Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-01-20
venezuelan TROUBLE
HAS BECOME SERIOUS.
RIVAL ASPHALT COMPANIES AMI
LooTTNG OFFICIALS REsPoN-
SIBhE FOR 1T.
INTERESTS OF AMERICANS
REPORTED TO BIZ IN SERIOUS DAM
GER UNLESS PROMPT ACTION
Is TAKEN.

WELGENiSTAD, Island of Curacao.
Dutch West Indies, January is.-(via
Haytien Cable)-The United States
auxiliary cruiser Scorpion. Lieut.. Com
mander Sargent commanding. has Just
arrived here On her way to Guanacoa,
Venezuela, the nearest port to the
scene of the trouble between the rival
asphalt companies. She recently left
La Guayra, Cthe port OF Caracas). and
brings the latest news of the Venexu-
elan trouble. The situation is describ-
ed as being serious. 1t is said thet the
emphatic protests of the government
at Washington have been defied and
bloodshed at the lake of the Bermuda
Asphalt Company was feared. The
most hot-headed OF the foreigners 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 we'll leave the
country. The officers of the Scorpion
are reported as saying chat the diplo-
matte corps at Caracas is unanimous
on this point, as are all the foreigners.
They admit. however, that the United
States minister at Caracas, Mr.. Fran
els b. Lcomis, is working vigorously
in the efforts TO arrange matters The
more recent developments in the trou-
bic in Venezuela were the seizures by
the authorities at Ctudad Bolivar, Tan
important commercial town OF venezu-
ella, and capital of the state OF Bolivar,
situated on the right bank of the Grin
oca thirty -seven miles by water from
the seal, OF two steamers belonging TO
the Orinoca Company. This concern w
an English corporation, but ninety per
cent of the capital is American. The
manager of the company is Mr.. Nor
gan, of New York. The 0rinoco Com
pany has a large feet OF steamers used
for navigating the Orinoeo river. Two
of these steamers were seized by the
VenezueI. u authorities during the last
revolution, and 1t Is said they were
ruined.
The concession OF the Orinoco Com
pany was recently annulled on the
ground that 1t was illegal and the
opinion prevails tAet SSai,ld ia,
driven from business III tn
ey invested by the 8 hreholders1
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, however, Is
overwhelmed with work and the com
panys business has been stopped. 1t
is asserted that the company has un-
paid claims against the government for
$500, 600.
1t is further asserted that hundreds
OF legitimately conducted foreign en-
terprises have been ruined In Latin
America during the last thirty years by
looting officials and revolutions and It
is alleged that an attempt Ia now be-
ing made to squeeze" the BermudeE
Asphalt Company for about $500 900.
and, according to the reports which
reached here to-day, II the company
does not pay this amount 10 the Ven
ezuelan officials. rs property, said To
be worth several million dollars will
be taken unless the United States gov
eminent interferes. II the most recent
Venezuelan reports are to be believed.
the anti-government disturbances there
are confined TO small revolutionary
movements in the eastern part Of Ven
ezuela.