The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-01-29
VENEZUELA STILL DEFIANT
Refuses TO Suspend Action AS to AS
phalt Confessional British Vessel
Sunk by Venezuelan Gunboat

Fort de France, Island of Martinique,
January "a, via Haytien Cable.-As a
result of the inquiries of a correspon-
lent of the Associated Press into the
attitude of Venezuela toward Ameri-
cans, the revolt of troops at Caracas
and the sinking of a British vessel by
a Venezuelan gunboat, the following
report is filed here, owing to the press
censorship in Venezuela making cabling
of news from that country almost inn
possible:
The attitude of the government OF
| Venezuela towards the Bermudez AS
phalt Company (American) is hostile,
for the reason that the concessions re-
Gently accorded by the government
! have been given to people in touch with
! the government and who would like to
resell them to the Bermudez Compa-
ny.
The government having refused to
j accede to the request of the American
! minister, who demanded a suspension
of action on the part of the new con-
! cessionists in taking possession of their
grants, strained relations etween
Venezuela and the United States re-
suited and war vessels are expected to
return to Laguayra and if Venezuelan
government employs force to take pos
session of the asphalt lake it is believ-
ed the United States auxiliary cruiser
! Scorpion will land an armed force.
The attitude of the V~enezuelans toward
| Americans is hostile.
On the 18th of this month, the Vene-
Zuelan loops in the Hoyo rae at
Caracas, mutinied and killed their colo
mel, the lieutenant colonel and seven
men and then fled in various directions.
Two hundred and ten Of the men were
| recaptured. There was no fighting in
| mutiny is not known.
! No accurate details are obtainable
! regarding the sinking of the British
sloop Maria Teresa by h Venezuelan
, gunboat Miranda. It is supposed the
| Maria Teresa was on her way from the
British Island of Trinidad with a cargo
| of arms intended for the Venezuelan
revolutionists and that she was met by
the Miranda, which, wishing to take
possession of her, fired upon the Maria
| Teresa and by so doing set her on fire,
| after which she sank, according to one
| report.
| Very little information is obtainable
regarding the movements of the Vene-
Zuelan insurgents n the troops ~ the
| government of Venezuela. In the east,
the instruction appears to be localized
| between Cumena and the extreme
4 hui llcdSl vi ScucLQSld. u . scans
have again taken possession of Ceru-
] PIANO, and during the evening of Janu-
| airy 21st there was a tentative uprising
/ in the neighborhood Of Barcelona.
l Calm prevails in the west, but a num-
| Der Of arrests are being made n the
| r~evolutionists appear to be ~concentrat-
ing at Curacao.
Port of Spain, Trinidad. January "a
| Advices received here regarding the
mutiny of Venezuelan troops in the
Hoyo barracks at Caracas. "a that
| the mutineers numbered 800. The OUT
break took place at s O'Clock in the
] evening Of January 18th and the colo
+, mel, two officers and -four men were
killed. The mutineers escaped with
out arms, by different roads and got
outside the capital. Half OF them were
subsequently arrested near Caracas
and the Others surrendered the mex
day.
Inquiry showed that the men had
been badly fed and were being exploit
ed by the chiefs. The authorities Of
the capital seem to have been unaware
Of the incident.
The situation 50 far as it affects the
Bermudez Asphalt Company grows
more critical every hour. All the ne
! groes and other laborers. are menaced
and impressed by the local authorities.
or they desert thus leaving the plant
at h asphalt lake without assistance.
The American colony in Venezuela
. continues to protest against the indif-