Waterbury Democrat., 1902-03-11
REVOLUTIONARY STEAMER
Takes Correspondent of Asso-
 ciated Press on Board.
It Lay During the Night Off the Island of Curacoa-General Afatos Talked Interestingly to the Correspondent.

It Lay During the Night Off the Island of Curacoa-General Nfatos Talked
 Interestingly to the Correspondent.
 Willemstad, Island of Curacoa, Feb 1G.-Aaying received information that the Venezuelan revolutionary steamer Bolivar, formerly the Ban Righ, would lay, during the night, off the Island oT Curacoa, ill order to get her correspon- dence taken on board partlsans ana ascertain the march of events, cor respondent of the Associated Press leIt this port yesterday evening on q steam launch and cruised about Wlthout lights for three hours in the vicinity oi the spot where the Bolivar was eX- pected to communicate with the shore. At 11:45 D. III. a black mass was de- scribed more than mile off, and, without lights or noise, the Bolivar was soon almost upon the launch. The revolutionists' steamer stopped and an- chored. Signals were exhibited from the shore and from the launch. soon afterwards a naptha launch came alongside the steam launch. The for mer was manned by two Venezuelan officers and three men. One of the officers, tile correspondent was in- formed, was Senor Para, General Matos's private secretary, and the other was Colonel Felix Ambard. It was agreed that the correspondent should go on board the Bolivar, which he did. and was presented to num- Der of generals, some of whom spoke English. Presently a very tall and TO- bust young man, Of fine figure and hay ing heavy black beard, appeared. This was the son of the leader of the revolution. He also spoke English and asked the correspondent to wait until General Mates had finished writing some cable dispatches which were to be sent on shore.
 The Bolivar is q vessel of about 900 tons, very clean and well kept, light ed with electricity, and mounting four powerful cannon. several Gatling guns and five 15-pounders. She is com manded by an Englishman The ar tillery is served by Frenchmen and VeneZuelans.
 After few minutes General Mates aEy1Ared. dressed in a suit of blue serge. without braid or gold, in strik ing contrast with the other generals. and wearing small cap. The cor respondent questioned General Matos about the revolution and especially as to the cause of the delay i'll his opera tions. He replied:
 T was educated in q manner at once theoretical and practical and l am endeavoring to apply this theory and this practice in the attempt which I am now making to sage my poor country from the anarchy unGer which it is at present grooming. have taken my decision only after deep reflection. To stir q country which is gagged by the most fright full tyranny is no easy task. The country is almost to a man in favor of the revolution, but the people have neither arms nor money I, we, for in this work 1 am not alone, having with me almost all the chiefs of the liberal party, have already obtained much My emissaries have already set out and within two weeks the re- motest villages of Guayana will know that the hour of revolt has arrived: arms will then have been distributed and the thousands who are awaiting us will be ready to take the field To risk the lives of others is q a<rave re- sponsibility. We are sowing but to- morrow we will reap. am preparing our revolution as the Germans pre- pared the war of 1870. The unex- pected arrest of q large number of leading men has retarded the move ment, but it does not matter; the cur rent will soon be so strong that 1t will sweep everything before 1t, and Castro, the representative of a cause which is both wicked and disastrous to my country, will find himself alone with his Andinos''