The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1902-12-26

At o'clock this morning the Charyb-
dis end the Vineta arrived here search
ing for Venezuelan gunboats. The two
cruisers sent their boats into the inner
port, but finding no gunboats the boats
returned. The captain of the British
merchant steamer Topaz, which was
seized by the mob last Wednesday, then
visited the British Commodore on board
the Charybdis and lodged a protest
against the violation of his ship. The
British captain returned an hour later
with a detachment of fifty marines, who
took charge of the Topaz. The populace
was greatly excited at this incident and
raised the cry ITO arms!" but there
was no disorder.
The British Commodore then sent a
message to the authorities at Puerto
Cabello demanding immediate satisfac-
ton for the1 ACTION Of the mob in hav-
ing hauled down the British flag from
the Custom house, saying that If salts
faction was not forthcoming in two
hours at o'clock the fortress and the
Custom house would be bombarded. on
the receipt of this demand the authori-
asking for instructions.
A committee of the merchants of
Puerto Cabello then approached the
American Consul here, petitioning him
to intervene. The Consul accepted this
mission and visited the cruisers, but
he could obtain no alteration in the de-
cision of the allies.
At 4:45 o'clock reply was received
from President Castro, who authorized
the chief official here to give the Brit
ish Commodore ample satisfaction. Be-
fore this answer could be communicat-
ed to the American Consul the hour
stipulated for the reply arrived. The
cruisers immedlatel" opened fire on the
fortress. The fire was returned from
Fort Solano and Castle Libertador but
the Venezuelan guns were soon silenc-
was intense excitement In this port
Every house in town was closed.
The people of Puerto Cabello cannot
account for this precipitate action on
the part of the allies. which they con-
slider to be proof that Great Britain
and Germany intend forcing war upon
Venezuela. The British marines pro-
pose to make use of the cannon in Cas-
tie Libertador. No damage was done
TO the town. The excitement of the
people Is subsiding.
LA GUAYRA (Venezuela), Dec. Is,
Dynamite and the torch completed the
demolition OF the harbor defenses Of
Puerto Cabello after they had been dis
mantled and rIddled by the gun fire
of the German cruiser Vineta and the
British cruiser Charybdis.
NO ORDERS TO SINK SHIPS.
BERLIN, Dec. l2.-As the result OF
fresh inquiries made regarding the re-
ported sinking Of Venezuelan vessels of
La Guayra, IL IL learned that the orders
given 10 the German and British COM
were 20 capture the vessels be-
fore beginning the blockade No orders
were given 10 sink them. II, however.
any vessel has been sunk II was "a MILF
lary measure necessary In carrying out
the foregoing orders, No report has
yet been received from Commodore
Schroeder, the German commander, A
report was received from Herr Pilgrim
liallazzi as f0llOHsi
-Four Venezuelan vessels captured
one ~ them disabled Two 0erman
vessels, the Nineia ana Panther, and
pne English the Resolution lprobaby
ne helrlbullonl, participated in the |
seizure,
Tho Foreign once refuses 10 believe
lhp vessels We're sunk ana viii not |
arrdll The report Until ronnrmatnTy
news h TeeelYeJ onielslly fram the Ger