The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-03-28
BY ENGLAND'S ORDERS,
JOHN BULL RESTORES THE
MOSQUITO FLAG.

Nicararua's Assumption Of the Coast
Reservation Resented by the Eng
Iish Government and an Armed
Force Lauded-The Mosquito and
Niacraguan Flag Left Flying.
Captain Angus Brown, of the steamer Ell
lott, which arriveda few days ago at savan-
nah, Ga, from Bluehelds, brought some de-
tails OF the state of affairs on the Mosquito
Reservation.
, Captain Brown says the Nicaraguans en-
tered Bluefields on February 25th or 26th;;
He did not know their exact numerical
strength, but says there was an ar armed ed iorSe Se
Of 400 or 500 Of them at Bluehelds wnen ne
arrived.
They brought no cannon with them. Iney
simply entered under arms, and without any
resistance on the part Of the natives. They
boisted the Nicaraguan nag over the custom
House and over the other public buildings.
The hags remained up during the time the
Elliott was in port. There was no fighting.
The Mosquitoes were terrified by the pres
ence of 50 large an armed force, as they were
practically without protection In the city;
this country with regard to the name OF the
British war ships there are In error.
II Is not the Cleopatra, he says, but the
Tomas. The Mosquitoes, he says. fearing
they might be attacked by the Nicarsguans,
appealed to the Tomas for protection.
On Thursday, March I, the Tomas, Cap
tain Brown says. without any authority from
the British Government, as there had not
been time to get any such authority, sent
three boat loads Of armed men ashore. He
did not know the exact number or men, out
- lonHa6
They were armed with carbines and cut
Iasses. The men went ashore In the steam
launch Of the man-of-war, and carried with
them two Gatling guns and three field pieces.
The British forces did not land at Blue
fields, but at Bluefelds Bluff, about four or
five miles northwest OF the city. There was
some understanding between the Mosquito
chief and the officer In charge OF the Tomas,
the chief asking that the men be landed Tor
the safety and protection Of his people.
The British soldiers went into Bluefelds
from the Bluff several times while Captain
Brown was there. They could not 90 by
land, but had to use the steam launch, on
which they carried one Of the Gatling guns.
There was no fight at oil between March
1. the day the men landed, and March 4, the
day the Elliott sailed.
Captain Brown says there was little excite
ment among the people. The Mosquitoes
were somewhat frightened when the MIC
araguans first entered, but after the Landing
of the British troops, he says, all excitement
subsided, and the people seemed willing to
let things 80 on as they were until the trou-
ble between the Indians and the Nicaraguans
Is settled.
The Nicaraguans, of course, objected to
the landing OF the British troops and charged
the officers In charge OF the British with an
open violation Of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty
Little attention was paid to this by the
British. The Nicaraguans wanted them to
stick to the terms of the treaty. The Tomas
sailed from Bluefelds for Colon to cable to
England for advices. Meantime the troops
we're left in camp at Bluefelds blun; Inc
Tomas returned to Bluetields In two days.
Captain Brown did not learn the result OF
the correspondence with the English De-
partment OF Foreign Affairs, Us he was five
Or six miles away from Bluefelds, and did
not land there again before leaving. Wnen
he left. he says, the soldiers were still IN
camp at the Bluff.
Captain Brown found little excitement In
Bluetelds. Business was going on as usual
and the foreign population, most OF wnom
are Americans, expect no bloodshed or other
trouble. The Americans contro. the bulk OF
the trade\and American influences are the
most prominent foreign factors on the
ressrvation. ALI were looking for an Amer1-
CAM man-ot-war. The general opinion
seemed to be that the settlement
Of the question Of Nicaraguan con.
troll would In the end be settled by the
position assumed by the United States Gov.
ernment. All were agreed that Nicaragua
merely took possession OF Bluehelds to se-
cure the revenues there, which have become
large in recent years and have been coveted
for some time.
One incident occurred which was regarded
as indicative that the British regard the Nj
, caraguans as usurpers. When the Custom
House and other public buildings were taken
possession OF by the invaders, the Musquito
dag was hauled down and that OF Nicaragua
nut no. The commander Ci the British war
ship insisted that the Mosquito flag be re-
stored, and It was run up under the Nicars-
guam tag. This was NOT satisfactory, and In
the end the two flags were placed on oppo-
site poles at the same height.