The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-19
A REVOLUTION THAT FAILED.
AN AMERICANS EXPERIENCE IN
THE NICARAGUAN TROUBLE.

nah After Seventeen Years He
cause Nicaragua Is No Longer ~
Healthy Place for Him to Live.
Was Lieutenant in the Recent
Attempt of Gen. Reyes to Over
throw the ZeIaya Government.
Everything Was Favorable to the
Revolution, but the ArrRnt Cow
nrdice of the Leaders Made IL n
sorry Anair.
Mr.. J. II. Cutting. of Bluefields Mica
ragua, is registered at the Pulaski. MIR.
Cutting is distinctly from Bluehelds at
present and he is likely to be from there
until he receives assurances that Presi-
dent Zelaya has issued a proclamation de-
claring amnesty TO all those who were en-
gagged in the recent revolution.
Mr.. Cutting was an officer in the revo-
lutionary forces, being first lieutenant Of
the Rama Rangers. an organization com
passed chiefly of Americans. 1t was his
first experience in a Central American
revolution, which is somewhat surprising
considering the fact that he has lived in
that country for ten years, and 1t will be
gaging in anything OF the kind where he
has to depend upon Spanish Americans
for allies
1T has been just seventeen years since
1 was it, Savannah last" said Mr.. Cutting,
land this is The furthest North
have been in that time. Previous to that
I worked here for three or four winters
with Smith & Kelly. Since then l have
travelled all over Arizona, Mexico and
Central America, prospecting when I had
the means and taking a job as mine boss.
plantation superintendent or most any
thing else until could raise another stake
and go to prospecting again. For the last
ten years l have been in Central Ameri-
ca. chiefly in the Bluehelds district of Me
aragua."
Yesterdays Morning News announced
the arrival of Gen. Reyes at New Orleans.
The failure of the revolution had already
been announced. In fact, the revolution
was a small affair, even for Central Amer
lea. 1t lasted barely three weeks, and
was a complete fasco. According to Mr.
glowing prospects of success. Everything
was in their favor. and only the miserable
cowardice Of their leaders accounts for the
failure.
Had we only had 800 Americans" said
Mr.. Cutting. we would have gone through
them like molasses out of a garnet window.
We could easily have secured more Amer
scans from among the miners in the Blue
fields district, but the revolutionary lead
ers thought they had all the force needed.
especially as Costa Rica had large con-
tingent ready to send to their support"
The cause of the revolution" said Mr..
Cutting, was the heavy increase in the
customs taxes. Zelaya has steadily raised
the duties on all imported articles until
almost everything necessary for a civil
ized existence is sold at exorbtant prices.
Commerce has been almost destroyed by
these exactions, and the business men had
become very much dissatisfie The
Americans have large business and mining
interests in the Bluefelds district. or de-
kartment of Zelaya, as IL is called. This
department IS the old Mosquito reserve.
which President Cleveland enabled Mica
rasua TO obtain control of against the
claim OF England. Gen. Reyes was the
commander or intendante general of this
among those people, being thoroughly hon
est and upright, and having the confidence
of all classes Consequently, when he was
selected to lead the revolution we thought
success was assured. We did not dream
of his proving such an arrant coward
The revolution got fairly under way
about Feb. 10, when a force of 500 to 800
men was assembled at Bluefelds II in
cluded 30 Americans, 10 native negroes
and the rest native Nicaraguans. The
Americans were armed with the new mod
el Remington rife, with smokeless pow
der. and the rest had the ordinary Rem
ington. Being in complete possession of
Bluefields, the revolutionists decided to
move down the coast and capture Grew
town. which was also believed to be in
sympathy with the movement The force
was transported by steamer 10 a point off
the Greytown bar, where they waited
some time for Information as to the state
OF feeling In the city. Messengers came
out and signaled with white flags their
desire 10 surrender, showing that they
were IN sympathy with the movement
Reyes, however. declared that this was
merely ruse to entrap him and brought
AIS whole force back to Bluefields, report
ing that the pilots had refused to take
him up 10 the town. and that Zelaya' 5
people were evidently in complete possess
zion.
This we discovered later to be untrue.
Not only was the town not in possession
Of Zelaya's supporters, but the people
were ready to receive us with open arms.
and. as an evidence of this fact. they had
had boats lying in the river for five DAYS
10 transport the revolutionary forces up
10 the city. Furthermore there was a
force of $500 Costa Rican troops on the
other side of the San Juan river. not very
far distant, with the purpose of march
ing TO join Reyes as soon as he should
occupy Greytown. The opportunity of a
lifetime was lost all for the want of a
little sand in the gizzard of the leader
Had an American been in charge Mica
ragua would now be in possession of the
revolutionary forces. With Greytown In
our control and the support of the Costa
Ricans, who are inimical to Zelaya. Wa
would have been in control of the sItua.
ton, and the success of the movement
would have been assured"
Gen. Reyes later showed how little
spunk he had In his composition by throw.
ing up the sponge without striking a singl,
blow. THE next move made by REYES
said Mr.. Cutting. was to Rama, ski,
miles from Buefelds with $50 men Irrnrr