Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-09-08
PRESIDENT BoN1LLA's PALACE.

ldWS. nus is the ululOSl lIuiuuuiLy
guaranteed fugitives from justice, who
arrive on nearly every incoming YES
sell In return for this protection the
floating population VOWS eternal al
legiance TO the faction in power. Open
admissions. in fact. have been made
to the effect that the present incum-
bents of public office owe much of
their rank to the influence of the Sc
clusion seeking criminals.
Many attempts, though but few sue
cessful ones have been put forth to
bring to justice perpetrators of various
crimes who have fed to these parts.
One of the most recent was the effort
of William IL. Evans, New Orleans
detective. to take into United States
Jurisdiction a notorious eastern de-
faulter. Evans was commissioned to
not only find the man. but. if possible,
induce him to return part of his booty.
Should he fail in that the authorities
were to be approached and told that it
would be for their good, financially
and otherwise, to set him across the
border. Such was the task assigned
to the detective.
Evans was compelled to return to the
Crescent City empty handed, but be
fore leaving he gave the following ac-
count of his adventures:
after reaching Puerto Cortez, on
the Caribbean sea. l started for the
interior Immediately. \ two days
journey over swamp land and noun
tain, along the edge of precipices
where a misstep would send you a
1000 feet below, over slippery paths
and through rivers filed with ALI
gators brought me to Santa Barbara.
where it was expected the man sought
would be found.
He was there-a veritable monarch
of the natives. 1t was not at all neces
sary to hunt him up as he took on
himself that task. He wanted to know
every foreigner who came to the place
Introducing himself, he inquired what
business brought me to Honduras. III
was soon explained The fugitive
listened patiently and then extended
an invitation to dine at the Plazo hotel
After the meal cigars were lighted and
a walk suggested in order to talk over
matters. The street carried us down
by a bridge, crossing the Lungpen
river, a sluggish. dark stream, re-
minding one of the Gauges in India.
At the bridge the defaulter paused, call
ing my attention to an old alligator
taking a siesta ON little island. HeI
was about Is feet long and covered
with scales more than an inch thick.
leave me alone said my compan
ion Go about your business ana
don't attempt TO interfere with me. If
you do persist. you will be food for one
Of those boys. MOI word now. You
go back 70 the United States and say
that / AIN here but do not propose to
I've kidnapped. | won't settle. either
so that ends all
ION returning TO the hotel | conclud
ed the best thing TO do was TO confer
with General Louis B0gran. eX-presI
dent of the republic. He was for some
years an exile. but now is permitted
remain in his native town. BoGran is
a very handsome man, with great dig
nifty of manner. After listening cour-
teously he replied in good English:
"'Senor, many men who come to
Honduras become numbered with the
missing. An arm or leg may be
washed up on the bank of the river.
They are food for the fishes. See that
you do not meet this fate. Suppose in
duiry is made. The alcalde will hold a
court of investigation. In % years the
finding has always been the same
Left the country" or "Called by God"
Here in this the capital city to-
day are refugees from New York, Bos'
ton. Philadelphia and Chicago. Euro
pean countries, England, Germany,
France and even Russia, contribute
their quota. They work together for
their own interests, and you are safer
elsewhere
Realizing the truth OF the generals
statements. | made hasty arrangements
for leaving the country. Early the
next morning mounted my horse and
pushed forward 10 Seguaca on my re-
turn trip" JOHN ROBERTS.