Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-19
ZELAYA DO0MS
TWO AMERICAN
MEN TO DEATH
NATIONS APPEAR TO BE AT
POINT OF WAR
TAFT ANGRY AND CONFLICT is
NOW IMMINENT
Diplomatic Relations Are Severed Be-
tween Nicaragua and United States
and Latter May intervene
with Warships
rRY Assoclated Prcss.1

{ n
! w Americans, Leonard Grace and
/ Leroy Cannon, captured while
serving with the revolutionist army in
/ Nicaragua, were sentenced to death by
| President Zelaya's orders, it was an
nounced today, and it is believed the
| sentence has been carried out.
| The cruiser Vicksburg has been or
dered to proceed at once to Corinto,
and the gunboat Des Moines will go
tc Port Limon.
The meeting between President Taft
and the new minister from Nicaraguas
lsidoro Hazara has been postponed in
definitely.
| The dispatch conveying the news
reached the state department late last
night from the American consulate at
Managua. and stated that their capture
had been followed almost Immediately
| by "A death sentence.
| The consul Immediately appealed to
/ President Zelaya to commute their SEN
tence, and his answer was: II will see
/ Later, on further appeal, Zelaya said:
| THE sentence is tinal.'
| A dispatch received today at the state
department says the men undoubtedly
lEave been executed. on this information
| tary of the navy to order the Vicks-
| burg to proceed to Corinto to protect
/ Americans and American interests. The
/ Des Moines also was ordered to Port
Limon at top speed.
Warships at Colon
The Des Moines is now at Colon,
about $50 miles from Port Limon,
which she can reach within ten hours.
steaming at forced draft. The Vicks-
I
jose de Guatemala, nearly 200 miles
| from the Nicaraguan coast, and will be
/ able to reach Corinto about the time
| the Des Moines arrives at Port Limon.
The execution is believed to have
taken place at or near El Costello,
which is in the immediate vicinity of
Greytown.
The brutality of the Nicaraguan gov
ernment I'm ordering the execution OF
these two Americans. without trial of
any sort is likely to result in this gov
ernment taking drastic measures.
President Taft was so incensed that
! ho Immediately announced that he
would have no communication whatever
| with the NiCaraguan minister, and that
| official was so notified.
At the Niearaguan legation it was
stated that no news of the execution
! had been received.
The revolutionist forces under Cen
eral Estrada have declared the port of
San Juan del Norte under blockade.
and general notice to that effect has
been issued. The blockading force
consists of the Nicaraguan gunboat
Ometepe and the tug Blance, which
! has been armed temporarily
Large consignments of arms are ex-
pected to reach the revolutionists at or
near that port.
Told of Blockade
A telegram from the Bluehelds
Steamship company in New Orleans,
says the company has been informed
of the blockade by the following let
! ter from the consul of the provisional
government at New Orleans:
"In the name of the provisional gov
ernment of Nicaragua, of which Gen.
Juan 1. Estrada is president, 1 notify
you that the port of San Juan del
Norte, or Greytown, Nicaragua. is
blockaded by our gunboats Any YES
sci or vessels on attempting to run
said blockade will be captured and con-
fiscated as a prize of war by my gov
ernment. Please acknowledge receipt
of this communication (Signed) L.
Sequiera. consul of the provisional
government
Private advices from Bluefields con-
firm the reported capture at Greytown
of the steamship Dictator, Of the Blue
fields Steamship company by the rev
olutionary forces. The prize court at
Bluefelds will determine il the yes
sci carried contraband to Zelaya's
army
Nothing is known at the state de-
partment of the antecedents of Leon
ard Grace, but Leroy Cannon seems
to have had an unusual career in Cen
trail America.
Cannon's home Is said to be In
Pennsylvania. but some years ago he
went to Central America, and since
then his name has figured prominently
lin revolutions He has been arrested
a number of times and tried for head
ing revolutions. and on several occa-
sons has narrowly escaped death
sentence, it is said.
Tired of squahbles
The state department practically has
recognized the belligerency Of the Mica
raguan revolutionists, and mas maoe
peremptory demands upon President
Zelaya for explanation of the execution
OF the two Americans condemned as IN
surrectionists.
Announcement that this government
is tired of the high handed action OF
small Central American republics viz
tually was contained in n dispatch sent
late today to the Blueields Steamship
company, which sought the protection
of the state department from tnterfer-
ence by insurgents now operating
against Zelaya
An hour after a peremptory note,
couched In diplomatic language but
none the less direct, was delivered 10
Senior Feline Rodriguez, charge dat-
faires of the Nicaraguan legation. de-
manding a full and complete eXplana-
ton of the execution of two Americans
Leonard Grace and Leroy Cannon
killed by order of Zelaya when they
were found in the insurgent army.
Pending a satisfactory explanation of
the occurrence, President Taft has re-
fused to recognize Isidore Hazera, new
Nicaraguan minister. Mr.. Taft Is thor
oughIy aroused by the actions OF the
Zelayan government, and apparently Is
determined to make the lives of Ameri-
can citizens much safer and much more
Continued on Page FOurtesnl.