The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-06-02


most perfect order, as If simply for a land
ing drill, and quickly drove the rioters irto
hiding Commandant Palmer cneeTIuiay
gave up the custom house, railroad depot,
cars. locomotives and merchandise, ETC., to
Lieut.. A c. Baker, u. s. N. taking the
the conmandant IAN insirgert officiar re-
tired into private life once more
BY order of Lieutenant Baker the liag CT
Nicaragua was again hoisted TO the flag
staff in front of the custom house, and the
stars and stripes were hoisted on the flag
staff at the northeast side OF the custom
house. The British flag was hoisted by
Lieutenant Levin, of the Comus on the
south side of the building and also on the
west end Of the railroad station. squad
shipmen, was stationed at the Office of the
United States consular agent, who Is also
the consular agent for England and for Italy.
Lieut.. j. w. Dodd, Y. .. N, was in COM
mand of the United States marines ashore,
and he soon had the custom house Office
thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. He
then Quartered his men as comfortably as
possible posted sentries and got the signal
corps in working order.
During .this time Lieutenant Baker, of
the Alert, and Lieutenant levin, Of the
Comus, with squads of marines, hurried
through the town, releasing the citizens who
had barricaded themselves IN terror. from
disarming all the officers and soldiers of the
insurgent army who could be cornered. In
sSs an 9a an naT our ana aste e
In Cornto and the residents hurried to be-
deck themselves in holiday attire, irl honor
and Commander Hanford then came ashore
and, together, inspected the posts occupied
by the marines. They received the hearty
thanks of the citizens ashore and OF the
refugees who had been in as much danger
the inhabitants.
The wires having been cut no telephone or
telegraphic communication could be had
with Corinto Chinandega and Leon, and
the railroad track had been injured at sew
eral places between Chinandega and Leon,
rendering travel extremely difficult and slow.
AS there is no cable station at Corinto the
American and British commanders were un-
able TO communicate w.tn their respective
governments before landing the marines.
During the afternoon Mr.. Palazio sent a
messenger to Chinandega to notify the COM
mapder Of the Honduran troops there that
the situation at Corinto had become so
alarming to necessitate the landing of
American and British marines and that the
RSt Occupied BY them In the evening
eighty soldiers arrived at the outskirts OF
CoriDto and sent forward a messenger de-
railroad station and port Immediately and
that the marines return to their ships.
Lieutenant Baker received the message and
from President Zelaya or some official Of his
government competent to represent him.
General Metuta evidently had no such au-
tnority and he returned to Amayia highly
offended after writing Lieutenant Baker a
note. full of self-eulogy, telling of his great
ness and pointing out what pigmies all
IN A TRAP
At about II o'clock in the morning on
May 3 General Metuta again appeared at
Corinto with about eighty Hondurans and
proceeded toward the custom house. But
when he reached the west end of the rail-
road station. he was halted by a British
marine sentry and the Honduran soldiers
were ordered into a narrow street between
the walled UP south side Of the station and
a high plank fence, a position which placed
them almost directly under the rifles Of a
detachment of British marines who occu-
pied the upper veranda of the custom house
and also opposite to and within 6Oo-yard
range or the six-inch breech-soaders and
rapid-fire guns of the Comus.
General Metuta, after a parley with the
young lieutenant in command of the Brit
ish marines, was allowed to pass with some
cs his aids to the headquarters .of Lieuten-
ant Baker. OF the Alert There he stated
Boniila, Vice President of Honduras and
commander Of the Honduran allies of Presi-
dent .Zelaya, OF Nicaragua, to occupy the
property of the government OF Nicaragua,
1t was not then known In Corinto what
great outrages the HSUlu~ n soldiers had
committed on women ard girls at Ell Veyjo,
nor was it known that they had destroyed
a great deal of property while occupying
that place during the past two months, or
General Metuta's reception might not have
been as peasant as II was. However,
Lieutenant Baker signalled for Commander
Hanford and Captain Dyke, who soon ar
or so they patiently listened to Metuta's
buster, but when he threatened to occupy
Corinto without waiting for President Eel
vas orders. although the latter was only
about thirty mics away, the American and
British commanders decided to teach the
HonduranS a lesson.
A few sharp orders were given, and the
American and British marines, fully armed
and equipped, were drawn up at their diff
ferent stations ashore, the Alert was sig
nailed to steam up to and opposite the GUS
tom house and the Comus cleared for
action. These preparations had a calming
effect on General Metuta. He began to
apologize as energeticaily as he had at
first attempted TO bluff. promised to retire
with his troops If the American and British
commanders would permit him. Finally il
was agreed that General Metuta and his
soldiers should be allowed to come in out
OF the hot, tropical sun and roost upstairs
in the telegraph offices at the northwest
corner of the custom-house square: But
have themselves until advices were received
from President Zelaya-
A train at about p. m. arrived at Cor
into from Chfnandega, bringing about sixty
Nicaraguan soldiers, under General Emelio
Herrera, with a letter from General Aure-
lius Estrada, close personal friend of
President Zelaya, and commander-general
of the civil department Of the republic The
letter was addressed to the United States
consul at Corinto, notifying him that Gen.
mander at Corinto and assuring him and
the commanders of the United States and
British warships that Herrera was an hon
est, cool, prudent and reliable man. who
would protect life and property and that
Corinto might be turned over to him with
safety as the representative OF the legal
government of Nicaragua
General Bonilla, Vice President of Hon.
duras, also reached Corinto by the same
train and, at the conference with Com
mander Hanford, Captain Dyke and Gen.
aDOlOE1Ze0 srnndlIcf n
General Metuta. Terms were agreed on
and at about o'c.ock in the morning of
May Corinto was turned over to the
Nicaraguan force.
When President Zelaya was Informed Of
the occurrence he at once telegraphed his
approval to the American legation at Mana
qua, with his thanks and later telegraphed
an invitation TO Commander Hanford and
Captain Dyke and their officers to visit
Managua and enjoy the hospitality Of the
government Of Nicaragua.