Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-03-25
foolish as to take any snap Judgment in

foolish as to take any snap Judgment in
these cases. 1t doesn't want to see q fleet
from the United States in some important
harbor some morning demanding thousands
or hundreds of thousands of dollars in
demnity for the lives Of American citizens.
True. If the men were actually in con-
spiracy to overthrow the government, their
friends could take no exceptions from an
international point OF view If they were
put to death.
But the men were few in number. They
had committed no overt act against the
government. They were not armed or IN
numbers sufficient to be formidable and the
government there will not 1e arbitrary in
dealing with them. They may be left to
soak in prison for i while, but that Will be
all.
''Of course. you know. the people down
there are slow going. They never do to-
day what can be put off until tomorrow,
and 1t may take some time before the
cases will be arrived at and the men re-
leased. Probably a little cash judiciously
handed out by the American consul there
would hasten matters. The prison guards
could have their attention attracted in an
other direction. aud the Americans could
escape -.-..,
no Intention of dealing harshly with these
men. When first arrested they were Simply m
ordered to leave the country, ana 10 tnose
who had no money the government fur
the United States. Had they come that
would have ended It. But evidently they
some OF them, with the usual American
contempt for the dark skinned people
there, talked too much: But am confident
no eeriohs results will follow.
Guatemala Kept Informed.
DR.. Heath has kept the Guatemala ohl-
cials fully advised of the flibustering talk
in Kansas City. He was in constant COM
munication with Minister Arriga IN wash
ington, and Consul General Noralla at New
Orleans az well as with the OFFICIALS IN
Guatemala. To all he sent copies OF Az the
Kansas City papers containing, agsonnds iss, -
thTsS Tsis SnH caused Consul c General Eoraiia at
New Orleans to protest to the ,s steam1sn,p n1isIp
ters. and was the cause Of transport,ati,2,n
killed II is also probable re that ma !he ss OK
Oficials to Livingston and Puerto Barrios.
and when the few men arrived there they
Dr.. Heath. in addition to being consul for
Guatemala. is also consul for Bolivia South
America. and consul general for Honduras
South Sou S'i America, and four four years in Central
America and Mexico. Consequently he 10
thoroughly familiar with the habits. GUS
tOInE anu 1eeuHSS VI sHo
He il firmly Of the op,on that the "nl-
busters are In no danger. The Amer
lean and British consuls at Barrios." he
says. would see TO it that no severe or
arbitrary action was taken, and know the
government there Is not foolish enough to
put its foot into such a trap as that"
why the Expedition Left.
DR.. Heath stated that the information he
| had received concerning the expedition
| was that the men were to work on the
| Guatemalan & Northern railroad, as has
been repeatedly stated by The Journal.
| The enterprise was In many respects u
hazardous one. and only men of courage
and spirit were needed. In connection with
| the railroad proposition, valuable gold
| mines were to be had for the taking. the
| government tacitly agreeing to "look the
| other way" unless the American operators
| became too open in their seizures.
! The members of the Sigma Nh Greek let
! ter college fraternity. 10 which Churchill
Guthrey, the newspaper man. belonged,
! held a conference with Consul Heath yes
| terday and upon being assured by him
| that none OF the prisoners was in any i'm
| mlnent danger. 1t was decided not to send
| the dispatch 20 the state department
| which Hon. John L. Peak the ex-minister
| TO Switzerland. had agreed TO sign. Mr.
| Peak conceded In this decision. but later
| in the day brother of Mr.. Guthrey came
| from Marshall and induced Mr.. Peak tc
| send a dispatch urging the government to
take all precautions possible TO protec,
the prisoners.