The record-union., 1894-08-24
AFFAIRS AT BLUEFIELDS.
OUTRAGEOUS MOVEMENT ON THE
PART OF NICARAGUANS.
The British Consul, Two EngIIshmen,
an American and Five CreoIes
Placed Under Arrest.
Special to the REooRD-UN1oN.

Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
NEW ORLEANS, Aug. pa Bluefelds
(Nicaragua) letter to the Associated Press,
via New Orleans, which arrived tonight,
says:
Shortly before noon on the 10th, most
outrageous movement on the part of the
Nicaraguans was made public. The
greater part of tne troops were to sail at
o'clock in the evening on the Yula, a
coasting steamer. and Minister Madrlz
decided to send with them thesei persons
whom he thought were guilty of firing
on the Nicaraguan flag. Early in the
morning Consul Hatch, the British rep
resentative was sent for. and when he
answered to the call be was locked in
room as prisoner. The move was kept
very quiet, and as he was not allowed 10
communicate with -he outside, no one
knew of his arrest for hours.
A About III o. clock, when Mr.. Hampton
called at the building to secure per-
mission to have certain freight released
from the Custom-house, he was also
placed under arrest. Then Henry Brown,
an Euglishman, called to assist Mr..
hampton in getting the freight, when he,
too, was arrested.
Their next move was against Captain
Wiltbanks, the American who accepted
the position as Judge under the Mosquito
rule. ii. C. Ingram, John Thomas, II.
A. Hodgson, John. Taylor and George
Hodgson, all Mosquito creoles. were ar
rested.
After these men were detained an hour
or more. the Americans in the neigh bor
hood were attracted by the signs they
made from the windows. The English
officers station on shore, as usual, went TO
the building to learn the cause of Hatch's
absence, and were told he was under ar
rest. Mr.. Hatch dropped paper from
the 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 distributed along
the foreign quaater. Consul Zealot Of the
United States was notified, and called on
Madriz. The latter said these persons
were to 60 to the interior to stand trial.
He could not get English justice to con-
vict them, but he was sure they were i'm
plicated.
Consul Zealot was then dispatched TO
the Columbia, and by $50 the tug was
steaming toward the bluff. What the
charges are Madriz does not say. He has
not even informed the American or
English Consul. The English Consul, it
is believed, is charged with having in
ils
The owners of the Yula, when told of the
arrest, positively stated that their boats
could not leave, and thus the only tram
sport which can stand the sea is taken
away from them.
1t is, of course, useless for these Mica
raguans to cause the arrest for even
should Captain Sumnef submit to the
actions of MadriZ, the American popula-
ton would demand and release the inno-
cent men by force OF arms, if necessary.
However, the commander of the Colum-
bia is expected here before night and the
English commander, also.
While speaking to General Lacayo,
just after the news was made public, it
was learned that Madriz had taken these
steps on his own advice. 1t was not legal
to take these men to Managua, said La
cayo, and he could show it by the laws of
Nicaragua.
Such a move on the part of Nicaragu-
ans, coming as it does, after the insults to
the American flag, deserves the most Sc
were called upon to exert their authority,
the time has arrived to do so. The
American population is greatly excited,
and were it not that they have confidence
in their cOuntry's agent the bullet-rid-
died buildings would suffer another at
tack, but this time someone would be
severely hurt. The situation is serious,
for no one feels safe, but it is hoped that
Nicaragua will be taught a lesson that
will not be forgotten by the men on the
Mohawk and Columbia.