Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-28
AT NICARA G u A
A Story Told by an American Who
Was at Bluefelds.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN D. s OFFICERS
One Protected American Interests
and Another Refused to Do So.
INCIDENTS OF THE REBELLION

ton from that country. In conversation
with a Star reporter today he told
remarkable story of the lack of protection
afforded Americans and indignities i'm
posed upon them during the recent trouble
at Bluefields. The facts. he says, were
CLEANED from personal observation and
from talks held with Captain r. Lamont
of the Indianapolis, an American steamer
plying between Nicaragua and Boston, and
owned in the latter city.
up to February IL a man named Clar-
ence of the Mosquito nation was in charge
there" said Mr. Popham. ION February
II 400 Nicaraguan soldiers, under command
OF Gen. Cavasas, entered the town of
Bluefislds. deposcd Clarence and took
charge of affairs. Gen. Cavasas turned
out the old town council of thirteen and
appointed new one of seven members
five of whom were Nicaraguans, one an
Englishman and one an American named
Hickey. The latter was civil engineer
who resided in Bluefelds for some years
and had been in the employ of ClSrcnce.
'on February is the commander of the
British gunboat Cleopatra at the request
of the Americans and Englishmen landed
ais marines. Seeing the condition of af-
| fairs and also that the waters had been
poisoned by Nicaraguan soldiers he took
charge of the town and found buried guam
titles of ammunition. He informed Gen.
Cavasas that as he understood the treaty
| of 1850 and 1880 soldiers could not be quar-
tered there; then Clarence was left in
| charge and twenty-five Nicaraguan soldiers
were allowed to remain for the protection
| of the governors house.
The Murder of Wilson.
ION March 2 young American citizen,
| FAMED Wilson of Brooklyn, y. Y, the
superintendent of q large plantation near
| the town of Rama, sixty. miles from Blue
| fields up the Bluefield river, returned to
| his house about pm. 1t adjoined the res
| idence of the governor Of the town. AS
Wilson was changing his clothes he heard
| a commotion and locking from a window
noticed that a street fight was in progress
between a number of Nicaraguans and IN
dams. He stepped outside and. as he did
so, was twice shot in the back by the
| governor. As Wilson fell Nicaraguan
| soldier rushed up and struck him i'm the
| face with a rife. Two Jamaica negroes dis
armed the soldier and then carried Wilson
into his house. There were three Ameri-
can launches moorei i'm the river near VIII
sens house. One Immediately made prepa-
| rations to go to Bluefi eds for a physician.
The governor. however, placed men on
guard to prevent the departure. During
| the night the captain of one of the launches
cast on his moorings and steamed for
Bluefelds, reaching there at III am. the next
day. As be was preparing to return with
physician several hours later another
launch arrived with the news that Wilson
was dead.
No action was taken in regard to the
matter by the governor of Bluefields until
the arrival of the United States ship San
Francisco. Capt. Watson at once demanded
the arrest of the governor of Rama, who
had murdered Wilson. The uncle of the
murderer was the governor CT Bluefields and
he had his nephew brought down and placed
In his residence, more as a guest than as a.
prisoner. After resting three days at his
Uncle e house the governor of Rama quietly
GlOOn Sof al 20 Al
Toro, in Colombia. He has been there ever
since, boasting of the murder. The fact has
been well known TO every one in Bluefields,
Out no attempt has been made to take him.
Action of the New Council.
THE new council, above referred to. in
creased the tax on all imports 800 per cent.
and imposed a tax of cents on every bunch
of bananas exported, yet the expenses rose
from $4,000 to $500 per month, and as the
collections amounted to but 5000 per month
considerable debt remained. The governor
paid himself and a few favorites but failed
TO pay the coast and town police The lat
ter then banded together and demanded
their salaries, but failed to get them. The
governors house was attacked on the night
OF July D, but with the aid of a number of
citizens, his life was saved, and he escaped
TO Rama. The natives proceeded to the Gus
tom house, hve miles above Bluefelds at
tackled the fort near by. killed several SOL
diers, captured the custom house and re-
moved the guns at the fort to Bluefelds
In the meantime the Marblehead, under
capt ONeil, relieved the San Francisco
The British man-of-war Mohawk under
Capt. Stewart, also arrived, and both O'Neil
and Stewart on July Z, landed their marines
ana TOOK charge of the town. Gen. Cavasas
was at once notified of this proceeding and
he returned. He was advised by O'Neil
against further trouble, and O'Neil Stewart
and CaVasas thereupon signed an agreement
10 the effect that Cavasas should take no
he linz ~.
settled in diplomatic manner 10y the now
ers concerned, and that he would not ar
tempt TO invade Bluefields again. After the
Ssreeineh, was signed, Capt. o'Neil and
dams and took the arms and Ammunition
aboard the Marblehead, where they remain
Cavasas informed the president of Nicara-
qua OF the agreement and the disarming Of
the natives, and he advised the president 10
send troops to Rama and Greytown. Ac-
corulngly, LOCO soldiers were sent to Rama
ana 800 to Greytown. Cavasas proceeded 10
Rama ana took command of the LOCO men
curious Conduct Of Capt. sumner.
-Four American launches and barges at
Rama were seized by Cavasas and tho can
tains and engineers were forced to proceed
to Bluefelds Bluff. The American flag was
removed from the beats and the Nicarap-
uan nag substituted. In the meantime the
y: o. . columbia arrived at Bluenelds
Nneh tne Launches bearing the Nicarayuan
Soiuieis oTeN near the Columbia, the crew
sighaled the man-of-war asking for aid
capt. Sumner of the Columbia went ashore
courteously allowed the Nicaraguan soldiers
TO land and then kindly returned the
launches and barges to their owners The
same day small American steamer, the
fuia, left Bluefelds for Greytown with the
intention of returning the following day
with Its OWL er, Mr.. Emory, aboard on
arrival at Greytown, the commander Of the
200 Nicaraguan soldiers there boarded the
Yula and requested transportation 10 Blue
felds Bluff for his command. The captain
and crew of the Yula protested. The can
tain of the troops, by telegraph requested
the president TO urge United States Minister
Baker to use his influence with the captain
OF the Yula to take the men to BluefieIds
Blum. Minister Baker telegraphed cant
ONeil asking II IT were possible for the
American crew to carry the Nicarasuan
soldiers on their ship without forfeiting
American protection.
Threats 10 XIII Americana.
In the meantime, the Nicaraguan min
lister Of foreign affairs boarded the Yula and
ordered the captain to proceed to Bluehelds
Bluff. The order was obeyed under protest.
As soon as the Yula hove in sight of the
American man-of-war the captain signaled
that he had on board 200 Nicaraguan SOL
diers and the Nicaraguan minister of for