The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-04
Cover Honduran POrf, Take PO-
 lice, Arrest Nicaraguans
SOLDIER ASSAULTS NEGRO
Commander Fulam Lands Bluejackets at La Guna and Puts Prisoners On Merrimac In Irons for
 Beating General" Davis.

Puerto Cortez, April 29.-(Via Mobile, May S)-About o'clock on the evening of Saturday, April 27. a negro man, for merly from 3oyee station, Louisiana, named General Davis, a fruit inspector for the Thacker Bros. Steamship line, was standing quietly near the railroad station at Laguna, where the shops of the railroad are situated talking with three or four other negro companions, also Americans A drunken Nicaraguan soldier armed with machete, approached the party and without any provocation, demanded to know what they were talk ing about.
 Davis answered that it was none of his business, whereupon the Nicaraguan soldier drew his machete and raised it over Davis, who clasped his arms around the man and finally took away the weapon, threw it upon the ground and went to house near by.
 Drag Negro Out.
 A companion of the Nicaraguan soldier ran to cuartel and police station and squad of police and Nicaraguan sol diers surrounded the house and dragged Davis out of the house and were carry ing him toward the cuartel. As no at tempt had been made to arrest the Nica- raguan soldier Davis asked the squad why they did not arrest the Nicaraguan. In reply the party cursed and punched him with the butts of their guns, then knocked him down with their rifles. When on the ground both Nicaraguan soldiers and policemen beat him brutally over the head and body until Davis was 'uncon- scious.
 The soldiers and police carried his body to the cuartel, finding the blood flowing from the nose, mouth and ears. Believing that Davis was dying, they carried the body back to the spot where they had knocked him down and threw 1t upon the ground
 The negro companions of Davis asked the soldiers to permit them to carry him out of the sun and lay him in the shade until medical assistance arrived, but they were cursed and told to let him lay there.
 By telephone Major Burke at the port was advised of the assault. He notified MT Hellan of the Thacker company who called Dr. E. T. Hustin and Dr. Mayors of the Marietta who in ten minutes were in La Guna They examined Davis con- tusions and found him badly bruised on the head and body and unconscious
 BIuejackets Land.
 Within ten minutes the blue jackets of the Marietta under Ensign Rorsach, were on the spot Commander Fuliams orders were sharp and decisive:
 Arrest the chief of police and the po- licemens engaged In the assault, put them in irons and send them aboard ship. Ar rest the Nicaraguan officers and men engaged in the assault and hold them for orders"
 It was thought possible that an att tempt would be made to release the sol diers and police captured by the blue Jackets so men were landed from the Pa ducah to occupy La Guna and additional men were landed from the Marietta.
 The Paducah moved to position front ing the Nicaraguan cuartels while the Marietta covered the cuartels in the port.
 Everything had been very quiet for sev- eral days, so General Estrada, command ing the Nicaraguan forces, and the com mandant commanding the Hondurean forces were absent on picnic visiting the old historic fort of Omoa. The sol diers taking advantage of this had been getting liquor and many intoxicated sol- diers were seen.
 Commander F'ullam finding that the civil authorities were incapable of maintaining regulations or order that the government of Tegucigalpa was a mere provisional agreement of certain leaders that so far gave no evidence of stability, decided to ignore the authorities here and recognize the only organized and disciplined force here under General Estrada, commanding the Nicaraguan forces who had in the meantime returned to the port.
 The Nicaraguan officers and men ar rested were delivered by Captain Full lam's order to General Estrada, who was advised that he would be held respon- sible Also notice was served on the Hon. durean and Ncaraguan authorities that reparation would be demanded and pun ishment should be inflicted upon all of the perpetrators of the brutal outrage.
 Brutal Assaults.
 The American negroes at Puerto Cortez have been the victims of brutal assaults at the hands of Hondurean police for years. The favorite method was to com pei them to dig graves and bury the dead When they refused they were unmerci- fully clubbed and thrown in jail and finally ten of the best workers were ex- pelled from the country by General Bull nes but ordered back by Minister Combes from Guatemala and protected by the American consul. Johnson.
 Davis was an excellent man, quiet,
 
 engage in brawls. He has been uncon- tin says that he is suffering from con- scious since the assault. but Dr. Aus cussion of the brain and that he may recover
 Commander Fullam of the Marietta says if Davis dies the perpetrators will be tried for murder q presume by cout- martial and the guilty ones hung at the yard arm in front of the port.'
 The Paducah was ready to sail from Ceiba and Truxillo, but will now remain here for the present Captain Fullam has placed Captain Winterhalter in command of the land forces and he is conducting a vigorous investigation of all the details of the Davis affair. Over twenty-five witnesses have been called to the consul late.
 Hondurans Railroaded Away.
 At o'clock last night General Estrada peremptoriy ordered all the Hondurean soldiers to be taken from the port, and Major Burke sent them to San Pedro on a special train.
 General Estrada and Commander Full lam have arrangedfde,ai of guards and no further attention Is paid to local au- thorities-
 The government at Tegucigalpa requires