Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-06-05
NINE LAYER TAKEN At WORK
Boston Man in Employ Of Nicaraguan
Insurgents Captured.
TO BE TRIED BY CoURT.MARTIAI
Government Forces Defeated In Bat
tie Near Rama by General Menn
--Insnracnts Are Collect
ing Customs.

SAN JUAN DEL SUR. Nicaragua, june
I--William D. Pttham. the American who
laid the mines at Bluefields for the insur-
gents, was captured by the government
troops snd will be tried by court-martial
This was made known today following the
receipt by the government Of the details
of the capture Of Bluefields Bluff by the
forces Of President Madrlz.
The troops passed TO the assault over
five mines, only one Of which was exploded
Pittham was wounded and captured It is
said, he was engaged in operating the
- mechanism through which the hidden en-
gines Of destruction were released Pntham
formerly lived in Boston.
Government Troops Defeated.
BLUEFIELDS, June i.-Advices received
here state that the insurgent forces under
General Mena a Rama have defeated and
put. 10 flight the government troops com
manded by General Chavarria
Following the withdrawal of the NadrIz
forces from the vicinity of this city. Gem
eral Chamorro with 400 men was dispatched
TO Rama to reinforce General Mena. Gen
eral Chamorro arrived at Rama Thursday
morning and General Mena at once sent a
messenger TO the government headquarters
in the field offering Chavarria twelve hours
In which TO surrender or fight
In, reply Chavarria made a dash from a
fortified position on a hill close to Rama
with the object, it is said, OF escaping to
the interior.
When Mena learned that the enemy was
escaping he sent General Recreo with a
strong force to cut off its retreat. An en-.
gsgemeut followed and continued for three
hours, when the troops Of President Madri,
became thoroughly demoraiized and fled
in every direction, leaving their dead and
wounded on the field.
o.. Thursday evening Thomas p. Moffatt
the American consul issued a proclama-
tion declaring that vessels entering the
port of Bluefields must pay customs duties
to the government BEADED by General Es-
trada, the revolutionary leaders. Suisse
quenty the schooner Cage entered the har-
hor and was not lnterfered with by tine
government officers who are in possession
OF the customs house on Buefields bluff
The action of the United States in ruline
that the revolutionists may receive customs
duties has been received with enthusiasm
and it is considered a great victory for
General Estrada Its effect IL to rob the
government OF the fruits OF its capture OF
Bluefelds bluff and the customs house
which, after having been seized by the in.
sLrgents, were recently taken by the troop.
loyal to the administration of President
Madriz.
The American decision also destroys the
effectiveness OF the governments steamer
Venus, which is lying off Bluefields, but II
rendered impotent to aid President Madrii
In subdulng the rebellious troops on tn,
Atlantic coast
1t is believed here that General Mena hal
by this time surrounded and captured Cha
varra's army.
state Department Acts.
WASHINGTON, June 4,--The State de
partment has taken cognzance of tn,
Associated Press dispatches from San Juar
Del Sur, that William Plttham, the Amer
lean captured by the Madriz troops, woul,
be tried by court-martial. A telegram Il
the MadriS government is being sent stat
ing in effect that this government expect
fair and humane treatment for Pitthsm.