The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-08-24
CAST INTO PRISON.
Americans and Englishmen are
- Imprisoned at Bluefields.
The British Consul Was Among
the Prisoners.
1T WAS HIGH HANDED.
The Charges Against Them Not
Made Public

New ORLEANS, La, Aug. ga
Bluehelds, Nicaragua letter, which
arrived last night says:
Shortly before noon on the 18th a
most outrageous move on the part of
the Nicaraguans was made public.
The greater part Of the troops we're
to sail at o'clock in the evening on
the Yula, the coasting steamer, and
Minister Madriz decided to send with
them those persons whom he thought
we're guilty OF firing on the Mic
Rraguan flag.
Early in the morning Consul Hatch.
the British representative, was sent
for, and when he responded to the
cali he was placed in a room as pri 5
Oner. The move was kept very quiet
and as he was not allowed to com
municate with those outside, no one
knew of his arrest for hours
About I L clock when a Mr. Lamp
con called at the building to secure
permission to have certain freight re-
leased from the custom house, he
was also arrested.
Then Mr.. Henry Brown, an Eng
tishman called to assist Mr.. Hampton.
who is a citizen Of New Orleans, in
getting the freight, when he, too, was
arrested Their next move was
against Captain G. B. Wiltbanks. the
American who accepted the position
as judge under the Mosquito rule, and
he and n. b. Ingram, j. O. Thomas,
H. A. HodReson Wash Glover. John
Kyler and George HOdgesOn, all Mos
quito creoles, were arrested. After
these men were detained an hour or
more the American in the neigh Dor
hood we're attracted by the signs they
made from the windows.
The English officers stationed on
shore as usual went to the building to
learn the cause of Hatch's absence
and were told they were under arrest.
Mr. Hatch dropped a paper from a
side window telling OF his arrest and
the desire Of the Spaniards to take
him and his companions to Nicaragua
A boat was Immediately sent to the
English cruiser and the news dis
tributed along the foreign quarter
Consul Zeat of the United States,
was notified and called upon Madriz-
The latter said these persons were
to go to the interior to stand trial.
He could not get enough evidence to
convict them now, but he was sure
they were implicated Consul Zeat
then dispatched to the Columbi and
by 2:3O O'clock the tug was steaming
toward the bluff.
What the charges are Madrlz does
not say. He has not even informed
the Americans nor the nglish consul.
The English consul. it is believed, is
charged with having melted the Jam
Rlcans to riot and bloOdshed- The
owners Of the Yula. when they heard
of the arrest, posi- lively stated that
their boat should not leave, and thus
the only transport which can stand
the sea is taken away from them
1t is, Of course. useless for these
NicaraEuans to cause the arrest, for
even should Captain Sumner submit
TO the actions of Madriz the Ameri-
can population would demand and re-
lease the innocent men by force of
arms If necessary However. the com
-uander Of the Columbia is exPe cted
before night, and the English COM
mander also.
While speaking to General Lacayo
just after the news was made public,
it was learned that Madriz had taken
those steps on his own advice 1t was
legal to take those men to Managua,
said Lacayo, and he could show it in
the laws of Nicaragua Such a move
on the part of the Eicaraguan, coming
as il does after three insults to the
American flag, deserves the most
severe action, and if ever naval Of
6cers were called upon to exert their
authority their time has arrived to
do so
The "A American population IS greatly
excited, and were il not that they
have confidence in their country's
agents, the bullet riddled buildings
would suffer another attack, but this
time some one would be severely hurt.
The situation is serious, for no one
feels safe, but it is hoped that Mica
ragua win be taught a lesson that
viii not be forgotten by the men on
the MOWhaWl< and Column bia.