Omaha daily bee., 1911-08-20

once and the consul had succeeded in hav.
ing a file Of soldiers sent around the next
day to clean up the debris. The incident
was repeated and SiEsbee was sent down
to secure an apology from the national
government The admiral secured an au-
dience with the governor, to whom he made
vigorous representations of what the
United States demanded in reparation Of
the indignity. The official interpreter con-
slderably softened the emphatic language
Sigsbee employed and, turning to Nc
Masters, Sissbee demanded TO know II his
words were being translated correctly
"They are not" replied McMasters;
whereupon at the urgent demand OF Sigs-
bee. Vice Consul McMasters proceeded to
hand to the governor an accurate interpre-
tation Of the American demand. Due apol-
ogy was made
The Attack on His Life.
Occurrences like these had made the
faithful McMasters a target for the riot
GUS element OF the community and finally
a deliberate attempt on his life was made
He was shooting birds one day on a piecS
OF ground owned by him, using shotgun
when he heard a bullet whiz by his head
Looking up, he saw on the other side OF
the fence Mario Lara Cordoba, editor Of
Ell Padre Cobos, q local political sheet OF
a scurrious character.
You had better watch out; that shot
came pretty close to my head" sang out
McMasters.
Yes; that is what it was for" returned
Cordoba A colloquy followed in which
Cordoba, who was accompanied by Abelar-
do Barrera of the famous razor. welding
province OF Antioquia, demanded admission
to the premises for the purpose, he said, OF
proving that he had no revolver. McMa!s.
tiers refused to let him come over the fence
and the two men went off. I'VE know
where you llve." shouted Cordoba as he
disappeared Barrera, by the way, did moi
know McMasters, and was a stranger ir
Cartagena.
McMasters went home, taking the pre-
caution on the way TO leave his shotgun al
the house OF a friend. He changed from
his hunting suit to one OF white, and wa
passing from one room 20 another wher
Cordoba, who had come onto the sidewalks
outside the house. called to him to come
out McMasters, unarmed. stepped out &c
demonstrate with Cordoba, whom the editor
struck him over the head with a heavy
stick. McMasters grabbed the stick and
was wrestling with Cordoba when Barrera
whom he had not seen before, came up
behind him and gashed him with a razor.
inflicting serious wounds on his stomach
and face. McMAsters knocked Barrera
down and got the stick away from Cordoba
During this last scuffle he looked back and
Barrera was trying 70 rise and come at
him again with the razor. MoMasters
promptly quieted BarrerA with the club,
and as he did 80 Cordoba pulled a revolver
and fired. but not before the vice consul
was able to strike up his hand and send
the bullet into the air. Cordoba then
seemed 10 lose his nerve and turned and
ran, with McMAsters after him.; but the
blinded vice consul soon grew weak from
loss OF blood and gave up the chase. Nc
Masters was taken TO his home, where he
remained two months bandaged In bed.
No Lawyer Would Take Case.
This was on Sunday. The same evening
the police called and took his deposition
which he was too weak to sign, and listed
the statements OF a great many Witnesses
who had calmly looked on without attempt
ing to interfere. The excited witnesses
then told a straight story OF the assault
although later some OF them reversed
themselves during the trials. Monday
morning Consul Latham promptly laid thu
facts before Governor Jose osoro, who
was able 70 inform him that both the as
sailants had been arrested and who prom.
ised the consul that both would be punished