Evening star., 1895-06-27
THROWN INTO PRISON
The Treatment an American Re-
ceived in Guatemala.
he DEMANDS PREPARATION
DR.. Cross, the Sufferer, Started to
Make a Sketch.
WAS ARRESTED AND CONFINED

One Of the inhertances into which Sec
| retary Olney fell when he took the port
| folio of the State Department was little
| claim of $1,000 against the Government of
| Guatemala by an American citizen who
| had a very rough time with the officials
| of the little republic last winter. Tho State
| Department. officials are reticent about
this claim and hesitate about even admit
| ting that it is on file, but from the best of
authority it is known that it has been
| placed in the hands of the American Off
| Gals for collection. The claimant is DIR.
| H. N. Cross, a prominent young surgeon
| of Stockton, Cal, who went to Guatemala
| in October for the benefit of his health.
| He is quite an artist, and entertained him
| self during his stay by making sketches OF
the picturesque scenes in and near the city
| Of Guatemala, the capital of the country
| He had provided himself with a passport
| and letters of credence. and had purc hascd
| many permits and licenses, for which fees
| are charged at every turn. Touring in
Guatemala proved expensive, owing to this
| tendency of the native government 10 re-
| gard all foreigners as legitimate prey for
| petty extortion and means of raising reve-
| nue..
| sketched the Fort.
| The Fort of San Jose is one of the finest
bits of military architecture in the neign-
| postponed sketchlng this until two or three
| days before the steamer by which he was
| to return should sail. Photographs and
| other pictures of this fort were to be
| bought in every curio store and art store
| in town, and, never dreaming that it would
| be contrayention of any law or rule TO
| obtain ror4 personal souvenir picture of
| the fort, he started in one morning before
brea tffast to sketch il in water colors. The
usual thropg OF curiosity seekers sur
soldiers who were guarding a gang OF
convicts at work near by, approached and
an officer informed him that he was break
ing the regulations and must secure u per-
nit before putting San Jose in colors.
Cross was willing to add to his large and
interesting collection, and he willingly ac-
companied the officer into the fort to in
terview the commandant, who, on being
told the circumstances, seized not only the
half-completed sketch of the fort, but sew
eral other drawings in the young AmeIi-
cans portfolio, including such dangerous
pictures as a representation of fountain
in one of the city squares.
Put in a Cell.
According to DR.. Cross's friends he then
ordered the astounded young man to be
locked up in a strong cell without making
any explanation. Cross showed his ere
dentials and protested against this sum-
mary treatment, but to no avail. He was
thrust. into cell and detained there an
hour. Then he was taken out and escorted
through the streets by 4 strong squad Of
soldiers, like common felon, to the ha-
tional palace, where he again closely
confined. He was finally informed that he
had been recognized q a dangerous MeXi-
can spy, and he was allowed no con1muni-
cation with anybody. In the afternoon he
was permitted to send a letter to MIR.
Young, the minister CT the United States
to Guat atemala, Who responded at once, hut
was not permitted to see his countryman.
Mr. Young applied at once to Senor
&C @ r .f1as Of
DR.. Cross. whom he knew personally to he
an American On a health trip and with 10
relations whatever with the Mexican gov
ernment. Morales refused to act in the
case. The United States minister insisted
that something be done, and at last Cross
was escorted to the Office and in the pres
enCe of Mr.. Young and Consul General
Pringle, made a sworn statement of his
innocence, and Minister Young after Off
ctally suhstantiating the story, pledged his
word to produce the prisoner Whenever be
might he wanted if Morales would parole
him. But, for some unaccount able reason.
this was refused, and Cross was taken
back to his cell He had had nothing to
eat, it is said, since the evening before
and weak and i'll. Late in the after
noon slight repast was sent to him, as a
rk Oh especial favor to the American
officials. The cell into which he was lock-
ed, according to the claim, was damp and
cold and was provided with no bed. Cross |
who is refined man of slight physique
was compelled to sleep on a table in
seized with a violent chill, and finally a
hemorrhage of the lungs ensued, which was
nearly fatal.
The next morning. the American minister
and the consul general were again at work
trying to secure the release of their TN
happy compatriot. Again they succeeded
in securing for him an nestimable favor |
He was allowed to walk for few minutes |
in the sun in the prison court yard, strong
ly guarded, although the loss of blood had
made him very weak. He was soon taken |
back to his dismal cell and kept there
without food until the middle of the after
noon, when the generous government sent
in another meal.
DR.. Cross was then escorted to the Of
fee of the minister of foreign relations to |
whom the American diplomat had by this |
time succeeded in carrying the case There |
was great deal of talking on both Sides |
and the Guatemalan minister abruDtiv
concluded the conference by telling the
prisoner to go. There was no word of ex- |
PLANTATION, no suggestion of an apology, no |
expression of regret.
After having been imprisoned to the |
danger of his life for thirty-siX hours and |
treated with great indignity he was SIM
ply thrust forth from his prison and told |
to depart.
Demands Reputation.
Though thankful for his release DR.. |
Cross burned with an indignant sense of |
wrong and before sailing the next day for |
San Francisco he filed formal claim for |
damages with Minister Young, who for |
warded 1t to this city. DR.. Cross reached |
his home in April, broken In health, but |
determined to make theGIatemalan govern
Inent smart for its error, and he has writ
ten to friend in this city saying that he |
intends to utilize every possible means to |
secure reparation. Failing In this the case
may be made the subject of congressional
inquiry as DIR. Cross belongs TO a family
of considerable influence in California. The
governor of the state has taken an interest |
IN the matter and has determined to lend |
his aid to press the claim to the attention
of the federal authorities |
So far nothing has been accomplished,
but the diplomatic mills grind slowly and |
perhaps in the course Of months the C;nate-
malan government may be made TO realize |
that II is a grave and sometimes costly
amusement to imprison American tourists |
without cause |