The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-19
SUSPICIOUS MOVE
 OF FORMER GUNDOAT
Vessel May Be Going to Mica
 ragua or to Mexico
IS LOADING WITH COAL
Orleans Deny Any Knowledge of the Destination of the
 vessel


 United States gunboat Hornet, now ly- Ing In the Mississippi river at this city. Is making hurried preparatons to clear at 10 a. m. tomorrow for Central Amercan waters. She is being closely watched by | United States marshals. Representatives In Central American circles here say she is to aid in a revolution started in Hon duras by former President Bonilla. The vessel has been hurriedly loading coal and provisions and has signed a crew for 90 days. She is expected to clear to- morrow morning at 10 o'clock under com- mand of Capt, C. Johnson. The Hornet has taken aboard 200 tons of coal and provisions enough to last for 30 days.
 That the visit here of Dr. Salvador Cas- trino, former minister general to Wash inston from Nicaragua, has something to do with the nasty clearing of the Hornet was the report here. but this he emphat- ica1ly denied tonight.
 It is rumored that the visit of former President Bonilla to New Orleans several weeks ago was for the purpose of secur- ing suitable craft that would be of | assistance to him in striking a blow at the Davila government. The vessel, according to her captain, will clear for Cape Gracias in ballast, | with a crew of six firemen, four sailors and several officers. At the time of Pres ident Bonilla's recent visit the Hornet was owned by Q New Orleans firm which | bought the boat from the government last year. It was about this time that the ves- sel vas purchased by MT. Beer, who owns | five schooners in the Central American l trade.
 Repairs were started at once on tho | Hornet and she has been put In trim shape. She is to take the place of the schooners in the trade, according to her | owner, although he claimed that the Hornet is subject to sale. either before | she clears this port or after she reaches | Central American waters. | For some time past 1t has been rumored | that President Estrada of Nicaragua would lend his assistance to Bonilla | should the latter strike. It Is also re- | ported that Gen. Lee Christmas Is on | the deal and he is expected to take an active part in the promised revolution. | The attention of federal officers was called to rumors in commercial circles here that the Hornet was to take part | in a pending revolution several days ago and United States Marshal Victor Loisel
 with a force of deputies has kept close watch on the vessel since.
 So far no violation of the federal law I has been detected.
 pr. Castrillo tonight made the follow ing statement to the Associated Press:
 "I was detained in New Orleans by | financial matters and slight illness and
 will leave in the morning for Wash ington.
 q came by way of New Orleans from | Nicaragua because it was the shortest
 route and my stay here has had noth- | f,,z. +o flo xutf ha taJ | pending Honduran revolution. "I know absolutely nothing of the re- port that the Hornet Is to sail tomorrow
 morning, and I am in no way interested l in her sailing should she clear this pQft
 ''PSease say for me that I know noth- ing whatever of any impending revolu- | tion in Honduras"
 At the same hour Manuel Bonilla, for mer President of Honduras, declared most emphatically that he had no knowledge of the intended movements of the Hor- | net.
 "If the Hornet has sailed or is prepar- | ing to sail" he said, ''you cannot make 1 1t too plain that it is not in the interest of General Bonilla. The report that the Hornet Is connected with a revolutionary | movement which I am to lead is abso- | lute1y false."
 | A report gained currency late tonight | that the Hornet was sold Friday after | noon to a representative of the Mexican insurrectos, and would be fitted out with guns at point on the Mexican coast l at or near San Fernando. l It is known that an agent of the Mex | ican revolutionists has been comforting | here with General Christmas. Gen Lee Christmas, the American sol 1 dier of fortune, gave a statement to the Associated Press at midnight in which he
 denied any knowledge of the destination
 of the Hornet or any revolutionary move | ment in which the vessel Is involved