The sun., 1900-11-27
STEAMER BRATTCN
HIS HOT TINE
IN COLUMBIA
RevOlutiOnists Str0ye Several
Times to Seize the
Vessel.
THE GOVERNMENT HELPLESS
Captain Holmes Had to Depart From
Santa Marta Without Cargo,
and Formal Complaint
is to be Made TO
Washington.
THE GOVERNMENT HELPLESS

Mobile, Nov. 26-1'he officers and crew
of the Norwegian fruit steamship Brat
ton, which arrived at Mobile from Santa
Marta, in tle Central American republic
Of Colombia, had a thrilling story 10 tell
OF their experience with the revolutions
lists. 9hc steamer put into that port on
Noy. y, intending to bring cargo Of
fruit away. Captain Holmes is now Of
the opinion, however, that he was lucky
to get the ship away.
The rcvolutioniSts attempted more than
once to seize the Bratton, and her Off
GERS and crew We're several times in dam
ger of being shot. Finally the Colombian
government ordered the vessel to stand
out in the stream, ont Of range of the
guns that lined the wharfs and streets of
Santa Marta. Before this order could be
obeyed the ship had to be placed under
guard by body of armed soldiers. She
was obliged to return to Mobile without
a cargo.
The chief officer in speaking Of the oc-
currence said:
I'VE had rather an unusual experience
and one | do not care to have again. We
got in there on the 18th and were imme-
diately made aware that something un-
usual was on hand. Big guns were lined
up at the wharf, and others stared pedes-
trians in the face as they walked the
streets.
In Fear of Seizure.
"The day we got orders from the gov
ernment to haul out into the stream we
were fearful for awhile that our ship
was going to be taken from us and that
our lives were none too secure. We were
guarded by armed soldiers OF the gov
ernment We understood that desper-
ate fight had taken place on plantation
close by and that number of people
We're killed. We intended taking on n
cargo Of bananas there, but, seeing the
condition of affairs, abandoned the idea
and returned to Mobile light. We don't
want another experience of the kind and
sincerely trust the natives will kiss and
make up before we're up at Santa Marta
again."
Captain Holmes was highly indignant
at the treatment lie had received mt the
hands of the Colombian government oii-
cials, who were unable to protect his
vessel. The boat, while flying the Nor
wegian flag, is under charter to Camora.
Mcconnell " Co., fruit importers of
this city, and She left Mobile with a mis-
cellancous cargo for the few merchants
in Santa Marta. With great difficulty
this light cargo was discharged the in
surgents giving trouble from the hour
the Bratton arrived in the harbor What
became of the cargo after it was PUT
ashore was more than the captain could
say.
Twenty-Five viglantes were put on
board while the vessel was discharging
by the port commandant, and they had
half a dozen skirmishcs in the night
with badly armed dctachmcnts of the
force skulkng in the brush close to the
water. When the last case was over the
rail, the commandnnt announced that he
was powerless TO afford further protcc-
ti0n to the steamer while she was lying
close inshore, and Captain Holmes put
to sea. 1t is understood that Camora,
Mcconnell & Co. will complain to Wash
ington.