Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-04-12
CASTRO DEPORTED.
Taken by Force Aboard
French Str. Versailles,
Refuses TO Dress and Is Gar
ried Aboard on a StreicheT.
Denmark Sounded As to His Land.
Ing on ST. Thomas Island.

Fort De France, April 11.-Cipriano
Castro. ex-President of Venezuela. was
Saturday night ANONYMOUSLY expelled
from the Island of Martinique.
He was taken from his bed. placed
on mattress, having refused to put
on his clothes, and carried on stretch
err to the steamer, a distance Of more
than mile.
Castro complained Of great suffering
during this treatment and protested 10
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.
Official notice was served on Castro
Saturday morning of the decision OF
the French government that he must
leave the island within nine hours from
the receipt of such notice and that the
commissary of police at Fort de France
had been chargedY with the execution
of tine order.
The cx-President was furious with
Indignation, and strove throughout the
day TO iind seine excuse that would be
satisfactory to the colonial government,
whereby he would not be compelled to
obey the order.
TO this end late in the afternoon he
summoned a lawyer and physician to
certify that he was unable to leave the
CO ntr''
The Governor OF Martinique and the
=, or. however, refused an
extension of time, and about o'clock
..e cumrnissaly of police, accompanied
by large force Of gendarmes. pro-
ceeded to the hotel where Castro was
stopping, for the purpose of removing
him, forcibly il necessary, to the
steamer.
The affair created Il 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, 1.-The common enemy of
peace"
Castro, who. during his few days at
Fort lie France. has had very little
communication with anybody, locked
himself in his room, in company with
his brother Carmelo and his secretary,
and for a time refused to reply to the
summons of the police official. The po-
lice hestated to break in the door and
finally decided to submit the matter
again to Governor Foureau. The Gov
ernor absolutely refused to sanction
any delay and ordered that Castro be
removed at once by force of arms. He
also gave orders that the Versailles re-
main in port until Castro could be put
aboard.
1t 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 authorities, denouncing them
for forcing upon him the alternative
of deportation or Imprisonment for six
months.
He declared that he would not bulge
and that it would be necessary to take
him on board the steamer on a
stretcher. This the commssary of po-
lice prepared to do. but Castro's law
Yer found the chief justice and at the
very last moment. the governor and
public prosecutor decided to have an
other medical examination made.
Drs. Bowler Costet and Barbc con-
suited for more than half an hour, and
then agreed that the life OF the OK
President would not be ieopardized by
voyage across the ocean. The ply
sicians said that the former President
seemed to be quite as healthy as when
he left France on March 26.
At $50 a force Of gendarmcs placed
Castro on mattress, he refusing to
dress. and carried him on a stretcher
to the steamer. a distance of more
than mile The latter complained Of
great suffering and has prepared 4
protest. which will be sent to the
French government
The Versailles left here at 9 p. VI.
Saturday and measures have been
taken to keep q careful watch on Cas-
tro during the voyage. Tho colonial
government intends to put down any
sympathetic demonstration. Castro's
brother will remain here for the pres
ent. but it is thought that he will join
Sonora Castro at La Guayra, if she IS
permitted to land there.
The United States cruiser North
Carolina arrived here Saturday after
noon.
Copenhagen. April 1.-THE United
States has approached Denmark in the
matter Of permitting Ciprano Castro
to remain on the Danish West Indian
island Of ST Thomas. in case the cx-
President of Venezuela should proceed
there from Martinique.
~Ac-nNsc npn-Ec-