Evening star., 1909-04-11
CASTRO EXPELLED
FROM MARTINIQUE
Carried to Ship on Stretcher
by French Police.
PROTESTED TO THE LAST
Now on the Steamer Versailles
Bound for St. Nazaire.
CROWD SHOWS ITS SYMPATHY
Held in Check by Gendarmes as
Ex-President Is Removed From
His Hotel.

FORT DE FRANCE. April 1o-Cipriano
Castro, ex-president of Venezuela, was
ignominiously expelled tonight from tiie
Island Of Martinique by the French gov
ernment. He protested to the last against
his expulsion, but his protests were IN
vain. He is now on board the French
line steamship Versailles, bound for st.
Nazaire.
this morning of the decision of the French
government that he must leave the lslano
of Martinique within nine hours from the
receipt of such notice, and that the COM
missary of police at Fort de France had
been charged with the execution OF the
order.
The ex-president was furious with IN
dgnaton and strove throughout the day
for some excuse that would be satis-
factory whereby he would not be COM
pelied to obey the order, and to this end
late in the day he summoned lawyer
and physician to certify that he was un-
able to leave the country. The Governor
of Martinique and the public prosecutor.
however refused an extension OF the
time, and about o'clock the commissary
OF police. accompanied by large force
of gendarmes. proceeded to the hotel
where Castro was stopping to remove
him. forcibly if necessary, to the steamer.
Locked Himself in Room
The affair created a great sensation,
and long before the police made their
appearance at the hotel crowds had
gathered. which later were Joined by
the consuls representing the various
foreign powers, who showed great in-
terest in the expulsion OF what one of
them termed "the common enemy Of
peace Castro. who, during his few
days at Fort de France had very little
communication with anybody, locked
himself in his room, in company with
his brother CarmelO and his secretary,
and for q time refused to reply to the
summons of the police official.
The police hesitated to break In the
door. and finally decided to submit the
matter again to Gov. Foureau, but the
governor refused absolutely to permit
any delay. and he ordered that Castro
be removed by force of arms He also
gave orders that the Versailles remain
in port until Castro could be put
aboard
Crowd Becomes Riotous.
II became necessary for the police
and gendarmes to take rigid measures
to hold in check the crowds that had
by this time become riotous outside the
hotel.
The ex-president rallied against the
French government and the local author
tiles, denouncing them for forcing upon
him the alternative of deportation or mn
prisonment for six months. He declared
that he would not bulge and that 1t would
he necessary to take him on board the
steamer on a stretcher. This the com
mssary of police, who finally entered
tastros room. with an escort of gen
darmes. prepared to do, but Castro's law
Yer took steps to find the chief justice
and at the very last moment the governor
and the public prosecutor decided to have
another medical examination made.
Final Medical Examination.
Accordingly medical commission COM
posed of Drs. Bousier, Costet and Bt;.be
proceeded with the examination in order
10 establish definitely il Castro's health
was such that he could make the voyage.
The consultation of the physicians con-
tinued for more than half an hour and
they agreed that the life of the eX-presi-
dent would not be jeopardized by his re-
Inoval to the steamer and the return voy-
age across the ocean
PTOf. hlccl however, VINO was a pas
Senger with Castro on the Guadeloupe on
the trip from Bordeaux to this port was
the original authority for the statement
that during the voyage the wound result
ing from the operation ON Castro in Ger
many had shown signs of suppuration,
but the final examination of the physi-
clans this evening seemeds to indicate
that the former president is in quite as
healthy at condition as when he LEI
France March IS last.
Carried Mile on Stretcher.
At half past o'clock a force of gen.
darmes went to Castro's room and he
was placed on a mattress. after refusing to
put on his clothes. and carried on a
stretcher to the steamer, a distance of
more than a mile. A thousand o. more
Of the population had assembled by this
time and a great deal of sympathy was
expressed for the former president The
latter complained of great suffering and
every movement of the stretcher seemed
to give him further pain. He has pre-
sented a protest which Will be sent to the
French government tomorrow.
The Versailles left here 1T o'clock and
measures have been taken to keep q
careful watch on Castro during the voy.
age. The colonial government intends tc
put down any sympathetic demonstration
that may be made on shore.
castro's BROTHER Will remain here for
the present, but 1t is thought that he vii
is permitted TO land at that port
The United States cruiser North Caro-.
lima arrived here al O'Clock this after.
noon and Is still in the roaGstead
ST THOMAS. ID. w. J.. April l0.-rh,
;. battleshp Maine came into port today
She will remain about five days 10 civ
The crew shore liberty.
The governments of tie United States
6ixeat Britain and France recently unite,
TO take concerted action against ex
President Castro. who had declared hi.
intention of returning TO Venezuela witt
designs on the presidency.
Castro left Venezuela in November ol
last year. He appointed Juan Vicente
Gomez, the first wee president. TO TAX,
his place as president. Within "a monti
after the departure of Castro the Ven
ezIeIan government was overturned
Gomez becoming the new president
Charges were made against Castro anc
he was indicted
lie announced that he would return tt
Venezuela. but the Venezuelan govern
ment denied him the right to land
Eventually. however IL withdrew this pro
iiibition. according him permission to land
but at his own peril.