The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-03
Former British Steamship, Which
President Castro Has Declared
to Be Pirate.
NOW A WELL-ARMED WARSHIP
WITH PROTECTED SIDES AND SEW
ERAL RAPID-FIRE GUNS.
Brief Message from Caracas Saying
the Revolution Has Been Crushed
and Pietrie Is a Prisoner.

FORT DE FRANCE, Island of Mar
tiniaue, Jan 2.-The British steamer Ban
Righ, recently renamed the Libertador. has
left this port for the Venezuelan coast. She
carries among her passengers Senor Matos
who is now referred TO as General Matos,
and several generals and other important
of Venezuela who Joined General
Matos here. Among these notabilities are
Nicolas Rolando, Domingo Monagas, Pen
aloza Ducharne, Eduardo Ortega Cordova,
Carlos Azugary Egeamier, Tomas Garcia
Mervez, Christiani Antoiles Bartazal An
tome Esponiza and Morendi Sambrano Rem
don. Besides the leaders of the expedition
the Libertador has on board three hundred
volunteers, and ii is understood she will
embark a number of other volunteers while
on her way to the coast of Venezuela.
The behavior of General Matos and his
adherents while they were at this port was
most correct, and when they left here they
had the sympathy of the whole population.
General MatOs is well known at Fort de
France. where he had many friends. The
local newspapers have published articles
expressing hopes for the prompt success
of the expedition and the downfall of Pres
ident Castro, whose attitude, the papers
add, has earned for him the enmity of the
whole world.
Previous to his departure from Fort de
France General Matos issued manifesto
calling on all his fellow-countrymen to take
up arms The manifesto reads:
"To my Venezuelan Countrymen: Our
native country is moaning, she is perish
ing. The pride and folly of a perjured
magistrate have brought our country To
the edge of an abyss. Let us unite and
save our native land. Heedful of the pub
lie opinion and mindful of the honor with
which large number of my distinguished
compatriots invested me when they gen
erously selected me to become chief of this
crusade of redemption, l come to my coun-
trys aid quickly and with diligence 1 bring
with me all the necessary munitions of war
to strengthen our will and render it irresist-
ible At the same time | hope TO serve as
a bond of union between all Venezuelans
who desire to save our beloved country
from ruin.
"Countrymen the sole use of all our
arms shall be for the firing of joyful
salutes, bearing tidings of contentment and
happiness to our homes. Let each one of
you fulfill his supreme duty towards his
desolate native country. Do this and each
one of you will have the great satisfaction
of knowing that he has saved Venezuela
the shedding of bitter tears.
Our work is the work of the nation.
The primary object of our endeavor is to
remove Cne man from his public position,
a position in which he has committed every
error and every excess, and who has com
promised not only VeneZuelas good name
but even her national integrity. Traitor
to all his duties. this unfortunate man has
alienated from Venezuela the good will of
the countries of the world. and his diseased
brain has led him TO bring about mad mis-
understanding with Colombia.
"COuntrymen ALL let us remove this
faithless magistrate who alone is responsi-
bic for the misfortunes of Venezuela, and,
united in the bonds of sincere brotherhood
let us at once re-esta blish interior peace
in our country. harmonze relations between
Venezuela and foreign powers, and let us
bring about the respectful observance in
our land of every mans rights and the
strict accomplishment of every mans du-
ties. Thus you will regain your good name,
win back your beloved country, and the
great Liberal cause will once again be-
come invested with its merited prestige
God. all powerful. inspires US, and with
His help will save Venezuela"
Details Of the conversion of the steamer
Ban Righ into a war vessel show that her
vital parts (engines, etc) have been pro-
tected by thick plates of steel. The work
was done here at the works of the General
Transatlantic Company. In addition the
steamers bridge has been protected by steel
plates and her stern post and rudder have
been similarly shielded. The Ban Righ's
armament consists of several guns capable
of firing 300 shots per minute and four ten
centimeter rapid-fre guns. The officer in
charge of the Ban Righ's guns is a Euro
pean. The vessels crew is composed of
Englishmen and natives of the Island of
Martinique.
The reinforcements of the 300 volunteers
now on board the Ban Righ will reach the
war steamer In sloops and schooners which
are to be met at various points if the plans
of the revolutionists are carried out. The
departing volunteers appeared TO be very
determined men, Previous 10 sailing thev
had learned of the decree issued by Presi-
dent Castro declaring the Ban Righ to be
a pirate and offering reward OF $4,000
for her capture. but they declare the yes
sci will not be captured and insisted that
the revolution would triumph. The volun-
teers also said that their landing on the
coast Of Venezuela was planned TO coin
eide with a forward movement on the part
OF the Colombian troops and the landing in
Venezuela of other revolutionists who had
concentrated at the Islands of Trinidad
and Curacao.