Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1894-03-23
BY ENGLAND'S ORDERS.
JOHN BULL RESTORES THE
MOSQUITO FLAG.

Nicaragua's Assumption of the Coast
Reservation Resented by the Eng
lish Government and an Armed
Force Landed-The Mosquito and
Niacraguan Flag Left Flying.
Captain Angus Brown, of the steamer Ell
Iiott, which arrived few days ago at Savan-
nah, Ga, from Bluefields, brought some de-
tails OF the state of affairs on the Mosquito
Reservation.
Captain Brown says the Nicaraguans en-
tered Blueffelds on February 25th or 26th.
He did not know their exact numerical
strength, but says there was an armed force
of 400 or 500 OF them at Bluefields when he
arrived.
They brought no cannon with them. They
simply entered under arms, and without any
resistance on the part of the natives. They
hOisted the Nicaraguan flag over the Custom
House and over the other public buildings.
The flags remained uD during the time the
Elliott was in port. There was no fighting.
The Mosquitoes were terrified by the pres
ence of so large an armed force, as they were
practically without protection in the city.
Captain Brown says the reports that reached
this country with regard to the name of the
British war ships there are in error.
1t is not the Cleopatra, he says, but the
Tomas. The Mosquitoes, he says, fearing
they might be attacked by the Nicaraguans,
appealed to the Tomas for protection.
On Thursday, March l, 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, but
between eighty and 100 were landed.
They were armed with carbines and cut
lasses. The men went ashore in the steam
launch OF the man -OfWar, and carried with
them two Gatling guns and three field pieces.
The British forces did not land at Blue
fields, b;t at Bluefelds Bluff, about four
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 for
the safety and protection of his people.
The British soldiers went into Bluef1elds
from the Bluff several times while Captain
Brown was there. They could not go by
land, but had to use the steam launch, on
which they carried one of the Gatling guns.
There was no fight at all between March
l, 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
ofth British troops, he says, all excitement
subsidized, and the people seemed willing to
let things go on as they were until the trou
bic between the Indians and the Nicaraguans
is settled
The Nicaraguals, 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
were left in camp at Bluefields Bluff The
Tomas returned to Bluefields in two days.
Captain Brown did not learn the result of
the correspondence with the English De-
partment of Foreign Affairs, as he was five
or six miles away from Bluefelds, and did
not land there again before leaving. When
he left, he says. the soldiers were still in
camp at the Bluff.
Captain Brown found little excitement in
Bluefelds. Business was going on usual
and the foreign population, most of whom
are Americans. expect no blOOdshed or other
trouble. The Americans control the bulk OF
the trade and American influences are the
most prominent foreign factors on the
reservation. All were looking for an AmerI-
can man-0f-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 Bluetields to Sc
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
flag was hauled down and that of Nicaragua
put up. The commander of the British war
ship insisted that the Mosquito flag be re-
stored, and it was up under the Nieara-
guam flag. This was not satisfactory, and in
the end the two flags were placed on oppo
site nnlnS at the Same heiOht.