The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-02
TURMOIL AT CORIN10.
Quelled by the Landing OF American
and British Marines.
Riotous and Drunken Mob Threatened
Destructio of Life and Property.

mail the following account or the land
ing on May 2 at Corinto. or force or
about 100 American and British marines
from the United States cruiser Alert
and the British cruiser Comus, VINO,
acting in the most perfect harmony,
occupied that port and protected until
May IA the property of foreigners in the
custom house and at the railroad sta
ton, subduing a rlotous and drunken
mob which threatened to cause the
most serious disturbances.
During the recent revolution In Mica
ragua, there were remarkable Instances
of the lawless manner IN which so-called
ministers of provisional governments
can act when they have the opportunity.
Samuel Mayorga, who was minister
Tor the treasury in the Baca, orrevolu-
tionary government, made demand on
IL. S. Harding an English subject, con-
troller OF the branch at Leon OF the Lon
don Bank of Central America, for loan
of $50, 900 on about -Sa3-Q0Q Of Nicaragua
bonds. of doubtful ownership. threat
ening TO withdraw protection from the
bank If the demand was not compiled
with within given time. Mr.. Harding
managed to have letters delivered Sc
cretly To Commander Hanford of the
United States cruiser Alert, then the
why NdASn CT Niat TOAh Va NpAiA'of ehaio
Commander Hanford Immediately took
action, and succeeded in saving tho
money of the English bank from the
Eicaraguan officials, while at the same
time clearly showing the insurgents that
the property OF foreigners could not be
interfered with.
But on April 16, Minister Mayorga
broke out again He issued a decree in
the name of the revolutionary govern
ment, declaring that the Offices and books
of the custom house at Corinto were 10
te at once removed TO Leon, the capital
OF the revolutionary government, for
safety. 1t was evident, however, that
the real object of Mayorga's move was
20 obtain possession cf this property
and hold 1t as security for a war loan,
and. consequently, the foreigners at
once made a protest to Commander
1ianford and 70 Captain Dyke OF the
British cruiser Comus, which had ar
rived at Cerinto about April 5. The
American and British commanders de-
cided that they would not allow the in
purgents 10 take possession Of the prop
erty of foreigners in the custom house or
railroad depot at Corinto This enrased
Minister Mayoraga so much that he
caused the arrest of all native males in
OIlhlOt OtlNCCh Ailt dbt VI ~ anu ~
years, on the plea that great battle
was imminent at Momotombo. After
OBTAINING them on the railroad cars for
q few hours. Mayorga released all of
those who could pay him from 500 to
$3.50 in cash, and returned TO Leon with
the other unfortunate Inhabitants OF
Corinto On May his party disbanded
and sought safety In flight with con-
siderable sums OF money, extorted in
one way or the other from the people OF
Nicaragua. They escaped to Guatemala.
A mob OF the disbanded soldiery. mad
with drink and still bearing arms, COM
menced robbing houses and threatening
the lives of everybody. They violated
women and young girls. and began
gathering about the custom house.
Palmer the commandant OF the custom
house, hurried a written request for pro-
lection to Henry Palazie, the United
States consular agent requesting the
latter to appeal for help TO the COM
manders of the Alert and Comus. ask
ing them to land men and take charge
of the port until the government of Pres
ident Zelaya was able to send troops to
the spot.
Commander Hanford and Captain
Dyke concluded that IL was impossible
for them to refuse such request under
the circumstances. Consequently, at
about p. m. on May 2, a force of about
100 marines were landed from the Alert
and Comus The marines quickly drove
the rioters into hiding.
Commander Palmer cheerfuily gave
UP the custom house. railroad depot,
cars. locomotives and merchandise,
etc, to Lieutenant Baker, us. N, taxi
ing the latter's receipt for the property,
and then the commandant Tan insurgent
Officially retired into private life once
more. A squad of marines. under n
lieutenant and two midshipmen, was
stationed at the Office of the United
States consular agent, who is also Brit
ish consular agent and consular agent
for Italy. In less than half an hour
after the marines landed perfect order
prevailed in Corinto.
At about 1880 p. m, General Metuta of
Honduras and about so Honduranean
soldiers arrived at the outskirts Of CO.
rinto and sent a messenger demanding
that the marines of the Alert and Comus
surrender the custom house, railroad
station and port Immediately. and re-
turn TO their ships. Lieutenant Baker
refused 10 comply with the demand
At about III o'clock in the morning
CMay - General Metuta again arrived
at Corinto with force of about so Hon
duraneans. He was promptly halted by
British marine sentry. and the Hon
duranean soldiers were ordered back.
Later, General Ageetta was allowed to
pass, with some OF his aides. to the head
quarters Of Lieutenant Baker. There,
I'm rather bombastic terms. he stated
that he had come with authority 10 oc-
cupy Corinto and TO relieve che foreign
marines from protecting the property OF
the government OF Nicaragua. etc.
Lieutenant Baker signalled for Com
mander Hanford and Captain Dyke,
and the two commanders soon arrived
ct the custom house They patiently
listened TO Metuta's buster. but. when
he threatened to occupy Corinto without
waiting for President Zelsya's orders
-