The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1901-01-21
THE VENEZUELA AFFAIR
Minister Loomis Working Hard to
Arrange Matters.
TWO STEAMERS ARE SEIZED.
Authorities mt Ciudad Bolivar Take
Vessels Belonging to Foreign
COmpany-ReportT That Ultima-
tum Hns Been Sent Denied.

Willemstad, Dutch, West Indies, Jan.
20.-The United States auxiliary cruiser
Scorpion, Lieutenant Commander N. Sar-
gent commanding, has arrived here on her
way to Guanico, Venezuela, the nearest
port to the scene of the troubles between
the rival asphalt companies. She recent
ly left La Guayra, the port of Caracas,
and brings the latest news of the Vene-
zuelan trouble. The situation is describ-
ed as being serious. 1t is said that the
emphatic protests Of the government at
Washington have been defied, and blood
shed at the lake of the Bermudez Asphalt
company was feared. The more hothead-
cd of, the foreigners in Venezuela 60 SO
far as to say that if the Washington au-
thorities 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 uDan-
imous on this point, as are all the for
cigners. They admit, however, that the
United States minister at Caracas, Mr..
Francis Il. Loomis, is working vigorous
ly in the efforts 10 arrange matters.
Two Steamers Seized.
The more recent developments in the
trouble in Venezuela were the seizure by
the authorities at Ciudad Bolivar, an inn
portant commercial town of Venezuela
and capital of the state of Bolivar, situ-
ated on the right bank of the Orinoco 375
miles by water from the sea, of two
steamers belonging to the Orinoco eompa-
ny. This concern is an English corpora
ton, but 30 per cent of the capital is
American. The manager of the company
is Mr.. Morgan Olcott of New York. The
Orinoco company has n large feet of
steamers used for navigating the Orinoco
river. Two of these steamers were sciZ-
ed by the Venezuelan authorities 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 opinion prevails
that il will be driven from business and
that all the money Invested by the share
holders will be lost unless the British or
American government interyenes. Mr..
I.oomis is using his good offices to save
the two steamers recently seized. The
United States legation Mt Caracas, how
ever, is overwhelmed with work, and the
company's business has been stopped. IT
Is asserted that the, company has unpaid
claims against the government for $500
600.
Many Businesses Ruined.
1t is further asserted that hundreds of
legitimately conducted foreign enterprises
have been ruined in Latin America dur
ing the last 30 years by looting officials
and revolutionists, ana it is alleged
that an attempt is now being made to
squeeze" the Bermudcz Asphalt com
pany for about S500.000, and according
10 the reports which have reached here if
the company does not pay this amount 10
The Venezuelan officials its property, said
to be worth several millions. will be tax
IN, unless the United States government
intcrvenes.
If the most recent Venezuelan reports
are to he believed the antigovernmcnt dis
turbances there are confined TO small rev.
olutionary movements in the eastern part
of Venezuela.