The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-07-29
SEIZED BY THE GOLOMBIANS
Abel MUrrilIO Taken From a HAM
bdrg-AmeTiCan Steamer

Arrested Despite TGi~ Protests That
He Was Under the Protection of
She German FIag-Accuscd of Be
ing ia sympathy With the Liberals
For Gods sake sav@ me or I shall die
like a rat in a trap Abel MurriIIo was
torn from the German flag with which he
had tied himself to a banister in the cab
in of the IIamburg-American steamship
Allegheny in The harbor of SayaniIia, Co
lombia According TO the story told by
the passengers Of the Allegheny, which
arrived here this morning MuTrilIo left
thus country about four months ago to
visit the state Of Colombia Before go
ing he provided himself with passports
signed by the Colombian Minister in
Washington. Upon his arrival at Sava-
riIIa- he was arrested by the local au-
thorities for being in sympathy with the
Liberals who were trying to overthrow
the Government.
Although he protested that such was
not the case and showed his passports
properly signed by the Washington repre-
sentative of the Colombian Government
he was taken to Bogota. the capital,
prisoner Here he was taken before the
Secretary of War, who examined him and
his papers end decided that there was no
grounds upon which 10 hold him He was
ordered, however, TO return to Savaniila
and take the first vessel returning to the
United States During his journey from
Bogota to SavaniIIa he was practically
prisoner in charge Of Castro Uricochia,
commander-in-chief OF the army Arriv-
ing at SanaiTa he was placed on the out
going Hamburg-American steamship Al
Ieghany. which was to sail the same day
for the United States. by way OF Car
tasena. The Allegheny originally belong
ed TO the Atlas line and was under COM
mand of Captain Lowe, an EngIishman.
Upon arriving at Cartagena. the vessel
was boarded by the chief of police of that
port who commanded aIurrillo to go
ashore with him. as the Secretary Of
War wished 20 see him again at Bogota.
This MurrilIo refused to do. saying that
he had a passport I - the Secretary
guaranteeing him safe conduct from the
country, and Furthermore he was already
outside the jurisdiction of the country,
being on board a German vessel. and
under the protection of the German flag
Failing in mis- attempt 10 get MurTIIIo to
go ashore with him, the chief OF police
left the vessel. threatening 70 return with
a force Of police and remove MurriIIo
bodily. To avoid trouble the purser of
the steamship went ashore to get the
ships papers. the captain intending to
proceed to sea as soon as he obtained
them The harbor authorities refused to
give the papers TO the purser saying they
would hold them until Captain Lowe gave
MurrillO up This Captain Lowe refused
10 do
Later in the day Captain Lowe went
ashore to see the local German Consul
While he was ashore the chief of police
and force OF officers again boarded the
vessel and attempted 10 secure MurrIIIo
But the first mate who vas acting cap
tain. with the aid Of some OF the crew,
also Engiishmen. refused TO give MurriiIo
up, and by a show Of force compelled the /
Cartasena police chief and his men TO re-
tire. The captain returned from his III
terview soon after this The German
Consul had said that he WIS unable 70 aid
him.
The captain was followed aboard by the
chief OF police and a force Of marines
backed up in person by the German Con-
SUI vino. being half-native- was thor
oughly in sympathy with the Colombian
Government Again the surrender Of
MurriIIo was demanded, and the captain
was informed that unless he was delivered
at once the entire company would be car
ried away 10 prison for endeavoring TO
aid an escaping prisoner IN the meantime
MurrilIO had barricaded himself in his
cabin, and the marines under the chief
of police proceeded to beat dow. the door
Of his cabin
Seeing that escape was impossible, Muir |
TilIo removed tn barricade TO confront |
the drawn Tcvolvers Of the marines He /
was hurried to the passengers cabin /
where the way was blocked by The as
sembled Passengers. After further trou- /
bic AIurrillo was gotten ashore.