The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-12-19
WOMEN PLEAD
 FOR HUSBANDS Americans Tortured in
 Nicaragua. PITlFUL PLEAS TO CONSUL zelaya Shows the Iron Hand of
 Revenge. Choss Who Dehed the Tyrant Are Terrified and Believe TAem- selves Doomed without Aid from the United

Managua. Nicaragua, Dec. 1s.--some of the most prominent women in Man qua have sent petition to MT. Henry Caldera. the acting Consul of the United States.
 Their names are signed to the peti- tion which sets forth the tortures to which zelaya's prisoners have been sub 1ected. and pitifully requests the inter vention of the American Government. :.
 "Numberless prisoners says the pe- tition, have been tortured in their cells; their families have been killed in their efforts to end crime. extortion and tyranny. and to prevent the assas- sination of Groce and Cannon.
 we implore you to bring the male- factor to justice. that his many crimes may receive the punishment they de- serve. and that he be not permitted to escape"
 Conduct Reign of Terror.
 For weeks the associates and adhe- rents of zelaya have been conducting a reign of terror. Their chief victims have been the best people of the coun- try Property has been connscated, fathers and sons Imprisoned; wives and daughters forced to submit ot unspeak- able outrages. dragged of to jail. or 7 cruelty injured.
 So appalling were the conditions. that a large number of women met and finally decided to submit their plea to the representative Of the Government whose warships are close at hand. They seek not onlt Heir own protection. but the safety of those who in the last few days have had courage enough to rise in public places and denouhee ze7 laya and his administration.
 The agitation became so strong against the holding of hundreds. per haps thousands, in prison, that the of ficiais deemed it advisable to take steps 10 release at least some of those against ! whom crimes had only been alleged Most of the political prisoners. there- fore. were released today, but there are stili many others behind the walls. It was after the American warships reached Corinto that the demonstra- tion against Zelaya became pronounced. for those who have been crying for the revolution were fully convinced that blue jackets and marines from the ships would be landed.
 Await HEarlaes' CoEsias.
 Now they are terrified lest no men be sent ashore. In such an event they fear reprisals by the Zelayan forces. which are still strong in Managua.
 Many revolutionary suspects have been thrown into prison and put to torture. and there are also a number now in chains who refused to do the bidding of the Government. Among these Is AnibaI Chavez. an army of- f1cer. who was in command of the firing squad when Groce and Cannon were to give the firing order. exclaiming, as he threw down his sword: "I am a soldier mot murderer"
 Consul Caldera is daily in receipt of menaces of death, but beyond exercising watchful care. he has taken no pre- cautions to guard against attack and goes about attending to the duties of his post
 Word has reached here that Dr. Jose Madriz. zeiaya's candidate for Presi- dent, has arrived at San Juan Del Sur on his way to Corinto. He is hasten ing to Managua to inform himself per- sonally of the situation. At Corinto. it is believed, Madriz will confer with several of his strongest supporters. who are proceeding there from various departments
 Following close upon the resignation of President zelaya. an entire change has taken place in the administration of the departments of Granada. Man agua, Leon, Jinotega and MatagaIpa The old officials were summarily dis missed and others named to fill their places. The majority of them are from Leon. the stronghold of the Liberals, and are favorable to the candidacy of Madriz.
 Diplomats Not Surprised.
 Washington, Dec. 1s.--In Central American diplomatic circles here, no surprise was expressed tonight at the reported action of ZeIaya and his. ad- herents in imprisoning and torturing the political prisoners. It had been predicteds that Zelaya would wreak a saturnine vengeance on those who op- posed him and who had fallen beneath his power and that this vengeance would be withheld until the time came when he foresaw his downfall.
 LSlhyd lb NAuulcLlN6 anu CTuelty is a by-word in our part of the world, '' said Central American diplomat to- night. That he will exact in blood and tears all that he believes Is due him. no one who knows him will doubt for a minute. Such stories of his per secutions as have been received here unofflcially. leads us to believe that he has inaugurated 8 reign of terror that would put Nero to blush.''
 Up to a late hour pr. Castrillo. the representative in Washington of the revolutionary government. had received no advices from Nicaragua and no au- thentic dispatches had been received by the other diplomats. None, however, expressed the slightest doubt that Ze- lava had begun to exact his revenge.
 The troop ship Buffalo is expected to reach Corinto tomorrow afternoon, and the TOO United States marines aboard will be available in case alarm InR reports are received. IL was stated at the Navy Department tonight that the marines would remain aboard until others are despatched from here. No delay will be experienced in the trans-