The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-11-24
WARSH|pS SENT TO NICARAGUA.
TWO AMERICANS REPORTED
CAPTURED AND EXECUTED.
President Taft Greatly IncenseF OH
Hearing the News and Decline to
Have Any Communication With the
New Nicaraguan MinSter--NIen Are
Said to Have Been i'm the Insurgent
Army-TwO Ships Speeding to Mic
araSuau.

ceed to Nicaraguan waters, and Pres
ident Taft has postponed indefinitely
his meeting pf Isfdore Hazera, the
new minister from Nicaragua to this
country, as the result of news receiv-
ed here to the effect that two Amri-
cans, Leonard Grace and Leroy Can
non, captured while serving with the
revolutionists' army in Nicaragua,
have been sentenced to death by
President Zelaya's orders, and it is
believed that sentence has already
been carried out.
Orders have been issued for the cru
sier Vicksburg to proceed in all haste
to Corinto. and the gunboat Des-
Moines will proceed at once to Port
Idmon to observe events there and
report the situation at that point by
wirless.
The news as to the two Americans
reached the State department last
night from the American Consul at
Managua, who stated that their cap
ture had been followed almost imme-
diately by death sentence.
The consul Immediately appealed
to President Zelaya to commute their
sentences, and his answer was: I
will see." Later, on further appeal,
Zelaya said that "the sentence was
final"
A dispatch received today at the
State department is to the effect that
the men have undoubtedly been exc
cuted. Upon this information, the
Secretary Of State asked the Secre-
tary Of the Navy to order the Vicks-
burg to proceed in all haste to Co.
rinto for the purpose of protecting
Americans and American interests.
The DesMoines was also ordered to
proceed to Port Limon at top speed
for the same purpose. These vessels
will be in constant communication by
wireless with the State department
The DesMoines, now at Colon, can
reach Port Limon within ten hours,
steaming under forced draught. The
Vicksburg is on the Pacific coast at
San Jose de Guatemala, nearly two
hundred miles from the Nicaraguan
coast and will be able to reach Corin-
to at about the same time the Des-
Molnes arrives at Port Limon.
The brutality of the Nicaraguan
government In ordering the execution
OF these two Americans, who happen
ed to be found in the revolutionists
army without trial of any sort. is like
ly to result in this government TAX
ing drastic measures to prevent a re-
petition Of 1t, and President Zelaya
Will be held to strict accountability
for his action.
president Taft upon receipt of the
news was so incensed that he imme-
diately stated that he would have no
communication whatever with the
new Nicaraguan minister. That off,
ciaA was promptly so informed.
At the Nicaraguan legation it was
stated that no news Of the execution
OF the two Americans had been re-
ceived.
Nothing is known at the State de-
partment Of the antecedents Of Leon
ard Grace. who is reported to have
been shot by order Of President Zela-
va, but the other American, Leroy
Cannon, seems to have had an un-
usual career in Central America
Some years ago he went to Central
America and since then his name has
figured prominently in revolutions in
those countries. During his career he
has been arrested a number of times
and tried for heading raids and on
several occasions has narrowly escap-
ed a death sentence. 1t is alleged.
The action Of this government in
sending the two warships into Mica
rauguan territory Is not to be regard
ed as a warlike demonstration against
that country. These vessels will re-
port developments in Nicaragua as
promptly as possible and will not as.
sumo a belligerent attitude except in
case Of extreme need.
Th State department has already
taken steps to ascertain all Of the
material facts connected with the
capture and supposed execution of
cannon and Grace and when this in
formation is received the government
VIII take such action as the case may
warrant.