Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-07
CAMP NIBLACK ESTABLISHED
Natives Delighted With Treatment
They Receive-Sleep in the Open.
Need No Guards.

Well a1ter MS commander. but tflat was a
second thought. after a big range of
steel rails had been improvised. a shelter
for the sailors provided and nothing else
was needed save the name and an Amer
lean flag.
When it suddenly decided by
Thomas p. Moffatt, the American consul.
that the increase Of the towns popula-
ton by 400 of the dirtiest human beings
in the world endangered the health of
Americans lei Bluff was chosen as a
camp for them. The bluff juts in be-
tween the sea some eight or ten miles
east of Bluefelds and a shallow lagoon.
Tall cocoanut palms, Wild banana trees
and giant cottonwoods provide sooth-
ing shade there is a spring of cold
water and the health-preserving trade
wind Of this latitude is almost constant
" felt.
Good Location for City.
1t is a better location for a city than
the site of Bluefields. and that city
would have moved there bag and bag
gage, some years ago. had not President
Zelaya interfered Most Nicaraguan
revolutions start at Ed Bluff for the
customs house is there, and all of them,
except the present one, have ended there.
Zelaya considered it Il good trap for bud
ding instructions and did not purpose
having IL spoiled with d city.
There Is no embarrassment of housing
and guarding the prisoners. They habit
ually sleep in the open, and all of the
Zelayas in Christendom could not drive
them from the smell of a savory pot.
The latter had to be provided. however.
and the Americans. in the five hours
given them for preparation, were equal
to the task.
Farweil was placed in command. as
sisted by Charles j. Lynn of Brooklyn,
Stn oyA
White Of Atlanta. Ga, chief cook Of the
Tacoma. transferred his activities to the
shore, and numerous jackies completed
the force.
meats. bread. beans. onions. sea biscuit
and other commissary gear were safely
slowed aboard the small boats and
landed.
aid From Custom House.
Halt a dozen obsolete railroad rails
were secured from the custom house Of
tcals. who lent every possible aid, and
soon eight pots were simmering with
rich, nutritive soup. Night had fallen
when the first batch of 200 prisoners
arrived. They were nearly starved.
There was a hopeful viva Americana
as the wretched, totterng prisoners Saw
the sailors moving about with lanterns
and Whites round, humorous face, in
the light of the fire. peering into his
pots and shifting critically at each.
Farwell served 100 rations of soup
that nIlht or about four quarts to eacn
prisoner. They would eat and then sleep
hour or Then back for more.
When day broke the outfit was for the
most part enjoying the miracle of I'M
limited food. Some who had eaten until
they could eat no more gaZed with looks
NJ envy and disappointment at their more
fortunate comrades. whose capacities had
not yet been satisfied.
Camp Niblack more than kept pace
with the work piled on 1t as new patches
Of prisoners arrived. Zinc roofing was
OBTAINED from provisional government Of
fcials to protect four rusty cook stoves
which Farwell unearthed in Buefields,
so that the cooking might proceed in any
weather. tent was erected to cover
the stores and ropes strung to keep the
prisoners in line while their soup was
passed out to them. Indiscriminate feed
ing was replaced by three regular ra-
tons daily, and the prisoners were made
10 wash their own dishes They would
have allowed the sailors TO do this for
them. but Farwell drew the line
Guarding Water Supply.
The spring from which drinking water
is drawn lies half mile from the cook S
camp and Farwell at first tried to make
the prisoners fetch it. The first squad,
and a guard sent to investigate found
the Zelayans bathing in the pool. They
were relieved of this duty and a guard
placed over the supply. Farwell was un-
able to make them forage for firewood
until he hit on the plan of a ration of
conee for each bundle of fagots. That
solved the fuel problem
The prisoners, on the surface at least,
are far inferior to the Indians of the east
coast II Is TO be remembered. however.
inc
weeks of starvation in the bush and ap-
peared at their worst. singularlty
noted among them was their desire for
sait. !hey asked for ii so often that
arweil now Keeps an open box of il
where any one can get all he wants The
prisoners take ii by the handful and
walk about eating 1t like a lot of sheep.
W men the ship with the Red Cross sup
plies arrived few days ago the Door
bushmen indeed opened their eyes There
was conee for ali. condensed milk tea
'they had never heard of teal, meat, tin
ned goods of all sorts. beans, rice-a
Neritable dream OF feasting.
Estrada Issues Proclamation.
Provisional President Estrada today is
sued proclamation to the people OF
Nicaragua outlining the platform on
which he intends to govern the country.
lie merely hints at a project which he
has discussed more fully in interviews,
namely, the dissolution of the standing
army. In the proclamation he expresses
the desire TO forego armed peace" but
ms ideas on the subject are fully de-
Veioped. Ii Is his expressed purpose to do
away with a standing army and to main
tain small police force to secure IN
divldual good order
The proclamation is begun with the
dectafat.Un ln.ft the triui PHI of the
revolution may be regarded as ac-
romplIshed. Il DESIRE Estrada saws ITO
turn swords and rifles into plows and
tools for the cultivation OF our fields, the
exploitation of our mines. the construc-
ton OF railroads With the assistance OF
the patriots Of Nicaragua, peace at home
and abroad will be maintained, and we
will be able to forego the armed peace,
confident that correct, just and equitable
demeanor will always eliminate the dan
gers Oh war ana disorder
lie announces he will strive TO main
tain the solidarity OF Central America
by intimate and loyal relations with the
other Central American nations"
The provisional president pledges his
efforts to secure a tightening of the
burdens of the laboring classes 4 restora
ton of the properties illegally confis.
lated by the former government. the
abolition of monopolies. an untrammeled
judiciary and substantial encourageme
"f public education. agriculture and COM
merce.
Abandon Hope of Intervention.