The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-06-04

| protection to Mr.. Henry PalaZO, the
| United States consular agent, requesting
the latter to appeal for help to the COM
mander of the American and Brush war
ships in port the Alert and Comus, ask
ing them to land men and protect persons
and property of the Nicaraguans and or
the government of Nicaragua until the
| government of President Ielaya could
send the troops
Commander Hanford and Capt Dyke
again consulted and decided to comply
with the request. Both of these officers
came ashore and from personal knowl.
| edge were aware of the terrible state OF
| affairs existing. Consequently, at about
| / D. M, on May 2, force of about l2OO
marines commanded by four officers, and
number of midshipmen were landed
from the Alert and Comus.
The marines went on shore in the most
| perfect order as if simply for landing
| drill, and quickly drove the rioters into
| hiding.
Commander Palmer cheerfully gave up
the custom house, railroad depot, cars,
locomotives and merchandise, etc, to
Lieut.. A. C. Baker, United States navy,
taking the latter's receipt for the proper
ty, and then the commandant tan insur-
gent retired into private life once more.
BY order of Lieut.. Baker the flag of
Nicaragua was again hOisted 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 Lieut.
Lewis of the Comus on the south side of
the building and also on the west end
of the railroad station. A squad of ma
rnes under lieutenant and two mid
shipmen were stationed at the house of
the United States consular agent, who
is also the consular agent for England
and for Italy.
Lieut.. ]. w. Dodd. United States navy,
was in command of the United States ma
rines ashore and he soon had the Gus
tom Offices thoroughly cleaned and dis
infected.
He then quartered his men as COM
fortably as possible and got the signal
corps in working order. During this
time Lieut. Baker of the Alert and Lieut.
Lewis of the COmus. with forces of ma
rines, hurried through the town. releas-
ing the citizens who had barricaded them
selves in terror in their houses closing
all 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 marines landed per-
feet order and peace prevailed in Corinto !
and the residents hurried to bedeck them |
selves in holiday attire in honor of the |
gallant rescucrs.
Capt. Dyke and Commander Hanford
then came ashore and inspected the posts
occupied by the marines. They received |
the hearty thanks of the citizens ashore |
and the refugees, who had been in as
much danger as the inhabitants.
I,lA
graphic or telephone communication
could be had with Leon and the railroad |
track had been injured in several places |
between Chinandega and Leon. render
ing travel extremely difficult and slow. +,
AS there is no cable station at Corinto,
the American and British commanders
were unable to communicate with their |
respective governments before landing
marines.
During the afternoon Mr.. Palazo sent
a messenger to ChinanGaga to notify the
of the Hondurean troops that
the situation at COrinto had become so
as to necessitate the landing of
American and British marines and that
the port was occupied by them. In the
evening Gen. Metuta and about eighty
soldiers arrived at the outskirts of Co.
rinto and sent forward a messenger de-
|
house, railroad station and port i'm
mediately, and that the marines return
to their ships,
Lieut., Baker refused to comply with
his request without Il written request
from President Iclaya or some official
If the government. This was not fur
lished and the Hondureans, with good
leal of buster, tried to bluff Lieut..
Baker. AS a result the marines had to
le drawn up in battle line before the So
,alled ''allies" weakened.
Soon after Gen. Emilio Hicrra arrived
rom Chinandega with authority from
President Zelaya to assume command.
md at about s o'clock in the morning of
Nay 4. COrinto was turned over to the
forces.
When President Ielaya was informed
If the occurrence he at once telegraphed
lis approval to the American legation at
Ianagua, with his thanks, and later
elegraphed an invitation to Commander
1anford and Capt. Dyke and their of
icers to visit Managua and enjoy the
hospitality of the government of Nicara-
qua. II
The incident in which Gen. Metuta
igured was attended with some very
unpleasant features. After receiving
he reply to his first note. Gen Metuta,
It about IL o'clock in the morning on
'Iay 3 again appeared at Corinto with
bout eighty Hondureans and proceed /:
d towards the custom house. But
when he reached the west end of the
abroad station he was halted by a
British marine sentry, and the Hondu
can soldiers were ordered into a narrow
treet between the waled-up south side
nd high plank fence, position which
'laced them almost directly under the
ifles of detachment of British marines
Who occupied the upper veranda of the
ustom house and was opposite to and
within 600 yard range of the 6-inch
'reech-loaders and rapid fire guns of the
Jomus.
Gen. Metuta, after parley with the
Dung lieutenant of the British marines,
vas allowed to pass, with some of his
ides, to the headquarters of Lieut..
Baker of the Alert. There he stated
hat he had come with authority from
len. Bonilla vice president of Honduras
nd commander of the Hondurean allies
f President Ielaya of Nicaragua, to
ccupy Corinto and to relieve the foreign
larines from protecting the property of
he government of Nicaragua, etc. 1t
'as not then known in Corinto what
reat outrages the Hondurean soldiers
ad committen on women and girls, nor
'as it known that they had destroyed a
reat deal of property while occupying
hat place during the past two months or
ZEN. Metuta's reception might not have
cen as pleasant as it was. However, 7
innt IN cipn l1aI fnr |