The Savannah morning news., 1901-01-20
BOUND TO GUANOCO
CRUISER SCORPION NOT HELD AT
LA GUAYRA.
THE SITUATION IS SERIOUS.
VENEZUELA is EVIDENTLY LOOK
ING FOR TROUBLE.

WnshinEtOn'S Protest Deflcd and
BlOOdshed Feared at the Asphalt
Lnkc-The Government EndeavOr-
ing to Squeeze the Asphalt Com
pany for IA Dig Amount and I'm
warranted Seizure of American
Property Mnde-Minister LOOmis'
Note Practically an UItimRtum.
Willemstad, Island of Curacao Dutch
West Indies, Jan. 10, via Haytien Cable
The United States auxiliary cruiser Scor-
pion, Lieutenant Commander Sargent
commanding has just arrived here on
her way to Guanoco, Venezuela, the near
est port to the scene of the trouble be-
tween the rival asphalt companies. She
recently left La Guayra (the port of Cara
cas) and brings the latest news of the
Venezuelan trouble
The situation is described as being seri-
Gus. 1t is said that the emphatic protests
OF the government at Washington have
been defied and bloodshed at the lake OF
the Bermudez Asphalt Company was fear
ed. The most hot-headed of the foreign
ers in Venezuela go so far as to say that
il the Washington authorities do not take
steps to protect American citizens now
all foreigners may as well leave the
country The officers of the Scorpion are
quoted as saying that the diplomatic corps
at Caracas is unanimous on this point,
as are all the foreigners. They admit
however, that the United States minister
at Caracas, Mr.. Francis B. LOOMS, Is
working vigorously in the efforts to ar
range matters.
The more recent developments in the
trouble in Venezuela weie the seizures
by the authorities at Ciudad Bolivar ian
Important commercial town OF NeneZue a.
and capital of the state of Bolivar, stu
ated on the right bank of the Orinoco.
thirty-seven miles by wAter from the se)
of two steamers belonging to the Orin-
oco COMPANY This concern is an Eng
lish corporation, but 80 per cent of the
capital is American. The manager OF the
company is Mir. Morgan, Of New YORK
The Orinoco Company has a large meet
of steamers used for nav gatI1g the Or.n-
oco river Two Of these steamers were
seized by the Venezuelan authorld
during the last revolution and it is said
they were ruined.
The concession of the Orinoco Company
was recently annulled on the ground that
it was Illegal and the op nion prevails
that 1t will be driven from business and
all the money invested by the share
holders will be lost unless the British or
American governments intervene. Mr..
Loomis is using his good offices to save
the two steamers recently seized. The
United States legation at Caracas. how
ever. is overwhelmed with work end the
company's business has been stopped. 1t
Is asserted that the company has unpaid
claims against the government for $5Jo'-
900.
It Is further asserted that hundreds or
legitimately conducted foreign eit rprises
have been ruined in Latin America dur
ing the last thirty years, by loot'ng OF
ficials and revo utions and ii is alleged
that an attempt is now being made to
"suueeze" the Bernu1ez A phalt Com
pany for about s5OO,0OJ. and, according
to the reports which reached here today,
If the company does not pay this amount
to the Venezuelan officials, its pr perty,
said to be worth several million dollars
will be taken unless the United States
government iutervenes.
If the mot recent Venezuelan reports
are to be believed the ant'-government
disturbances there are confined to small
revolutionary movements in the eastern
part of Venezuela.