New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-06
MISS STEVENS LECTURES on Venezuela


SHE TELLS AN INTERESTED AUDIENCE ABOUT
THE TERRITORY WHICH ENGLAND CLAIMS.
Miss NJ Louise Stevens who formerly lived in
the territory on the Venezuelan frontier ella lined by
Great Britain and Venezuela. last Saturday night
smoke 10 a large and appreciative audience in the
Art Building on The Venezuelan Boundary CUES
ton" Miss Stevens IL said to he the only Amer
lean woman who lived the iuruar River,
about eighty miles within the frontier now claimed
by the British.
Miss Stevens spoke of her life in Venezuela and Of
her father, Dr. r. F. Stevens. of the American As
ISOLATION for the Advancement of Science. who IN
1857 began to investigate the Yuruari gold fields Dr.
Stevens opened the great Calico vein, from which
lode about SIC 10000 of precious metal has been
extracted Miss Stevens said that Notwithstanding
the rights the English now claim. all the conces-
sions were granted by the Nenezuelans in their own
tongue the surveys OF the grants being over the Old
Spanish grants by royal patents given to the 'apu-
chin frlars who the first settlers south Of the
Orinoco. The old town in which Miss Stevens lived
Guasapati, was surrounded by country that he'd
been settled by the VeneZuelans. and was under
Venezuelan law. The assertion that any part OF it
belonged to Great Britain would have been
ridiculed
Now Great Britain has extended her boundary 10
I'pata. which is eighty miles beyond Gussapati
Miss Stevens told how England now included in the
territory she would claim Point Barima upon which
the British Government once asked the Nenczueans
to build lighthouse. and the right TO which Lords
Granville and Aberdeen waived and disclamed
The lecturer said that the British claims were
founded Dutch concessions and old treaties
with the Indian tribes by the Dutch. The principle
OF international law the right Of possession to
the first discoveries. and Christopher Coumbus's
discovery OF Venezuela gave that country Spain.
South and east Of the Spa nsh possessions the Dutch
held Guiana. The Dutch went West the Esse-
Quibo and established some trading posts between
that river and the Orinoco. England
this" said Miss Stevens. TO give color her
claims Of unsettled boundary"
Miss Stevens said that time there were
many fugitive slaves from the Dutch settlement Of
Demerara in the debatable In nd. and that II IL safe
TO infer that these slaves would take refuge in a
friendly Spanish colony. Years a number OF
forts built there were abandoned by the Dutch
The lecturer gave additional facts showing the
fmsy basis for Great Britain's claims, and spoke
Of the cession Of the country known British
There is general impression" said Miss
Stevens, that Venezuela is small country. but il
has nearly 10000 square miles and IS not ncon-
siderable. Venezuela Is nearly large az our
Atlantic seaboard, extending to the Mississippi and
the great lakes. with the exception OF Florida"
She spoke OF the almost ineXhaustble resources OF
Venezuela. and said she had rode and
acres OF valuable Iron ore. Undeveloped Miss
Stevens said that In Venezuela there is a large class
OF civilized Indians and people of mixed blood.
whom she called Indian yeOmanry. saying that they
made honest. trust worthy and seif-rellant citizens
Another class of venezuelens. descended from the