Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-10-24
N2e.xezY- GzN &Rto0X
SITUATION IN VENEZUELA.
Development In the boundary
Question AnxiOusly Awaited.

Question AnxiousIy Awaited.
A Georgetown British GUIANA special
to the Philadelphia Press says:
Public feeling throughout this vast re-
gion. rich with gold. Is at an intense
strain, and one wonders and fears what
the next step will be.
While a great deal IL said OF Venezuelan
claims and British aggression. a fact OF
special interest to Americans Is the re-
port current throughout the colony I'm
official circles that an American citizen.
holding a permit from the Colonial Co
yernment 10 prospect for gold. was taken
prisoner near p'rnais by the Venezuelans.
who did not recognize the validity OF the
colonial permit His gold was taken from
him. and he was put i'm jail. and. II Is
said. was so badly treated that his death
followed shortly after his release. These
events. according TO the reports In the
colonies. took place about twelve months
ago, but no particular comment followed
the Americans death. and II il not ex-
pected here that anything Will be done
about the matter unless the mans rela-
tves i'm the United States hear OF his
end and institute an inquiry. The man
was apparently one who had wandered
into this region seeking his fortune.
The feeling over the boundary ques-
ton Is intense and very little Is needed
to cause bloodshed. The Venezuelans are
hot-headed and are anxious to fight but
they fear the consequences. There is no
doubt but that they could wipe out the
population entirely before British troops
could be landed but the reprisals would
be terrible. and the Venezuelans know
this well
The local forces at the disposal OF Sir
Charles Cameron Lees the Governor OF
British Guiana. are four companies OF
militia. each about 40 strong. and about
1000 armed negro police: three of the
companies are composed OF negroes while
the fourth is composed entirely OF white
men. 1t was this company which bore
the brunt of the Georgetown riots In
1859, holding the city for fourteen days
against 2O.Ooo negroes. Commissioned and
non-commissioned officers are white. 1t
being found that the negro non-commis-
stoned officers were unable to maintain
discipline in the ranks even OF their own
companies. Both forces are armed with
the Martini-Henrl rifle and bayonet and
are In high state of efficiency, Colonel
r.. b. McInnes, X. &. b., OF Indian hunt
ing fame. Is in command.
GOLD IN ABUNDANCE.
The Venezueans may well wish to pos
sess that part OF the disputed territory
known as the Northwest District. be-
tween the rivers Essequibo and Orinoco.
Within fifty miles Of the coast gold Is
found everywhere and It would pay large
profits TO a properly organized expedi-
ton. Even with the crude methods now
in use large fortunes are being made
by the negroes and bovianders. They
have been repeatedly met on the way to
markets In this city with from 500 10 500
ounces OF the precious metal collected I'm
two weeks The district was In the hands
OF the Dutch, together with the remainder
Of the colony. long before the whole was
ceded TO the British. as Is abundanuy tes-
titled to by the ruins OF abandoned plan
tations and forts extending 10 the right
bank of the Orinoco. The Journey to
Uruan, the British outpost at the junction
of the rivers Uruan ana Yumar with the
Cuyuni. now takes nine weeks from
Georgetown. the capital, and when In
spectors Barnes and Baker with their
men were taken prisoners and carried to
Bolivia the first news OF the event came
from Trinidad.
THE BRITISH COLONY.
A short description OF the British colo.
ny may be interesting. Until the set.
Element of It's boundaries the area can.
not be exactly estimated. II has a coast
line OF about 800 miles, in which are
contained the mouths of fourteen large
rivers and innumerable small creeks.
The only product OF any importance be-
sides gold Is sugar. which is grown upon
a chain OF plantations extending along
the coast, running back some four or five
miles: beyond this dense forest and
swamp.
The capital. Georgetown, with a popu.
lation OF 5000. covers an area OF l.2Ol
acres. On it's streets are met the repre-
sentatives OF every country In Europe.
British, Americans, Portuguese. Hindoos,
Arabs, Syrians, Chinese, negroes, and tho
aboriginal Indians predominant. George
town Is known as the Garden City"
Looking down on II from one OF its
towers. 1t appears to be buried In foliage.
as houses are not allowed 10 be less
than ten yards apart, and are all sur
rounded by tall palms and other tropical
vegetation.
The colony itself is known as the
Magnificent Province" and deservedly
so, as IL Is crammed with mineral and
vegetable treasures. There are immense
fortunes awaiting the pioneer. Gold Is
mined in the most primitive fashion,
not one fourth being extracted by tho
crude methods In use: yet IL pays hand
somely Fine timber can be had In any
quantity, and easily transported to the
coast The river banks are fertile and
could support tens OF thousands OF
homesteads. No one who has ever seen
the tropical forest can ever forget rs
beauty and grandeur. Even after many
years of absence the desire to return
is always present.
In spite Of It's bad name-"the white
mans graye"--the climate Is most
healthy. the variation Of temperature
being from rs degrees TO ~ degrees.
Major walthal. late United States Con
sui at Georgetown. states that during
the three years he held Office there had
been an average OF sixty or seventy
American seamen always In the peme-
rara river. yet only four had died, and
none OF these from any disease contracted
In the colony He. therefore. came TO the
conclusion that II was the healthiest port