Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1903-01-05
Castro Has Fought Two Years
to Retain Power and VIII
Not Resign.
FINANCIAL PANIC AT CARACAS.
At Washington Position of Castro Is
Considered criticai--Foreign Resi-.
dents of La Guaira Astonished at
Continuance Of the Blockade.

Caracas, Jan. 5.-The report that
President Castro purposes to abdieate
or resign the presidency of Vene-
zuela is untrue. The correspondent of
the Associated Press saw the presi-
dent with regard to this matter yes
terday. The president laughed when
questioned and then said thought
fully:
You are at liberty to say that |
have fought during two years to re-
tain the supreme power which was in
vested in me by the people of Vene-
zuela. | will no more abdicate than
l will resign. The Matos revolution,
without assistance from foreign pow
ers, will soon be past story"
Caused Astonishment.
The course pursued by the allied
powers in maintaining the blockade
of La Guaira has caused astonish.
ment among the foreign residents OF
this city. When the Dutch steamer
Prinz Willem V arrived off La Guaira
to take on board the European mails
the authorities at La Guaira sent the
mail out in a small boat. This boat
was stopped by the British cruiser on
blockade and the mail bags were
taken on board the warship. The pos
tai clerks who were In the small boat
say the mail bags, Notwithstanding
their protests, were opened on board
the cruiser.
La Guaira, Jan. 5.-The Dutch con.
sui here saw the captain of the Brit.
ish steamer Tribune Sat day and Sc
cured permission for steamer of the
Dutch line to call off La Guaira. Jan.
z, and take on board Dr. Van Leyden,
the Dutch minister to Venezuela. who
Is In i'll health.
Half the clerks employed in the Gus.
toms house here ana all the members
Of the coast guard service at La
Guaira have been discharged. This
means cutting off the revenue of 60
or more families. The La Guaira Gus
tom house was closed today. About
800 stevedores are at present without
employment and rioting is feared
The government will doubtless have
to employ urgent measures to main
tain quiet.
Will Hold Prefect Responsible.
The captain of the Tribune has sent
a message to the project of this port,
commenting the behavior of the Vene-
zuelan authorities UP to the present
time, but saying he would hold him,
the project, responsible for any in
jury to the persons or property OF
British, German and Italian subjects.
Willemstad, Island of Curacao. Jan.
b.-There was financial panic at
Caracas Saturday afternoon. A large
number of small traders and deposi.
tors went together to the office of the
Bank OF Venezuela for the purpose of
exchanging the banks notes for sill
yer. The bank refused to exchange
more than $40 worth of notes for any
one person, and at O'Clock in the
afternoon closed it's doors. The panic
continues. Bills issued by the bank
are now selling for so per cent of
their face value. The leading firms |
at Caracas, Notwithstanding the pres
ent situation, have presented no notes
FOR redemption, as they are all inter
ested in supporting the bank.
Paris, Jan. Sin a dispatch from
Caracas the correspondent of the |
Matin says that in spite of the sue |
,esses OF the Venezuelan revolution
SITS their finances are not sufficient
70 permit them to obtain munitions
of war. 1t is undeniable that the sit
lation OF the government is growing
more aggravated, continues the cor.
respondent, and that its resources are
'ailing.
Watching Revolutionists,
washington, Jan. 5.-The aggres.
ave movements of the Venezuelan
eVoiutionists are being watched
closely here. Late unofficial advices
Indicating great activity on the part
II the rebels and reporting a menac.
ng movement toward Caracas. give
ne Impression that President Cas-
ro's position is critical. It had been
hoped there would be a
cessation of the hostilities against the
government, so that there might be
'rompt action with respect to arbi.
ration of the claims against Vene-
uela by the European allies.