New-York tribune., 1896-01-24
HAUUOND IN no DANGER.
THE IMPRISONED AMERICAN ENGINEER
WELL TREATED BY THE BoERS

THE IMPRISONED AMERICAN ENGINEER
WELL TREATED BY THE BoERs.
Washington Jan 23.-Numerous letters and tee-
grams have been received at the state Department
:, rogard 10 the case OF John Hays Hammond. the
California mining engineer under arrest al RE
toria for alleged completely In the 'itanner p'o'
against the Transvaal Government. Many OF 'hese
arc from persons high In National reputation, ana
soca, political and personal influence mas oeeh
brought TO bear with n view TO securing Vle"e"V9
for Hammond. The information caoeu iro" t'ie
Transvaal that Hammond was in danger ursed MS
friends 10 greater efforts and to-day secretary
OIney sent another dispatch of inquiry TO AInnas-
sador Ravard TO ascertain whether Hammond ana
other Americans In the custody Of the Beers were
entirely safe and receiving good treatment Nr.
Bayard answered promptly ana the substance 81
his dIspach was made public this afternoon IN the
following statement from the State Departments
In rosnonse 10 inquiry Ambassador Bayard tele-
graphs that according TO ms present IN my, - pei,
uniform humane and induigeh, nnrcans by the
Bcer Government
Renewed interest is the case OF John HAYS ham
mond was excited In this city yesterday by capie
dispatch dated at Newcastle. Natal, and received III
San Francisco by Judge Creswell from Joseph S'oty
Curtis an American mining engineer ana son o'
the late George Ticknor Curtis. The dispa'ch re"uS
follows ~
Exert YOUR influence to help Hammond He is con con
ened win sixty OF us in Pretoria Jail. He has been
taken as one o. the ringeaders and unless some
radical measures are taken by our Government ne
viii he made TO suffer for the sins OF othefS io'
which he is no way responsive
Richard Smith, jr.. who with Charles W IrusIo"
Mr. Hammond's legal adviser and correspondent
here returned from Washington yesterday. "here
.bev too have been working to secure acuoh on
the mart OF the State Department IN behat OF the'
friend Hammond. said to Tribune reporter;
am convinced that Mr. Oney is doing all that ne
nosslbly can do under the conditions ana tha'
he is anxious to do everything possible to secure MT
Hammonds = liberty Cou.d the Department OF STATE
deal directly with President Kruger the mat yer
Wo,Id he simplifed But Mr.. Hammond was an
engineer In the employ OF the british soctn AiTra
Cnnnanv In view Of certain diplomatic complca-
lions our Department OF State has iouha r,,h ~ az
vsable 10 conduct this matter through tne bldan
Government Whether the conditions VIII c"a"se
remains be seen. ,.. a. ,ho ltvoc NJ
Of course there is now no danger TO the ives @ oi
Mr. Hammond and his American ASSOCIATE, pu'
tha question Of a long Incarceration is az Issue,
and besides this the possibility OF the conllscaton
Of the property OF these Americans IS an por.an' M @
| factor Now these American citizens are W.
known men Of position from various Ges ol n he he
tinted States Their total property h0idings "a 1o
Transvaal reach into the millions Inc possslpiI''s
o. the confscatlon OF this property is thereiore d
| serious phase Of this matter stu; ! repeat @ that
Tho Department of State Is doing al IL can AT PIJ7
ent under the restraint OF certain diplomatic conui
! tions. TO effect the release of Mr.. hah'hohu anu
| other Americans