Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-04-28
BRAVE PEOPLE.
The Handful of Nlcaraguaus Defy the
British.

Washington, April 27.-The events OF
the day IN diplomatic circles were the
landing Of the British troops at Corlnto.
Nicaragua, the abandonment of the
town by the native officials and the
population. and the shrewd move of the
Nlcaraguans in declaring Corinto II
closed port.
The first news of these events came
In the afternoon. DR. Guzman, Ncar,r-
guam minister here. had been waiting
for several hours at the state depart-
ment TO see Secretary Gresham lie
was In n fever OF anxiety, and In the
absence of news from his own govern
ment, came to learn what the depart.
ment had received az to British move
ments at Curinto He was unable TO
see the secretary this morning, how
ever, as Mr.. Gresham had been suffer
ing from severe toothache and was
Obliged to spend some time In dem
lists chair.
Al noon the minister returned 10 hIs
home for luncheon, and found there
two cahlegrams from his government.
forwarded from San Juan del Sur, the
NicaraBuan cable port, about 100 miles
south OF Corinto. The first Californian
stated that the British troops had land
ed at Corinto and that the British nnf,
was flying over the town, which had
been deserted by the NicnraRunn OH
second cableEram showed that the nu.
thorlties had gone to San Juan del Bur,
cutting the wires connecting the cable
port with Corinto. so that the British
forces at the latter place could NOT
communicate with their home govern
ment except by sending a boat TO the
cable station. The main body OF tho
Niearaguans who had abandoned Co.
rinto had crossed lagoon which SEN
arates the town from the mainland.
ana had strongly entrenched them
selves. This Information was promptIy
communicated to the state department.
DR.. Gu2man. who has been In mi
health and has suffered so much from
the nervous strain OF the past week aa
to be obliged to take to his bed this
afternoon, but would not do so until he
had gone through the rain to see See
rotary Gresham and officially oommu-
nicate the substance OF his cablegrams
TO him. The news, II was apparent,
was not expected by the state depart.
ment, which had never believed that
Nicaraguans would 20 TO the length OF
permitting the occupancy Of CorlntO
In preference to paying the indemnity.
The only difficulty In the way OF a
speedy settlement of the trouble was
that arising from trouble experienced
by the Nicaraguan government in rails
Ing the money hastily and that the
this point when once satisfied OF the
disposition OF the Nicaraguans 10 COM
ply with the terms of the utimatum
otherwise had never been doubted by
the department. For this reason the
first reports OF the occupation or CO.
rinto received at the department from
unofficial sources were dlscredited and
doubt expressed as 10 their accuracy.
The secretary had been unable to OBJ
tain any direct information from any OF
his agents as 10 the action OF British
for the reason that Mr.. Baker. our
minister TO Nicaragua, is not at pres
ent In that country md there ~ no
charge at Managua. There Is con-
sular agent at Corlnto, Henry Palazio.
but he is not an American and cannot
he relied upon in a matter Of this kind
TO keep the department Informed In the
absence Of express orders.
The situation at CorintO is now re-
garded as ominous, and serious trouble
Is feared, as the Nicaraguans are dis
posed to resist any further advance of
the British.
The Information reaching here is to
the effec, that the Hicaraguans may
further Isolate the British at Corinto
by burning the bridges across the la
COON separating the town from the
mainland. The British position Is said
10 be very bad from strategic stand
point. The town ~ pfhcucaily on an
island, being separated from the main
land by a stretch Of marshy ground.
This Is traYersed by bridges. and with
out them corinto f. cut on from the
shore The NicaraCnans have retired
10 the shore and those well Informed on
tho situation believe that II the British
mike any move TO cross the lagoons
The bridges VIII be burned and the lit
lie Band OF Nlcaraguan troops wiz
make a stand against further on
croaehment. The British are evidently
NJ Indicated by the cablepams from
Colon showinr that the three yeesels,
the Royal Arthur, tho Wild Swan