The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-18


control the Whole of South America as we'll.
At the time President Mckinley declared
war with Spain popular meetings We're held
in Valparaiso and Santiago, and one mill
lion pesos, or over $350,O00 of our money,
was contributed to the Spanish cause. Pro-
cessions of Spaniards and Spanish SYM
pathizers marched through the streets Yell
ing Death to the Yankees" and the papers
denounced the action of our President and
Congress in unmeasured terms.
A PLOT TO BLOW UP WAR SHIPS.
1t was at this time that plot was formed
by number of Spaniards and pro-Span-
ish- Chileans to blow up the Oregon and
Marietta in the harbor of Valparaiso 1t was
known that these ships were on their way
here and it had been stated that they would
stop at Valparaiso. Explosives were pur-
chased, and an Italian of Valparaiso who is
skilled in making submarine weapons of de-
struction was employed to prepare them
for use. 1t was intended to place these under
the two vessels if possible and blow them
to pieces while lying in what their officers
considered friendly port. The plot was,
however revealed to our consul, Mr.. Caples,
of Valparaiso, by a pro-American- Chilean,
and he at once communicated it to Mr..
Henry L. Wilson, the United States minis
ter here. Mr.. Wilson at once took the train
for Valparaiso. He called upon the inten-
dente, or governor and laid the details of
the matter, as far as he knew them, before
him. These details were not complete, but
they showed the existence OF a compact or
ganization and studied plan. The intendente
was at first inclined to doubt the accuracy
of the information, but at the same time
said that he would investigate the matter
fully and would take every precaution to
have the vessels protected. He put his de-
tectives at work and later on told our min
lister that his information was correct, and
that the organization and plot existed. lie
at once, however, made his arrangements to
prevent this plot and any other that might
be formed from being carried out. He or
ganized a complete police boat patrol of the
harbor, and when the Marietta arrived, the
Oregon having remained outside. no boats
were allowed to come near her except after
the inspection and with the approval of the
Chilean officers. This patrol was kept
about her during the three days she lay
here. Upon his return to Santiago Minister
Wilson expressed to the minister of foreign
affairs his appreciation Of the prompt action
of the intendente and his officials. Had the
plot succeeded it would have been difficult
for the government to have satisfactorily
explained it's nonconnection with it, and a
great deal of credit should be given to Min
lister Wilson and Consul Caples for their
prompt action.
OUR MINISTER TO CHILE.
I find that Henry L. Wilson, the United
States minister here, is doing much to bet
ter the relations between Chile and the
United States. 1t is largely through his in
tof dir,Io %
treating things that the tone of the Chilean
press has changed, and several of the San
tiago papers have become almost Yankee
supporters in their editorials He has pro-
duced an excellent impression in the official
circles of the Chilean capital, and, though
he is an ardent American, he seems to be
abundantly able to hold his own and not
offend the sensitive pro-Spanish Chileans.
At the same time he has organized the con-
sular service of the country so that full re-
ports Of all vessels likely to be used against
the United States are sent to him as soon
as they enter the various harbors of Chile,
which reports are at once forwarded to
Washington. Mr.. Wilson is one of the
young men in the diplomatic service. He
is just forty, and his present Office is the
first he has ever held He is brother of
United States Senator John L. Wilson, an
Indianian by birth, his father having been
a member of Congress and at the time of
his death United States minister to Vene-
zuela. After studying law in Indianapolis
and acting for time as the proprietor and
manager of the Lafayette Journal Mr.
Wilson went to Washington and settled in
Spokane. Here he engaged in banking, and
within a few years made a fortune He
suffered reverses, however, during the re-
cent panic, and had just begun the making
of second fortune when President Nc
Kinley asked him to represent the United
States here He lives very nicely in San
tiago. having a large house in the most
fashionable part of the capital. His wife
and mother are with him, and he has three
little children, two of whom go to the
American schools.
In connection with the rro-Spanish feel
ing here rather amusing incident &C.
Cured in one of the Catholic churches the
other day. The interpreter of our legation
is fine organist ard his services are in
demand at several of the best churches of
Santiago. While he was in attendance at
one of them several weeks ago, when the
war spirit was at its height, the priest de-
livered a sermon denouncing the United
States and praising the SpaniGrds. The
Yankee organist could not, of course, reply
in words, although his soul was filled with
indignation, but as the congregation rose to
go he played the "Star-spangled Banner
with all the force that he and the great
organ could SUPPLY. do not know that
the tune was familiar one to the priest,
but at this writing the interpreter still
draws his salary as the organist.
The feeling here against the Yankees, as
they call us, is largely due to the ignorance
of the Chileans as to our people. and to the
remembrance that Chile had to apologize
for the outrageous treatment of our sailors
in the Baltimore affair. The Chileans are
intensely patriotic. They have a right to
be proud of their long, little country, and
they think so much of it that, as 1 have
said, the masses of them fear that we want
to conquer it for ourselves. They cannot
imagine a war that is not waged for con-
quest or revenge, and they laugh at the
idea that the United States has been fight
for the sake of humanity. On the other
hand those Chileans who have been to the
United States are our strongest friends.
Men like Carlos Rogers, wealthy business
man of Santiago. who was present at the
opening of the Philadelphia Museum; Sal
ustio Beeche. of Beeche & Co., Valparaiso;
Jorge Asta-Buruaga, ex-secretary of the
Chilean legation at Washington, and every
other Chilean diplomat who has been sta
toned in the United States are our friends
and supporters. What the two peoples need
is only a closer acquaintance to become
business associates and fast friends Chile
might, by little counting, give us the adj