The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-21
AFFAIRS IN NICARAGUA
Big Battle Expected Between
Warning Factions.
THE TROOPS ARE MASSING
Insurgents Impress Foreign Ships to
Facilitate Their Military Operations.
zslaya Has Mulcted and Cheated
the Native Capitalists.

Chicago, Feb 20.-A special to the
Times-Herald from Mobile says: The
fruit steamer Sunniva of the Bluefeids
Banana company arrived from Blues
fields, Nicaragua, with the following
advices up to Feb. 15: 80 ~
General Mena has been for three days
above Rama with 700 insurgents. 1t is
reported that the liberals are coming
under Ireon Estrada. Formis Diaz,
tured with is followers above Rama BY
an insurgent force under the rough
rider scout, Sansen. A battle is expect-
ed here in a few days. General Reyes
boats have returned from Greytown to
defend this place. The man-o war San
Jacinto is also here. Three hundred
Americans from Cuba are due here to
join the insurgent Conservative forces.
Mitrailleuse, Gatling, Krupp and
Hotchlsiss guns are also expected here
as additions to the insurgent arms.
Greytown was surrounded by the
rough riders when the gunboats left.
A force of liberals is due at the port.
Col. G. w. Winchester. chief of police
at Puerto Barrios, has Joined Reyes.
Four hundred men are awaiting Reyes
arrival in Granada to flock to his
standard. The conservatives are vol
unteers and engage in their ordinary
tasks during the day, while ready at
any time to respond to the bugle call.
If a choice were given them they would
perfer Clarence, the exiled chieftain, to
President Zelaya. The foreigners here
support the conservatives Order is
generally prevalent. The Norwegian
and British craft that were impressed
by the insurgents to carry troops have
been released. The Imperial Espinosa
says the revolution will laat only a
month
Among the passengers on board the
steamer Sunniva was Adam Espinosa
of Bluefields. nephew of Gen. Guam P.
Reyes, the revolutionary leader. Senior
Espnosa states that his uncle, General
Reyes, has proclaimed himself provis
ional president of Nicaragua, had
armed the Indians of the Mosquito
coast and with the aid of Americans
in the Bluefields has probably an army
of 900 or 1000 men. The government at
Managua, Espinosa learned, has sent
800 men to attack Reyes at Bluef1elds.
The troops under Reyes had gone UP
the river to Rama, 80 miles from Blue
fields, to meet Zelaya's force, and it
was probable that battle had already
been fought. Senior Espinosa says the
cause of the discomfort against Presi
dent Zelaya is widespread and we'll
grounded. His uncle had heretofore
been an intimate friend and supporter
of Zelaya, but recently he had not been
able to approve nor support lelaya's
conduct as president. sf ts,G s1
In addition to levying the tariff taxes
on the eastern coast, Zelaya has caused
to be summoned the leading native
capitalists of the country and declar-
ing them to be enemies of the republic
caused them to be mulcted in fines,
in most instances equivalent to their
entire available capital. If the depart
mental financial agent failed to collect
the fine the unfortunates were COM
mitted to the penitentary without trial
or form of law. placed in chains and
kept incommunicado, in many cases de-
MED food or water. until the fine was
paid, which, in all cases purged the
prisoners of their declared treason. Es-
pinosa says these facts have estranged
the good people of the renublic from
Zelaya and that Reyes confidently looks
forward for support from them and for
the active aid of the conservative
church party of the republic. Espinosa
says he learned before leaving Blue
fields that the Honduras government
has dispatched men and arms from
Tegueigalpa to Zelaya's aid. The Hon
duran allies were said to be commanded
by General Surra, general under
BOrilIa