Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-04-27
MAY soMsARo BLuEF,gLps
British Cruiser Retribution to ReIes..
Six Sehooners.

Kingston, Jamaica, April -2s-Tho
British cruiser Retribution has saiIaa
'again for Bluefields, Nicaragua wiz,
orders TO lombard that port unless tho
Nicaraguans Immediately release the
six Cayman turtle schooners and their
crews that were seized some days apn
by the commandant there. The schoon-
ers belong to Mosquito Coast Indians
who are under British protection.
Passengers who arrived in New Or
leans on the steamer Wilson from
Bluehelds, report that as the Wilson
sailed from that port the British man
lof-war Retribution was entering IL.
The Nicaraguan officers did not an
ticipate any hostile demonstration from
the Retribution. although it was under
stood that the latter would demand tho
release of1the 80 British subjects i'm
prisoned in the Bluefields Jail for
catching turtles off the Nicarag,Ian
coast. This will be refused by Mica
ragua.
The officials thought that long din
lomauc interchange of letters would
follow, but foreigners at BluefieIds he
ileVe that the Retribution is authorized
10 take decided action without await
ing further orders from England
Inc SIX jamaican schooners seized
by the Nfcaraguans are Tying at Blue
ilelds Bluff, six miles from Bluefelds
Ihclr crews were taken first to Cane
Gracias Dios, and thence to Bluefields
and the complaint is made that they
were treated cruelty at both places.
The vessels were captured at Mos
quito Cay, which is 30 miles from tho
Nicaraguan coast. There were nina
schooners there at the time. eight Rrit-
ish from Jamaica and the one American
from Florida. Two of the British and
the one American schooner ESCAPED the
customs and naval authorities of Mica
ragua.
The Jamaicans complain that Mica
ragua had no authority over MOSQUITO
Cay. Formerly the British and Ameri-
can vessels caught green turtles on all
the Gays. A few months ago Nicara-
qua claimed the control of all turtle
fisheries within it's waters, and foreign
fishermen were warned away. The Ia
maican schooners were notified of this
action by the British government and
warned not to catch turtles within Mic
araSuan waters. They were far be-
yond the limits when captured, but the
NicaraguanS are now claiming sover-
eighty over all the Gays In the Carrib-
bean, most of which are mere turtle
rocks, rising above low tide and which
have never settled, occupied or even
visited by any except the turtle CATCH
ers.
There Is some likelihood that the ir-
ritating controversy between Great
Britain and Nicaragua regarding the
Mosquito coast will shortly be forced to
a statement the British authorities
having intimated to the United States
government that steps in that direction
have already been taken. BY a treaty
signed in 1860, Great Britain agreed to
recognize the sovereignty of Nicaragua
over the Mosquito coast. which borders
the eastern shore of Central America on
the Caribbean sea, on condition that
certain rights, including a form of local
were guaranteed to the
Mosquito Indians. who inhabited the
territory. Thereupon the British pro-
tectorate over the Mosquito c6ast.
against which both Nicaragua a5<i the
Emitted States had frequently protested,
was Dissolved. In 1894. under an agree
ihSHl pSlWStli TIE lIlu1aTS ana
the government of Nicara qua. the Mos
quito coast was incorporated into the
republic of Nicaragua, becoming the
department of Velaya, and for his as
in effecting the transfer. Rear
Charles O'Neil. U. S. N, re-
tired. who was then in command of the
U. s. S. Marblehead. received the
thanks of the governments of Great
Britain and Nicaragua. and of the navy
of the United States.
In the last few years, however. serious
has been made to the British
government that Nicaragua was disre-
gardinE her treaty obligations that the
Mosquito Indians We're deprived of their
rights and that their fishing vessels and
Great Britain has frequently urged Mic
aragUa to correcf these abuses but with
out effect. and the matter has row reach
ed stage where further evasion will not
he tolerated. 1t is understood in Wash
inGton that the British cruiser Retribu-
ton has sailed from Jamaica for Blue
fields, the principal Seaport of Nicara-
qua, where her commander will demand
Of the Mosquito Indians will be fully re-
spccted. The British government has in
explained its purposes to the
government and declared that it has no
intention of asserting sovereignty over
the Mosquito territory. 1t is resolved.
whom it exercised a protectorate for 40
years. shall be properly protected by Mic
lragua. and to that purpose there will GER
tainly be no objection from the United
states. All measures needed to effect
settlement of the whole con-
-roversy over the Mosquito coast will I'M
ioubtedy be cordially approved in Wash
ngton.