The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-06-04
IN CONJUNCTION WITH BRITISH
TARS THEY RESTORE ORDER
AT CORINTO.
RIO1|NG QUELLED IN 80 MINUTES.
linus Saving Life and Property of For
eigners-Gen. Metuta Attempted to
Run Bluff, But American and
British Officers Called Him.

iiSHteu, looO, by the Associated Press
In view of the fact that the govern
ment controlled the wir.s Mt the time
the correspondent of the Associate
Press here has been compelled to sen,
by mail the following account of tn
lahalng on May =, at Corinto, of fore
OF about 200 American and British
marines from the United States cruise
Alert and the British cruiser Comus
who, acting in the most perfect harmony
occupied that port and protected unit
May 1 the property of foreigners in tn,
custom house and at the station. sub
dung riotous and drunken mob which
threatened to cause the most serious dis
turbances.
DuflhS the recent revolution in Nicara
qua, there were remarkable instances OF
the aWless manner in which so-called
ministers of provisional governments car
act when they have the opportunity.
For instance, about March "A. Samue
Mayora, who was minister for the
treasury i'll the Baca or revolutionary
government made a demand on Mr.. Fl
>. harding, an English subject. CONTROL.
er OF the branch at Leon OF the London
bahk OF Central America, for a loan of
SooOOO on about S63,UOO of Nicaraupua
ponds OF doubtful ownership, threatening
10 Withdraw protection from the bank
II the demand was not complied with i'm
a given time.
Mr.. Parding succeeded in staying the
matter OH until he managed to have let
tiers 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 Corinto, Mr..
Henry Petasco.
Commander Hanford Immediately adj
Vised Mr.. Parding that he would resist
any EFFORT to take by force the property
OF cltlZens of the United States or of sub
jects of foreign governments on friendly
relations with the United States.
Commander Hanford sent this letter
by the United States consular agent. who
TOOK prompt action and succeeded in
saving the money of the English bank
from the Nicaragllan officials while at
the same time clearly showing the insur-
gents that the property of foreigners
could not be interfered with. but on April
l6 Minister Mayora issued decree in
the name of the revolutionary govern
ment declaring that the officers and books
OF the custom house at Corinto were to
be moved at once to Leon. the capital of
the revolutionary government situated
about thirty miles in the interior, adding
mat owing to the fact that troops of
Honduras (sent to assist the army of
President Zelaya) might at any time
overcome the small force of President
Bacas' troops at .Corinto and seize the
millions of dollars worth Of merchandise
in the custom house belonging to citi-
zens of Nicaragua and to foreigners, as
they had robbed private dwellings, and
stores in the towns of Ell Nicjo, twenty
hive miles from Corinto," he. Samuel
Mayorga, minister of the treasury. had
come to Corinto with railroad trains in
order to remove the merchandise. belong
ing largely to foreigners. from the Gus
tom house of Corinto to Leon.
1t was evident. however. that the sole
object of Mayorga's movement was to
obtain possession of this property and
mold 1t as security for Il war loan. The
foreigners protested to Commander Han
ford and to Capt Henry H. Dyke of the
British cruiser Comus. which arrived at
Corinto about April ). The American
md British commanders decided that
hey would not allow the insurgents to
AXE possession of the property of for
nigners i'll the custom house or railroad
lepot at Corinto, as these buildings, be-
ne within six hundred yards of the guns
If the two warship. were at least as safe
Is if the property was at Leon.
This enraged the minister, Mayorga, so
much that he caused the arrest of all
natives in Corinto between the age of
Il and 40 years ON the plea that a great
Ia L.
After OBTAINING them on the railroad cars
or a few hours, Mayorga released all
If those who could not pay him from
100 to $3.50 in cash and returned to Leon
With the other unfOrtunates of Corinto
without giving any receipts for the money
but declaring that he would
'eturn again to Corinto. This he did on
Nay l, when his party disbanded and
sought safety in fight with considerable |
ums of money eXtOrted from the peo-
'le of Nicaragua. They escaped to Qua
emala in a small schooner.
The commanders of the American and |
British warships have no authority to ar
est them. but their flight showed the ne
'essity of protecting the property of for
igners to be greater than ever. Although |
he chiefs of the insurgent party succeed |
ID in escaping a great number of the Of
cers and soldiers of the insurgent army
With their arms tlocked to Corinto in the |
rope of getting out of the country. but |
we're unable to get away. owing to lack |
# means. The disappointed soldiers |
'ecame reckless after their leaders de-
erted them and began drinking and riot
hg. Some of them succeeded in crossing |
he estuary and made for the woods. |
)thers commenced robbing houses and \
the lives of everybody of the
NV and order class at Corinto. Women
we're insulted and an attack upon the
ustom house was planned.
The active commandments and the hand
III of police at the port were utterly inn
otent and about o'clock on the morn
ig of May the commandments, by the
aquest of the peaceful residents, sent
committee to Chinandega with letter
, Manuel Bonilla, vice president of Hon
uras, who was in command of the troops
that Republic, to support President
elaya.
Senior Bonilla was at Ell Vajo, and
hen he received the request from Corin-
, to send force to protect that port he
romised to comply. There was consid-
able delay and the few policemen did
Of reach Corinto until 7:20 p. M. which
ould have been too late to save the GUS
I'M house and its contents, although Chi
lndega is only about twenty-five miles
slant from Corinto.
While the committee was away the
ost serious disorder broke out at Corin-
). The disbanded soldiers seemed to be |