The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-06-06
OUR TROOPS LANDED
CORINTO PROTECTED by ANERI-
CAN AND BRITISH MARINES.
ReNOiutionists Made Demand on n
London Branch Bank for
Large Sum.

Managua, Nicaragua. Nav 24-In view
of the fact that the government con-
trolled the wires at the time. the CORE
spondent of the Associated Press here
has been compelled to send by mail the
following account Of the landing on May
2 at Corinto of force of about 100 Amer
lean and British marines from the u. S.
S. Alert and H. M. S. Comus, who, acting
in the most perfect harmony, occupied
that port and protected. until May 4,
the property of foreigners in the custom
house and at the railway station, subdu-
ing a drunken mob which threatened to
cause serious disturbances.
on March Mayorga, minister of the
treasury for the revolutionists, made
demand upon II. NJ. Harding, a British
subject, controller of the branch at Leon
of the London Bank of Central America,
for loan of $4,000 on Nicaraguan bonds
of doubtful ownership, threatening to
withdraw protection from the bank if the
demand was not complied with. Harding
applied to Commander lIanford oil The
u. $. S. Alert, in the harbOr of Corinto.
Commander Hanford assured Harding he
would resist any efforts to take by force
the property of the citizens of the United
States government or any subjects of
foreign governments in friendly relations
with the United States. On April 1 Min
lister Mayorga issued a decree in the
name of the revolutionary government
declaring that the officers and books of
the custom houses at Corinto were to
be removed to Leon on the ground that
the troops of Honduras might seize mil
lions of dollars worth of merchandise in
the custom house belonging to Nicaragua.
1t was evident that the object of Mayorga
was to take possession and hold 1t as Sc
curity for a war loan. The foreigners
protested to Commander Hanford and
Captain Dyke of .he English cruiser
Comus, which arrived at Corinto May
25. The commanders decided not to let
the insurgents take possession of any
property of foreigners in the custom
house or railroad depot in Corinto, as the
property was within 600 yards of the two
warships and safe as it would be in Leon.
This enraged Mayorga and he caused all
the native males to be arrested, releas-
ing them only when each paid him 500
to $3.50 in cash. He then returned to
Leon, declaring he would come back to
Corinto This he did on May / with his
party, disbanded and sought safety in
flight, going to Guatemala on a small
schooner, the American and British war
ships having no authority to arrest them.
Marines Landed.
Although the chief insurgents escaped.
many officers and soldiers hocked to Co
rinto in the hope of getting out of the
country. but failed, owing to lack of
means Disappointed. the soldiers became
restless and took to drink and INDUCED
in all sorts of disorders The local au-
thorities were powerless. The command
ant of the custom house applied to the
United States consul agent requesting
him to appeal to American and British
ships for protection. About l o'clock May
2 a force of 100 marines landed and quick
ly drove the rioters into hiding. The flag
of Nicaragua was again hoisted on the
custom house, with the stars and stripes
on the Flagstaff at the north and the
British flag on the south side of the
building.
Matuta Smut Up.
About II o'clock May 3 General Matuta
of Honduras appeared at Corinto with
about 80 Hondureans and proceeded to-
ward the custom house General Matuta,
after a parley with the lieutenant in COM
mand of the British marines. was allowed
| to pass to the headquarters of Lieuten-
ant Baker of the Alert. There he stated
! that he came with the authority of Pres
| ident BOnilla of Honduras, the command
er Of the Honduracan allies of Nicaragua,
! to occupy COrinto and relieve the foreign
marines from protecting the property of
the government of Nicaragua, etc.
Lieutenant Baker signaled for Com
mander Hanford and Captain Dyke, who
soon arrived at the custom house. For
an hour they patiently listened to Ma
| tuta'S buster, but when he threatened
| to occupy Corinto without waiting for
| President Zelayas order. although the lat
| ter was only 30 miles away, the Ameri-
! can and British commanders decided to
| teach the Honduraeans a lesson. A few
| sharp orders were given, and the ma
! rines, fully armed and equipped, were
drawn up at their different stations
| ashore; the Alert was signaled to steam
up to opposite the custom house, and the
| Comus cleared for action. These prepa-
| rations had a calming effect upon Matu-
Ia. He began to apologize and promised
1 70 retire with his troops if the American
and British commanders would permit
him. Finally it was agreed that Matuta
and his soldiers should be permitted to
come in out of the hot tropical sun and
roost upstairs in the telegraph office al
/ the corner of the custom house square
| But they were warned to keep quiet I'M
| til advices were received from President
! Zelaya.
An Honest Man Appeared.
train arrived at p. m. at Corintc
| from Chinandega, bringing about 60 Nj.
earaguan soldiers, under General Emilio
! Herrera, with a letter from Genera
! Mureles Estrada a close personal fnenC
Of President Zelaya, and commander gen.
| eral of the civil department of the re-
public. The letter was addressed to the
| United States consul at Corinto, mott
| flying him that General Herrera haC
| been appointed commandant at Corinto
and assuring him and the commanders
of the United States and British war
ships that Herrera was an honest, relia
BILE man, and that Corinto might be turn
i ed over to him with safety as the repre-
sentative of the legal government OF
| Nicaragua