioner Lacayo
ignored the right since his arrival at
Bluefelds. The Americans at Blue
fields feel that the United States Gov
ernment could easily say to Nicaragua
that Uncle Sam would prevent British
interference in Nicaragua's internal
affairs, and in return ask special con-
cessions for American citizens, so that
Their acquired interests will be pre-
served.
The Mosquito Indians, during the
last twelve years that Americans have
developed the country, have acquired
habits of greater thrift in some in
stances. They have built better
houses, and they work industriously
in the placer minds and on the fruit
plantations The Mosquitoes are small
in stature, and Of heavy, stocky build.
The squaws are not prize beauties, by
any means. These people are naturally
inclined to be dull and lazy under the
enervating effects of the climate, and
they are inoffensive and simple in their
ways. They wear but little clothing
while working on the plantations, but
when Mosquito buck goes to town he
invariably wears an old pair of trous.
ers and red shirt. He is then dressed
in the height of Mosquito fashion.
One of the famous attractions in the
town of Blueields is an odd house that
is located in tree seventy feet from
the ground. 1t was built by an eccen-
trio Yankee, who is familiarly known
in Bluefelds as "Pap" Wilderson.
What are known as ebo trees grow to
moderate height and proportions in
that country. This tree furnishes ex-
cellent hardwood lumber, and it bears
a nut, from which an oil is extracted
that is used for both lubricating and
cooking purposes Old Pap Wilder
son, by the aid of ingenious machin-
cry, sawed off an ebo tree at point
seventy feet from the ground, and
with the long trunk of the tree as
foundation constructed house up in
the air. The two stories of the house
rise above the seventy-foot trunk Of
the tree. The house is reached by an
elevator that runs alongside the tree.
The center OF the house rests on the
tree trunk, while supports run from
each corner down to the ground. So
this ingenious Yankee obtained from
the ebo tree the lumber with which to
build his house on the trunk of an
ebo, and the ebo nuts furn ished him
with oil which he uses to lubricate the
gearing of his elevator and in cooking
his meals.