The Washington times., 1913-07-11
VENEZUELAN TELLS
OF ELUD|NG SPIES
Escape of Former Secretary
:, General Accomplished by
p Dash With Horse and Boat.

NEW YORK, July 11.-Dr. Leopoldc
Baptista, first Of the former high Of
ficials Of Venezuela who were compelled
to fee or be imprisoned, has arrived
in this city. He came in the steamer
Caracas from Curacao, where he took
refuge when he learned he was to be
imprisoned.
DR.. Baptista is different from most
political exiles in two respects. He has
a sense of humor and he refrained from
fndulgfng in extrayagant criticism of
. the government he left behind. He only
expressed hope that there would soon
be change for the better in his coun-
New York is a busy CITY," said DR..
Baptista, but it is more tranquil for
me Just now than Caracas would be-"
DR.. Baptista's break with President
Gomez. in whose administration he had
held the office of secretary general,
came about through his disapproval of
the French Venezuelan protocol, the
purpose of which was the settlement of
the questions between those two coun-
tries DR.. Baptista vigorously opposed
the approval of the protocol on the
ground that it was against Venezuelan
interests. He was supported by a ma
jority Of the council, but the protocol
was signed by the President and now
Dr. Bapusta and Gen. Francisco L. AL
are In exile. General Alcantara is in
Curacao and General Juan Pablo Pena-
losa is practically a prisoner in his
home In Caracas. with soldiers con-
stantly on guard.
Tells of Escape.
DR.. Baptista shrank yesterday from
using the word revolution" and re-
fused to discuss Gen. 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
seventy-two miles. by train. A company
in which he is interested has its offices
at Maracay, and he remained there five
days.
On one side Of his office were the po-
lice headquarters and on the other the
military barracks. Both had orders to
watch him, and although he knew he
was watched. he moved about freely,
as though unaware of if. When he lad
made his preparations he went to his
farm, known as Barbula.' To wait for
break in the vigilance He had not long
TO wait Arming himself with a revolver,
he mounted a horse and started for the
coast Several times he had to hide lest
he be intercepted.
Boat In Waiting.
After ten hours in the saddle, he
reached the coast and found waiting a
boatmsn, 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 Carib-
bean, the waves buffeting the little craft
about There We're sufficient food and
water on board, and DR.. Baptista, who
is o better lawyer than sailor, drank
the water. The skipper Of the boat ate
the food DR.. Baptista offered DIP
prayer when he arrived at Curacao.
DR. Baptista left his wife and five SONS
in Caracas, and there is no certainty
when he will again be able to see them,
IL 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 Trujillo. He has been a
senator and deputy also. For seven
teen months during the reorganization
OF the government DR.. Baptista was sec
refery general to Gomez, considered in
Venezuela the most powerful office out
side of the presidency. On the estab-
lishment of the constitutional period OF
the Gomez regime he became a member
OF the council Of government.
Il am on my way to Europe for my
health,'' said DR.. Baptista, but there
were no outward indications that he
needed immediate medical attention. In
fact, he is going to stay here a while
before he sails for Europe.