Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-02
BLUECOATSLANDATC ORiNTO
The United STATES aid England Keep Or.
der in Nicaragua
The Civil Government Wns Power.
less to Protect Life and Property
and Foreign Marines Landed.

Alert and the British cruiser Comus, landed
! at Corinto May 2. Acting in the most per-
| feet harmony, they occupied that port and
| protected, until May 4. the property of for
| e:grers in the custom house and at the rail-
| road station, subduing riotous and drunk
/ en- mob which threatened to cause the most
| serious disturbances.
| About March "a Samuel Mayorga, who was
| m.rister for the treasury in the Baca, or
| revolutionary government, made a demand
| ON H. S. Harding. an English subject, con-
| troller of the branch at Leon of the London
| Bank of Central America, for loan of $780,
600 on about Ss3 600 of Nicaragua bonds of
| doubtful ownership, threatening to with
| draw protection from the bank If the de-
mand was not complied with within given
time. Mr.. Harding succeeded in staving the
matter off until he managed to have letters
| delivered secretly to Commander Franklin
| Hanford of the United States cruiser Alert,
| then the Only warship at the port of Corinto
and to the United States consular agent at
| Cornto, Henry Palazio.
| Protecting Foreigners Property.
| Commander Hanfori Immediately assured
Mr.. Harding that he would resist any effort
| to take by force the property of citizens of
| the United States or of subjects Of foreign
| governments in friendly relations with the
| United States. Commander Hanford sent
| this letter by the United States consular
| 2gent, who took prompt action and sue
! ceeded in saving the money of the English
| bank from the NicaraSGan officials, while
| at the same time clearly showing the in
| surgents that the property of foreigners
| could not be nterfered with.
| On April 16 Minister Mayorga issued a
| decree il the name of the revolutionary
| government, declaring that the officers and
| books Of the custom house at Cor!nto were
| to be at once removed to Leon, the capital
! of the revolutionary government situated
| about thirty miles in the interior 1t was
| evident that the real object of Mayorga's
| move was to obtain possession of this prop
| crty, and hold it as security for loan.
| The foreigners protested to Commander
| Hanford and to Captain Henry Fl. Dyke Of
| the British cruiser CoInus. which had ar
| rived at Cornto about April ).
| The American and British commanders
! decided that they would not allow the in
! sursents to take possession of the property
| of foreigners in the custom house or rail-
! road depot at Corinto This enraged Min
| lister Mayorga so much that he caused the
arrest Of all native males in Corinto between
| the ages of seventeen ana seventy years,
| on the plea that great battle was imminent
| at Monotombo. After OBTAINING them on
| the railroad cars for few hours. Mayorga
| released all of those who could nav him
! from 500 to $3.50 IN cash, and returned to
| Leon with the other unfortunate inhabi-
| tantS of Corinto, without giving any recpiDts
| for the money collected. but declaring that
| he would return again TO Corinto This he
| did on May l. when his party disbanded
and sought safety in flight to Guatemala.
| with considcra BILE Sums of money extorted
| from the people of Nicaragua
Plumber Begins.
| A great number of the officers and SOL
diers Of the insurgent army. with their
| arms, focked to Corinto in the hope of get
| ting out of the country, but were unable
| to get away, owing to lack Of means The
| disappointed soldiers, reckless after their
| leaders deserted them. began drinking and
| rioting. Some commenced robbng houses
| and threatening the lives of everybody of
| the law ana order Glass a Corinto. Women
| were insulted and az attack upon the Gus
| tom house was planned. The native com
| mGndantS and the handful Of police at the
| port We're utterly tTp9tent AT about .
| O'CLOCK IN the morning Of May =, the COM
| mandants, at the request OF the peaceful
| residents, sent q committee TO Chinandoga
4 with letter to Manuel BeniIIa, vice presi-
| dent OF honduras, WHO was in command of
| the troops of that republic sent to support
| President Zelaya. Senior BcniiIa, who was
| at Et \ayJo, promised to comply The few
policemen sent did not reach Corinto until
| i:oo pm, whlch would have been too Ia tie
| to save the custom house and its contents.
| although Chtnandoga is only about twenty
| two miles from Corinto.
| Whlie the committee was away the most
| serious disorders broke out at Corinto The
! disbanded soldiers seemed to be insane with
| drink, robbed houses. assaulted women and
! young girls, and began gathering about the
| custom mouse. Palmer, the communicate
| of the custom house, hurried a written re-
| quest for protection to Henry Palazio the
| United States consular agent, requesting the
| latter to appeal for help to the command
| ers of the American and British warships in
| port. the Alert and Comus, until the gov
eminent of President Zeaya could send
| troops.
English and Americans Landed.
AT about / pm. on May 2, force of
about 100 marines, commanded by four
| officers and a number of midshiplnen were
| landed from the Alert and the Conus
The marines went ashore in the most per-
l feet order. as if simply for a landing drill,
and quickly drove the rioters into hiding.
| Commandment Palmer cheerfully gave up
| the custom house, railroad depot, cars,
| locomotives and merchandise, etc. to Lieut..
| "A. {. Baker, L. S. N, taking the latter
| receipt for the property, and then the COM
| mandant tan insurgent Officially retired into
| private life once more.
BY order of Lieutenant Baker the flag
OF Nicaragua was again hoisted to the
| hagstaf in front of the custom house, and
the stars and stripes was hoisted on the
| Flagstaff at the northeast side of the Gus
tom house. The British flag was hoisted
by Lieutenant Levin Of the Comus, on the
| south side OF the building, and also the
| west end of the railroad station. squad
| OF marines. under a lieutenant and two
| mldsh1pmen, was stationed al the Office of
| the United States consular agent, who is
also the agent for England and for Italy.
! Lieut.. j. W. Dodd, l.. S. N, was in COM
| mand of the United States marines ashore,
| and he soon had the custom house Offices
| thoroughly cleaned and disinfecteG. He
| then Quartered his men as comfortably as
| possible.
Released Citizens.
Lieutenant Baker Of the Alert and Lieu
| tenant Levin of the Comus, with squads
of marines, hurried through the town, re-
leasing the citizens who had barrcaded
themselves in terror; from their houses,
closing all the liquor shops and disarming
all the officers and soldiers Of the insurgent
| army who could be cornered.
In less than half an hour after the ma
rines landed. perfect order and peace pre-
vailed in Cornto. and the residents hurried
20 bedeck themselves i'll holiday attire in
honor of their gallant rescuers.
Captain Dyke and. Commander Hanford
then came ashore andGitogether inspected
the posts occupied by the marines. They
rec eived the hearty thanks of the citizens
ashore and of the refugees who had beer
in as much danger AS the Inhabitants. As
there Is no cable station at Corinto, the
American and British commanders were
unable to communicate swith their respec
tive governments before landing the ma
| rines
During the afternoon Mr.. Palazio sent G
| messenger to Chirandppa TO notify the