The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-07-10
That Guatemalan Incident.

Some time ago, according to the
facts at hand, a certain John B. Rich
ards, of Louisville. KY, with a part
ner named Harris. visited Guatemala
to look for mining claims. They took
with them surveying and other instru-
ments and they succeeded in discover
ing valuable claim, which they were
proceeding to secure under the estab-
lished forms Of Guatemalan law, when
they We're suddenly seized, their in
struments confiscated, they themselves
imprisoned and after a short incarcera-
ton for reasons not stated they were
forcibly deported, Richards being put
on board a slow freight steamer which
landed him penniless and almost naked
in New Orleans.
When arrested Richards sent the fol-
lowing letter TO the United States min
lister to Guatemala. w. Godfrey Hun
ter: Il am arrested, and do not know
even the cause. l am ordered to leave
the country by way of Port Barrios I
am not to be permitted to go by way
of Guatemala city or to see any one
other country. If the government has
any charge against me 1 demand in
dictment and trial l beg you to see
that l get justice, and nothing more"
To this Minister Hunter replied: Il
have received your telegram of yester-
day relative to the order for your eX-
pulsion. The authorities claim to have
proof sufficient to justify the order"
Richards still claims to know of no
reason whatever for his treatment save
the supposed desire of a certain Guate-
malan of influence to possess Richards
property; and it is stated that Rich
ards is highly indorsed as a man of
veracity and integrity.
The Washington papers on Friday
contained this announcement: "Secre-
tary Hay has sent instructions to Min
lister Hunter TO investigate promptly
the case of Richards, of Louisville, Ky,
and if the circumstances justify such
action, to demand proper redress. The
action of the United States government
will depend upon the result of Minister
Hunters investigation. The gunboat
Vixen, which is now patrolling the
coast of Central America, will probably
touch at Livingston and aid the minis
ter in his investigation" If reports
are true, Hunter needs somebody to aid
him. In addition to the Indifferent tona
of his reply to Richards appeal, as
quoted above, Hunter stands under
other suspicion. The Washington Post
says editOrially: 1T has been fire.
quently asserted, on what we have rea-
son to regard as good authority, that
American citizens can seldom receive
the smallest protection at the hands of
their minister, and are compelled in
every case of outrage or oppression to
appeal to the British vice consul, Mr..
Scott who invariably rights their
wrongs. Indeed, we learn that Mr..
Scott is an American by birth but
had to change his nationality in order
to take refuge under the British flag.
He found it impossible to live in Guate-
mala as a citizen of the United States"
These statements we give at their
own value. The state department does
we'll to look into them and 10 use for
the purposes of the inquiry other eyes
than those of Minister Hunter. If they
are found to be false no harm will
have been done by running them to
earth. If they are found to be true,
Guatemala should be made to pay for
the outrage a sum in compensation so
large and to offer apologies so abject
that the incident will have exemplary
virtue throughout the Latin-American
states.