The San Francisco call., 1909-12-04
TelIs of Nicaraguan CONDITIONS

Miss Isabel Stephens New fet h
woman who arrived here yesterday on
the liner Peru, is still tingling with
the excitement of an encounter with
nart If President ZeIaya's army in Co
rfnto. II. H. Leonard, vice and deputy
United STATES consul at Corinto, had
promised to get passport for her
which would allow her to take trip
into the interior of Nicaragua. After
waiting at the wharf some time Tor
the consul Miss stephens decided 10
go to the consulate, as the time Tor
the departure of her tram 1or Leon
was approaching.
She had walked about haH a block
when a little chap in a ragged uniform
signaled her to stop. She waved MN
away and kept right on. whistle
sounded and suddenly she found her
way barred BY a row of diminutive
warriors. each of whom pointed a bay
onet at her waist line. Her first in
stinct was to turn and run. Sne turned
only to find herself the center of
circle of bayonets
STAMPED FOOT At ARMY
Too angry TO be scared, she stamped
her foot at the army and ordered 1t TO
disperse. She threatened and scolded.
Size demanded to be taken to the Amer
lean consul, but a soldier, a little less
ragged than the others and evidently
an officer, pointed in the opposite direc-
ton. Miss stephens was taken before
the comandante and there held until
the arrival of the American consul with
her passport.
Miss stephens than took the train to
Leon, where she remained over night,
returning the next morning in time to
rejoin the Peru.
1--WE arrived at Corinto November IL
and sailed the following day" said Miss
stephens "The day we left -Corinto
was celebrating what the officials
claimed had been a great victory over
the insurgents. There was much firing
of cannon and a band paraded the
streets. In Mexico we learned of the
death of Cannon and Groce. They were
killed the day Of the celebration. Per-
haps this execution was part of it. OF
this, however. we knew nothing
ALL NATIVES AFRAID
y talked with many people and
found everybody but foreigners afraid
to express any opinion of President Ze-
laya Practically every Nicaraguan
citizen between the age of 16 and so
has been forced into the army. Re-
cruiting parties are out everywhere.
The conscripts are distinguished by a
piece of rope tied around an arm. There
are not uniforms enough to go around,
DuL every BclS. 4Icola pclb VI
one and that part is mostly in rags.
'.Zelaya was making strenuous efforts
to induce the Jamaica negroes, of whom
there are many in Nicaragua, to join
his army, but without much success.
I heard one old negro talking to a re-
cruiting officer He knew when he was
well off, he told the officer. and would
leave the fighting TO citizens of the
republic. His government would look
-
he did not believe that Mr. Taft would
allow any injustice to British subjects.
But if 1 join your army, he said.
my government and Mr.. Taft would
both refuse to help me, and as we
are all likely to need help in this
country before long, / guess I'll not en-
list
WORKING UP REVOLUTION
Il was ashore in Salvador and had
breakfast with some Americans, the
Moisants, who come from San Fran
cisco, / believe. The Moisants were
very much Interested in the Nicaraguan
revolution and said they hoped to have
a revolution of their own In Salvador
before very long.
Fred Moisant, who is a banker and
a large land owner told me that the
president of Salvador had treated the
Moisant family very badly and that
they were working up revolution
which would put him out of power.
They have revolution on the brain
down there. The comandante at Aca :
Julia told me that he greatly regretted
his inability to join the revolutionists
in Nicaragua. / might have told him
that Mr.. Moisant was preparing a revo-
luton for Salvador's own, but thought
it might perhaps hurt Mr. Moisant.''
No Change for Logan