Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-05
PROMISED PROTECTION
AS PRISONERS OF WAR
Brought Before Zelaya, Who Con.
demned Them to Be Shot.
ADVENTURES OF A. H. WILSON
American Captain in Insurgent
Army Tells Of Battle, Escape
and Other Exciting Times
in Nicaragua.
Special Dispatch 70 The Star.

Special Dispatch TO The Star.
LEXINGTON, KY. December A.
Bringing with him the first really au-
thentic account of Gen. Jose de Estrada's
campaign In Nicaragua against President
Zelaya and the execution of LIE Roy Can
non and Groce. two young Americans. by
order OF Zelaya, A. H. Wilson. until last
week a captain In the revolutionary army.
reached here late this afternoon on his
way home to Charleston. W. Va. to re-
cuperate
Capt Wilson characterizes the execu-
ton Of Cannon and Groce at the order of
Zelaya as nothing less than a cold blood
ed murder, encompassed after the men
had surrendered, under promise of prOtec-
ton as prisoners Of war. to native SOL
diers. Furthermore. Wilson says, the
two Americans were In Costa Rica when
they were attacked by the Zelaya SOL
diers and were decoyed back into Nicara-
without fight,
Wilson says Groce and Cannon were
rushed to the interior after their capture
and there Immediately shot by order OF
Zelaya himself. Wilson was In the
neighborhood when the Americans were
captured, but was unable TO help them
before they were executed.
He had the story at first hand, how
ever. He had only heard the newspaper
reports that the bodies OF the two men
were burned after the execution to de-
stroy their identity IL possible.
Wilson in Attack on Managua.
Wilson was In the fight at Aanagua,
which the revolutionists attacked and
were driven of. He secured leave OF
absence from Estrada Immediately after
that battle.
After a series OF thrilling escapes he
managed to reach the coast and secure
passage on a boat bound for New Or
leans Here malarial fever attacked him
and prevented his returning to Nicaragua
and soinine Estradas army again, as he
had planned to do.
To the correspondent Wilson said:
IT arrived in the revolution stricken
country just at the time OF the murder or
Cannon and Groce. The execution was
cold-blooded murder.
"a boatload Of natives found the men
lost and wandering about, In Costa Rican
forests They had gone across the boun-
..ry, out Of Nicaragua.
Even though the natives were far su-
perior In numbers they We're afraid to
attack the two Americans. 30 they USED
treacllery They decoyed the Americans
back into Nicaragua under promise of
ia king good care OF them.
Cannon and Groce, outnumbered. con-
sidered 1t best to surrender, provided
they were promised protection as prison
ers of war. This the natives promised.
Cannon and Groce gave up, trusting the
honor of the native soldiers.
Shot Down by Zelaya's Orders.
after surrendering they were brutally
sho. near the capital Of Nicaragua.
where they were carried. and brought
before Zelaya. who seems to hate all
Americans The story was brought
quickly to the revolutionary camp. but
we could not help them.
aThe Nicaraguans will not venture on
such tactics again, however. LOT tne
United States had five gunboats on the
Atlantic coast and three on the Pacific
coast when / left. Among those on the
Atlantic coast when I left were the Ia
coma, the Marietta, the Denver and the
Des Moines. There were two others pc
sides the Princeton on the Pacihc coast.
1.-The United States has four gunboats
and sailors enough at the scene OF the
trouble to lick all Of Central America.
my opinion Is that President Zelaya
will order all Americans who are cap
tured in the future to De turned over 'o
the commanders of American gunboats:
II was working on the railroad Tor tho
United States government in Panama and
got leave Of absence. Then Michael and
struck out for Nicaragua
I'VE went to Estrada's army ana en-
listed. Americans. English, Germans ana
French are the very men that Estrada ~
looking for to command his army, for the
natives make but poor officers officers
Michael was made colonel ana l
captain In the revolutionary army. we
had 6. lively time nearly every day.
''The soldiers Of the revolutionary army
are mostly armed with SpringIieia rlnes,
and are a queer looking lot, put loyal 10
Estrada and good fighters.
"The common people are against Ze-
lava. because taxes have reached an un-
bearslble height.
Tribute Exacted by Zelaya.
"Just to give you one instance Near
Nans gua the capital OF Nicaragua, Is
fine pool Of water, where the women are
in the habit Of going to wash clothes Ze-
lava had q bamboo thatch out over this
pool. and the poor people at first thought
he was doing 1t from motives or bensSo-
lence.
They were soon undeceived. The presi-
dent made a charge of ten cents a day
to stand under the thatch.
"Of course, the women had 10 stand
under. It to do their washing. As they
only made 80 cents day. the tax bore on
them heavily.
Il had Just gotten my company in good
shape when Gen. Estrada determined to
attack the capital, He had more Amer
lean and English officers than the presi-
dent, and depended on this for success
.Gen. Estrada is a fine fellow and was
popu, ar among his officers. He had
forty six Americans In his army. He
had between LOCO and ], 1,700 troops, while
there were about 5000 in the capital.
Gen Chamorro was in direct command