Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1896-06-06
CORINTO PROTECTED BY AMERI-
CAN AND BRITISH MARINES.
ReNOlutiOnistS Made - Demand on u
London branch Bank for
Large Sum.


OF the fact that the government con
trolled the wires at the time, the CORE
sQOndCnt Of the Associated Press here
has been compelled to send by mail the
following account of the landing on May
at COrintO Of a force of about 100 Amer
lean and British marines from the L. 5.
S. Alert and II. Nj. 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 2 Mayorga, minister Of the
treasury for the revolutionists, made
demand upon H. NJ. Harding, a British
subject, controller of the branch at Leon
of the London Bank of Central America,
for a 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 Hanford of the
L. S. 5. 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 OIL
foreign governments in friendly relations
with the United States. ON April Min
lister MaYOrga issued a decree in the
name of the revolutionary government
the custom houses at COrinto We're to
be removed to Leon on the ground that
the troops of Honduras might seize MIL
lions of dollars worth of merchandise ia
the custom house belonging TO Nicaragua.
1t was evident that the object Of MayOEga
was to take possession and hold IL as Sc
curity for war loan The foreigners
protested to Commander Hanford and
| CAPTAIN Dyke of he English cruiser
! ComuS, which arrived at COrintO May
30 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 reIeaS-
| ing them only when each paid him $IoU
to $3.50 in cash He then returned to
Leon, declaring he would come back to
Corinto. This he did on May / with ms
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 escape /,
many officers and soldiers hOCked to CO.
rinto III the hope of getting out Of the
country. but failed, owing 10 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 10 American ana British
ships for protection. About ! o'clock Nj :
2 a force of 100 marines landed and quick
ly drove the rioters into hiding. The flag
of Nicaragua was again hOiStCd 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.
NIntuta Shut Up.
About IL o'clock May General Matuta
OF Honduras appeared at Corinto with
about 50 IIondureans and proceeded to-
ward the custom house. General Matuta,
after a Darley with the lieutenant in com
mand of the British marines, was allowed
to pass to the headquarters OF Lleuten-
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 Honduraean 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 XelayaS order, although the lat
ter was only 30 miles away, the Amerl-
can and British commanders decided to
teach the Honduraeans a lesson. a few
sharp orders We're given, and the ma
rines, fully armed and equipped, were
drawn up al 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-
ta He began to apologize and promised
to 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