The Washington times., 1913-12-26

MANAOS, Brazil, Dec. pa motor
launch has arrived here with refugees
from the rubber colony of, the Territori
de Amazona, Venezuela, telling of II;
murders there in the last few months
and confirming stories Of atrocities
brought here by Michael ]. Gilleran, an
American refugee. who had been Or
dered to be shot and who escaped in q
canoe making the trip here through
several hundred miles OF the Rio
Negro.
The refugees arriving here now tell
of reign of terror and anarchy N the
rubber colony, where r. rebel force has
teen organized under General Gonzales
and where all who are suspected of
being opposed to him are shot down
The latest crimes include the murder
of eight women and four young girls
in the rubber territory between San
Fernando de Atabapo, on the Orinoco,
and San Carlos de Rio Negro. These
women and girls had no chance to
escape, and il is believed here that
they were put to death because il was
feared that they would escape from
the colony and spread to the world the
news of the horrors being committed
there daily. 1t also is believed that they
were members of the families of men
who already had been murdered.
This condition of anarchy and murder
has been brought to the attention Of
President Gomez. of Venezuela but no
troops have been sent 10 oppose the
rebels, who are looting the territory
and sacrificing many lives.
Mr.. Gilleran, who was u resident of
the rubber colony for twelve years,
and who had his own plantation on the
Negro, escaped from jail, where he had
been condemned to death because he
y -nI Il.
the province. who was murdered, and
made the long and perilous journey
down the Rio Negro to this place. This
city, of about fifty Thousand population
Is the nearest communication with the
rubber colony of Southern Venezuela
The colony, of which San Fernando is
the seat of government, cr misgovern-
nent, may be reached only by boat on
the Rio Negro or by steamboat on the
Crinoco to the falls, sixty miles below
San Fernando. thence by pack mules
Il is completely isolated from the rest
of the world.
Indians Are Made Saves.
Until rubber was found there. about
forty-fve years ago, the Indians, form
Ing the native population, were free
and independent, but since then most of
them are said to have become slaves
of the merchants who have piled in
there in search of rubber. Under a law
Of the colony a native Indian becomes
slave of the person to whom he owes
money. These rubber merchants have
gone into the territory with goods to
attract the desires of the Indians. have
sold on credit, until now almost every
Indian is slave. it is charged owing
from 500 TO S,!A9. which they have no
chance to pay off, and therefore look
forward to condition Of slavery for
lie.
''hese traders and slave holders are
the ruling element in the colony, the
refugees say, AMI their most formidable
UeapoE has been murder. -Four COVER
nors sent from Caracas in the last
twelve years have been murdered be-
cause they tried to collect port duties on
rubber and because they opposed the
Iaw-essness of the rubber traders and
slave owners
The most atrocious murder was that
on May last of Gen. Roberto Pulido
and twenty-six other men and bows AT
san Fernando. Mr. Gilleran tells a
thriiiing story of this butchery
General Pulido was appointed COVER
nor by President Gomez a few months
before he said. The traders waited
he told them he would accept no brib-
e-y, that the export taxes would have
10 be paid and that the lawlessness
must cease. From that minute he was a
ni.G ked man, as was Cen Antonio Va
reDa, whom President Gomez had sent
70 ne colony in charge of customs. Cen
eIal Varelia also resisted the demands
of the merchants ad traders. and he
was condemned with the governor.
Traders Kill Twenty-Seven.
On May s, last, General PuIido ar
rived at San Fernando and announced
tnat ne was there to collect the export
taxes on rubber. Only a few of the
oeuer class Of traders called on him