New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-11
BY HORSE AND BOAT
HE FLED VENEZUELA
Dr.. Leopold BaptiSta, Former
Secretary General, Arrives
Here from Curacao.
.ELUDES GOVERN MENT SPIES
Became Exile Because His
Views on French Protocol
Clashed with Those of
President Gomez.

4
mer high officials OF Venezuela who were
compelled to flee or be imprisoned arrived
| in this city Yesterday Under the admin
! istrations Of Presidents Castro and Gomez
! Or. BaptiSta held the highest offices. He
arrived here in the steamer Caracas from
Curacao. where he took refuge when he
| learned he was to be imprisoned.
DR.. Baptista is different from most po-
| ltiCal eNiles in two respects. He has a
sense of humor and he RETAINED from in
dulging in eXtravagant criticism Of the
government he left behind. He only eX-
pressed hope that there would soon be a
change for the better in his country.
New York is a busy city said DR..
| Baptista. but IL is more tranquil for me
just now than Caracas would be"
| DIR. Baptistas break with President
Gomez. in whose administration he had
held the office of Secretary General, came
about through his disapproval Of the
! French-Nenezuelan protocol. the purpose
| of which was the settlement Of the ques-
tons between those two countries. Dr.
! Baptista vigorously opposed the approval
Of the protocol on the ground that it was
| against Venezuelan interests. He was
| supported by majority Of the Council
but the protocol was signed by the Presi-
| dent and now DR. Baptista and General
| Francisco L. Alcantara. formerly Min
lister Of Interior, are in exile. General
Alcantara is in Curacao and General
Juan Pablo Penalosa is practically a
| prisoner in his home in Caracas, with
soldiers constantly on guard
! DR. Baptista shrank yesterday from
using the word revolution" and refused
10 discuss General Cipriano Castro, his
| former chief Reluctantly he told about
| his escape from his country while the
police and soldiery were watching his
| movements. He had received word OF
what to expect. His first move was to
leave Caracas for Maracay, about seven
| ty-two miles. by train. 4 company in
which he is interested has its offices al
Maracay, and he remained there five
days.
on one side OF his Office were the police
| headquarters and on the other the mill
tary barracks. Both had orders to watch
| him. and although he knew he was
watched he moved about freely as though
unaware OF it. When he had made his
preparations he went 10 his farm. known
as Barbula, 10 wait for a break in the
vigilance lie had not long TO walt Arm
| ing himself with revolver, he mounted a
horse and started for the coast. Several
| times he had 10 hide lest he be inter
cepted.
After ten hours in the saddle ne
| ~. a
boatman with whom he had arranged
The sailboat was one of the many little
junks with a single sail, and for two
nights and a day he sailed the Caribbean,
the waves buffeting the little craft about
There were sufficient food and water on
board, and DR.. Baptista, who is a better
lawyer than sailor, drank the water. The
skipper Of the boat ate the food. Or.
Baptista offered up prayer when he ar
rived at Curacao.
DR.. Baptista left his wife and Ave sons
! in Caracas. and there is no certainty
when he will again be able to see them. II
ever. To fully appreciate the great
change in the condition OF the refugee. II
should be known that under President
Castro he was Minister OF the Interior,
Minister OF Public Works and president
OF the State Of TruJllo. He hes been a
Senator and deputy also For seventeen
months during the reorganization OF the
government DR. Baptista was secretary
general 10 Gomez, considered in Nenez-
| uea the most powerful Office outside OF
the Presidency. on the establishment OF
the constitutional period OF the Gomez
regime he became member Of the Coun-
| Gil OF Government.
| Il am on my way to Europe for my
| health" said DR.. Baptista yesterday, but
there were no outward indications that
! ne needed immediate medical attention.
In fact, he is going 10 stay here a while
before he sails for Europe
| on the pier were several OF his friends
| There were one or two others there also
who wanted TO be friendly with him. but
| Or. Baptista would make no new &C
quaintances. One Of thsse same men at
tached himself 10 General Castro when
he came here about six months ago. much
to the annoyance OF the general, who had
difficult time in getting rid OF him. This
man is believed TO be in the pay Of the
Venezuelan government
"The political situation Of Venezuela,
said DR.. Baptista. has grave outlook.
| Everything depends on the form that VIII
be observed in carrying out the elections
and the freedom TO be extended to the
| people in connection Herewith. Much
depends on the attitude that the govern
ment will assume
THE Presidential elections will he held
in September, but the candidates have not
yet been announced"
The steamer Caracas also brought ad-
vices yesterday that the supporters OF
General Castro stll hope for his return
TO make an attempt to get back TO the
! Presidency. The government is much
concerned over the report that Castro has
disappeared from Europe and has made
| unsuccessful efforts TO ascertain his
whereabouts. This. coupled with reports
OF the landing OF rifles in lots Of 200 to
900 presumably from Europe. has caused
much uneasiness in official circles, II is
said.