Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-07-30
THAT DIRTY RAG"
Colombian Officers Deliberately
Insult Kaiser's Flag.
Abel MurrilIo, Gen. TRIBES Secretary,
ForibIy Removed from Steamer
which We. Flf"s German Flag and Now
Detained al carthaeena.

New York, July 29.-The steamer
Allegheny arrived here. today. from
Nicaraguan. Colombian and West In
dian ports. 1t was said on board the
steamer that she, had been forcibly de-
tanned ~ hours at Carthagena, Co.
lombia.
Passengers on the Allegheny report
that Abel Murrillo was arrested on the
ship at Carthagena and was taken
ashore by the Colombian authorities.
When the vessel arrived at Cartha
gena she was ordered detained by the
authorities there. The captain pro
tested that he was sailing under the
German flag and that no official of Co
lornbia had a right to stop the vessel
for any purpose whatever.
This protest was UNDECIDED. however,
and a search was made for Murrillo.
who was found on deck. He declared
that he would not be arrested and run
ming to one of the masts he seized the
German flag which was lying there
stood forward AMI cried out:
Il am under the protection of the
German flag and you have no right to
arrest me"
According to the passengers of the
Allegheny, the Colombian officers, not
withstanding the protest. arrested the
man and dragged him from the vessel.
Murrillo is said to be the secretary
of Gen. Ulde. He went to Colombia.
it is reported. with q passport given
by the representative of the Colombian
government at Washington. on the
understanding that his mission TO Co
lombia was peaceful one.
According to a signed statement
made by three of the Allegh3ny's pas
sengers Murrillo left the United States
about four months ago on passport
signed by the Colombia minister in
Washington. on his arrival at Sava-
nilla he was arrested and taken TO
Bogota. where he was released on the
understanding that he would return
TO the United States by the first vessel.
This Murrillo did, boarding the the
Allegheny at Savanilla at once. He
expressed fears that he would be ar
rested at Carthagena and when the
vessel arrived at that port refused 20
go ashore when word was brought
that the governor wanted to see him.
His arrest followed.
The statement made by the passen
the Allegheny. protested against the
arrest saying it was against interna-
tional law and at the same time the
captain told the mate to put the Ger
man flag on the gangway so that the
Colombian officers would have to tread
on il if they took Murrillo.
The arrest did not take place at this
time and the police withdrew on the
captains protest Later, however, the
ships clearance papers were refused
and the statement was made that they
would not be furnished until Murrillo
was surrendered.
A signed statement concerning the
incident then says:
1.-The captain then went on land ana
after a while returned with more po-
lfcemen and we all thought that he
was going to give up the passenger in
exchange for his papers.
"The police went up to Murrillo and
tearing from him that dirty rag. as
they called the flag of Kaiser Will
helm. took the prisoner from the ship.
The statement is signed by Edward
J. White, British subject. Anne Van
Den Bogaerde. a Belgian, and Charles
T. Pope. q citizen of the United
States.
Arturo De Brigard. Colombian con-
sui in this city said, today. that he had
not heard officially of the arrest OF
Murrillo He said however. that ne
understood that Tribe Tribe had
again become active and when 1t was
learned that Murrillo. who was Tribe
Tribes secretary. was sailing on the
Allegheny, Gen. VileZ of the depart
ment of Bolivar sent file or Soldler:
on board to request Murrillo to visit
him. He refused and the ship was
detained. The consul said that ne Ole
not think the man would be imprlson-
ed. but simply prevented from meet
ing Tribe Tribe.