Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1897-05-14
OUR FLAG INSULTED.
NicARAGUAN eUNBoAT FIRES ON AN
AMERICAN STEAMSHIP.

Consular Representative of the United
States at Puerto Cortez said TO Have
Been Shot to Death-The Rover Was
the Ship Fired On.
New Orleans, May ls.-An insIrnifi-
cant little gunboat of one of the Cen
tral American republics has put upon
the American government a decided af-
front. steamship flying the Ameri-
can flag was fired on twice by the gun
boat, and chance alone prevented the
solid shot from striking her amidships.
The insult to the flag occurred on the
9Th inst four miles from Puerto Cortez
and the fruit steamship Rover was the
vessel fired upon. The Rover reached
her dock here last night, and the story
is told by Captain Reed her command
er, gentleman who is well known here
and whose Veracity is unquestioned
Several days ago news was received
here OF the conversion into a gunboat
OF the steam tug Lucy B., owned by the
Nicaraguan government. Two cannon
constituted her equipment. and the YES
sci was manned by so banana cutters,
whom chance and the will of the Mica
raguan government had suddenly trans
formed into men-of-warsmen.
The Rover left this city on April 2s
and reached Puerto Cortez on the morn
ing of the 9Th inst. Knowing that the
port was in a state of war, Captain
Reed decided not to anchor, and re-
mained under steering headway off
shore till he could be boarded by the
customs officers. He saw that the town
was in a state of ferment-that is in
habitants were running here and there
and that trouble of some kind was TAX
ing place.
Knowing that the government forces
were still in possession of Omoa, seven
miles Off he determined to quit Puerto
Cortez and go to that safer point. The
Rover had been headed for Omoa, and
had Travelled about four miles of the
distance, when Captain Reed noticed
the Lucy B. making for his vessel, with
the evident intention of heading her off.
He instructed his engineer to stand by
to stop the Rovers engines at the first
signal and awaited developments, in
tending to lay by the Lucy B. and get
from her officers an idea of the trouble
at Puerto Cortez.
Rover Fired on Twice.
Suddenly, when the Lucy B. was over
half a mile from the Rover, she was
seen to fire a solid shot across the Row
er's bow. At once the signal to stop the
engines was received, but before the or
der could be executed another puff of
smoke from the Lucy B. told of the e.
ing of the second shot. which was air
ed a little better the shot ricocheting
along the water and striking finally
about so feet from the Rover, which ny
this time had come to a dead stop.
The American vessel was ordered to
drop her anchor and soon after was
boarded by General ]. p. Reyes, rep
resenting the Nicaraguan government
and six of his followers. He demanded
to see the ships papers, and, though
Captain Reed was mad enough, he de-
cided to keep his temper. The papo g
were exhibited and then the Nicara-
guam began to make a search of the
vessel on the alleged ground that she
was carrying contraband of war. Find
ing nothing, Reyes permitted the Re
er TO proceed. Captain Reed says III I
he protested vigorously against his ship
being fired on and pointed to the Amer
lean flag. which was flying from his
masthead. General Reyes replied that
"he ought to consider himself lucky
that he (Reyes) did not sink the Rov-
er" and added that Reed could prote I
as much as he pleased, as 1t made
difference to him.
At Omoa Captain Reed found sever
hundred troops preparing to advan
on Puerto Cortez. He heard firing
the latter port and ventured witt
three miles of the harbor and by the
Of marine glasses saw that a pitch
battle was In progress.
He saw the Lucy B. in an apparently
disabled condition, the pilothouse an
upper works having been shot away. o.
her way to this city the Rover met
three sloops and a schooner all Of which
wcTssloaded with men and sailing for
Spanish Honduras. evidently bent on
aiding in the revolution. At Omoa II
was reported that American Consul AL
ger had been killed at Puerto Cortez,
but no verifcation or particulars could
be learned