Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-28

news Of he rest Of the world Is slow in
reaching it, and OF little interest when II
arrives Therefore It cooks up its own
news over night and its morning paper is
never lacking in interest
What Blueheld5 cannot attend to in the
newsmaking line Nicaragua and the neigh
boring states can. Between them they
keep things interesting"
Bluehelds, the capital city of Mosquito
Reserve has figured In the history OF
r more than Central America At one time
It was the occasion OF a slight frigidity be-
tween the United States and Great Britain,
arising from the British protectorate over
the Mosquito coast. In force some fifty
years ago. After the protectorate termi-
mated the Mosquito Indians, a highly civil
lied and wealthy tribe, maintained their
own government until Il was overthrow
by the Nicaraguans. The Mosquito Re
serve has been in a state OF intermittent
revolution ever since. but the Nicaraguan
government has always triumphed in the
end.
II confess. 1 did not really want to
leave" continued Mrs. Pomerantz. 1--WE
women in Nicaragua know as much about
politics as the men. for It supplies the
only Incidents that are in the least inter-
esting. Besides, the political condition has
so direct an effect on our husbands busl-
ness that we naturally study it closely.
1.-THE warfare between these states is not
a conflict of organized armies. but 10 prac-
. tically guerrilla warfare. President Eel
Iaya's army is made up for the most part OF
khalf breeds and Mosquito Indians. So
IMeNnwilling we're many of these men to serve
that, so I was told, they were actually re-
cruited by means OF lasso, and to be held
in the army camps often had to be man
acled.
'Of course under such circumsta noes
there could be little patriotism and still less
valor. Most OF the troops were without
Shoes and about the only uniforms seen
were those worn by some soldiers OF fortune
who had strayed in for the fighting.
''There are four distinct political parties
in Blueields Indians, native or Near
sguans. American merchants and the gov
eminent Each one hates all the others,
and each one plots to overthrow the others.
The rock on which they split is the tariff.
Before the first revolution, whereby the
Indians lost their independence, can OF
condensed milk could be purchased for 20
cents. Now It costs 90. Beans and rice,
also great delicacies. are equally high
priced The Indians believe that II Il were
not for the other three parties these things
would still be within their reach.
''rhe natives hate the government be-
cause It has, so they say, failed 10 keep
its covenant with them. They suffer from
the extremely high duties on necessaries
and fail 10 see any resulting wealth coming
into the state. They accuse the govern
ment officials Of all sorts OF private nest
feathering in anticipation Of the next revo--
luton.
THE Americans hate the government
because It stands between them and the
fortune that would quickly be theirs II
such things as duties did not exist The
government which Is represented in the
person of a single man President ZeIava.
hates the Americans because for the last
few years they have had a virtual r,ononoly
OF the trade OF the country. IN this wav
diverung fr)m the government funds
much wealth that might otherwise be Judi.
oiously guided there. He hates all the
other parties because he knows they hate
him and would accomplish his overthrow
n they could.
THE Nlcaraguan government believes
IN many OF the good old adages, chlet
among them heinz that a bird in the hand
is worth two In the hush. II argues that II
Is to tie ADVANTAGE 20 secure a lump sun
for the revenues for a term OF years rather
than 10 await the slow process Of collection
"A successful bidder TO- the tarin con,
eession has the cole right to lrnrort free Of
charge the article desigaated n any ons
else Imports It, Il Is the privilege ot the
eoncessionaire 20 regulate the duty 70 be
collected This system Fot more than ono
American tradesman vigorously hated
The whisky concession was sold f0-
$4,000 to Sam We'll. So influential ala n.
become that he was known as the second
president OF Nicaragua Tie GA not find
his ONCE entirely peaceful one however
and so many threats were made aqainst
him that he found II the better rart OF valor
10 remain close at home after nightfall.
'Bluehelds Is the home OF tho nononolv
III is a Door business there that has not a
4GfonOpoly
The largest concern having Its head.
quarters I'm the town Is the George r.
Emory Mahogany works. Samuel sneUman
an American. has been the general super-
intendent Of this Industry for more th1u
twenty years. so that II Is now known
r among the natives as Sam spellmsn's
works
This contrary has the concession for
all the mahogany IN the country. ana a
native cutting or trading IN a single stick
OF II is liable 70 prosecution. At first this
disposition Of their native fnrests wa
resented by the people. but - Arm vas the
government I'm the matter that murmurings
were quickly suppressed.
There are about 100 American families
resident IN Riuefelds and the country
thereahouts. The grest majority are mer-
: chants, with a few doctors and a few per-
sons interested In plantations or mines