The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-01
HARAssING AN AMERICAN.
Peruvians Making 1t Warm for Nc
Cord, Who Is Seeking indemnify.


WASHINGTON, Nov. SO.-The State De-
partment has been notified that the Pc
ruvian authorities are threatening the in
terest of Victor McCord, the American en-
gineer who was arrested and confined in
that country during a revolution, and in
whose behalf our government has preferred
a claim for indemnity. The notification
was formally given to the. department
through the following letter to Secretary
Sherman, dated to-day, from the attorney
who is prosecuting the claim:
"Sir-Since my letter to you some two
months since informing you of the receipt
of letter from Mr.. McCord stating that
overtures had been made through gov
eminent official from Lima for a COM
promise and settlement of the claim, and
that he would be willing to have me re-
quest the State Department to adjust the
same, provided the government would pay
me in Washington $4,000 in gold and pub
licly declare that upon investigation it had
found and become convinced of the justice
of his complaint of unlawful treatment
adding If the matter is not settled and
the government is compelled to pay the $780,
900 l shall be obliged to leave the country,
but that is no hardship, as 1 prefer to live
in the United States, anyway the case has
lore advised me by letter to receive what
ever amount the government required to
paid by Peru take out my compensation
and pace the balance In any bank L
chose TO designate TO his credit
More recent letters from McCord advise
me that after declining all approaches of
the Spanish persuasive character and be-
ing informed that the matter of the claim
was in the hands of his government, winch
was alike interested in the protection of his
rights and those of all otner American citi-
ZenS in Peru, all kinds of threats looking to
coercion had been reSorted to calculated to
lnfiame the ignorant people of the realm
against him, such as threatening to eXpel
hlm from the country, obliging the Pc
ruvian railroad corporation to dismiss him
from its service, and to-day l noticed the
t t6roNnt Ca. eablegram sent broadcast
LIMA, via Galveston, Nov. 21.-The
newspaper press of the country have re-
quested the government to obhge the Pc
ice Victor II. McCord an American clti-
zen, because Mr. McCord is pushing a
claim for damages for false arrest and i'm
prlsonment against Peru.
1T is difficult to understand how in
science or intolerance could be made more
insulting or reprehensibe. The foregoing
makes it plain that Mr.. f. c. White, of l36
gagged in business pursuits in Peru under
stood and meant what he said in a letter
addressed to President Mckinley from Are
qulpa, the scene of all this outrage dated
March H. 1897, and which is on file in your
department and from which / beg leave to
submit the following extracts: Just as
sure as this McCord claim is not promptly
paid it will emboden others (Peruvians).
under pretext of rebellion or revolution to
murder or maltreat Americans at will
Knowing that il this Just claim is not maid
there is no protection for Americans in this
country. l, knowing these people as well
as do, am prepared to say that this claim
VIII never be paid unless the United States
government makes them pay it All of
which is most respectfully submitted