Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-09-09

%aITER 6. SMITH.
there was clause in the constitution
of Mexico which made it a misdemeanor
for any one TO propose such measure
in the congress Cf that country.
Thus the only thing TO do was to
start revolution and establish re-
public. as the brave citizens of Texas
had done Then would follow annexa-
ton. The members of the English syn
dicate talked the matter over. They de-
cided to secure the Services of a capable
man in the United States and finally
chose Walter G. Smith. He was at that
time the editor of the San Diego Sun
and had come out to California for the
benefit of his wife's health
Mr. Smith was induced to undertake
the job or at least to investigate and
consider the feasibility of the projected
revolution. He went to number of
military friends for advice. At the time
the only troops in the whole peninsula
consisted of garrison of 100 men.
These soldiers We're stationed in the
capital, the city of Ensenada. and were
all convicts who had been sentenced to
service in the Mexican army The COM
mander was General Torres. most dis
tinguished officer. who also held the
Office of governor of the province. There
were no other troops at his disposal,
and he so feared his men that their
arms and ammunition We're kept in an
arsenal about a half mile from the bar
racks. There were no heavy guns or
Notifications about the city.
Along the whole western coast of
Mexico the entire naval force consisted
of one vessel, the Democratic. She was
a broken down gunboat and of little or
no use for either attack or defense.
Against this boat the International
These were to be converted merchant
men. 1t was thought that the capital
could easily be taken by sudden night
attack, and then the company of 100
convict soldiers would be glad of
chance to escape to the United States.
In case the assault upon Ensenada
was successful it was calculated that
Mexico would find it hard to send relief
to her captured territory The three
vessels of the republics navy could
head off and possibly destroy any ship
chartered by Mexico to carry reinforce
ments.
There remained but one other way
for our southern neighbor to send as
sistance to her citizens. and this was
by marching troops to the scene of dis
order. To do this a journey across the
desert was necessary, and then Lower
California must be reached by crossing
the American boundary. 1t was at the
time of the Fenian troubles in Canada,
and the refusal of our government to
allow English troops to cross our terri
tory was expected to act as precedent
against allowing Mexico the same priv
ilege.
The affairs of the International COM
pany were in charge of Major Buchanan
Scott of the Royal Engineers. Mr..
Smith, who was to be governor general
of the republic. went down to Ensenada
to look over the ground and discuss af
fairs of state with the major. They de-
cided that the first move was the an
nouncement of the intention TO build
line of railroad from Ensenada to San
Quentin. The distance was 100 miles.
The latter terminal has a fine harbor,
and the purpose to connect the two
points seemed natural and in line with
the International company's develop
ment of the country.
Such an Undertaking would lead the
people of the province to expect the
coming of large bodies of men and the
landing of quantities of supplies The
imported laborers We're to be disguised
soldiers recruited in the United States.
The cases and boxes of what appeared
to be agricultural implements would be
guns and ammunition.
The city of Ensenada was to be sur
prised The miserable convict Mexican
soldiers would not attempt to defend
their country, but would desert Major
Scott. who would become General Scott
under the new regime, promised to have
his rival antagonist. General Torres.
drunk on the fateful night. The force
of the invadr VS. was to number 800 men.
1t was intended on the next morning
to issue proclamation announcing the
establishment of the republic of En-
senada.
The leaders of the revolution figured
on preventing any relief from Mexico.
A throng of from 10, 600 to 30, 900 ad
fha ,-itl,
guns was expected Among these men
a force could be secured TO attack the
main coast of Mexico if that step be-
came necessary. Dissatisfaction was to
be fomented among the Indians in
northern Sonofha, tribe which Mexico
had never conquered.
Up to this point the plans of the con-