The Irish standard., 1913-03-08
A PIRATICAL ORIGIN
Thrilling Story Behind Discussion Of
Rights in Panama
Canal.


Behind all the dry discussion now
going on as to the relative rights of
The United States and Great Britain
in the Panama Canal controversy. says
the New York Herald there is one OF
the most interesting stories ever told,
Il story which carries one back nearly
three centuries to the days when some
Of the most picturesque deSperadoes
in the history Of the world made the
j Spanish main their stamping ground
and which endeavors TO show that
Great Britain's claims in the Canal
zone had their origin in piracy.
OF the thousands OF persons who
are trying to make up their minds
whether or not the United States
should consent TO arbitrate With Great
Britain the question OF tolls for the
new canal, only small percentage
lave taken the trouble to go back fur
thcr than the consummatjon of tn
Clayton Bulwer treaty in 1850 for
their ammunition. Those who go back
to 1855 or thereabouts the period when
piracy was rampant in the vicinity of
Panama and when Spain and Great
Britain were struggling to maintain the
| upper hand in that part of the world,
will find story With enough thrills
10 repay them for their trouble.
Early in the seventeenth century ri.
i rarH became extremely hazardous
along the Spanish main, owing to the
determination ofintcrested nations to
! stamp it out. Tho profitaoe pastime
Was no, abandoned altogether, despite
/ the vigilance Of the police that pa
! trolled that stretch Of water, the buc-
cancers plying their trade, under the
sulse Of dealing in logwood and ma
; 'ogany. They carried thousands of ia
maica negroes to the Mosquito coast to
cut the timber to strengthen the idea
! that they had abandoned their nefa-
rious calling. With their ships loaded
with mahogany they would go cruising
for unprotected merchant vessels, plum
| dering tine latter in the good old FASH
| Toned way and in a position to show
Il respectable cargo in case the sea
police grew suspicious and asked cues
tons.
The Jamaica negroes had a royai
time, many OF them intermarryins
with the Mosquito Indians and estab-
llshing homes. Rum flowed freely and
there was no lack of food, CLOTHING
and f1nerN, as every incoming pirate
ship added to the supply. When the
! authorities put an end to the Log.
wood industry the pirates abandoned
the colony and the Spanish govern
ment made arrangements to annex il.
Ihls meant an end to all the gay times
and return to savage simplicity, the
natives knowing the Catholic clergy
would make an effort to enforce tenn.
petance in the colony.
In their desperation the natives an
pealed 10 Great Britain to take them
under her protection and free them
from Spanish rule. The British ALL
! thorltles at Jamaica were quick to seize
The opportunity. They sent for the
chief OF the Mosquitoes, crowned him
king of the colony, dressed him up like
/; a circus performer and sent him back
In all his grandeur to rule the natives.
lie was the first OF long line of ma
1--WE rulers who became kings of the
Mosquito coast with the assistance OF
the British government
In 1870. says the Detroit News Trib.
une, the British government learned
that the Mosquito king reigning a,
that time was working hand in glove
with the Spanish government, and it
promptly kidnapped him and kept him
prisoner until his death.
/; From this time on Great Britain
made every effort to tighten her grip
on the Mosquito coast. newly
crowned king. controlled absolutely BY
one Macdonald, British onicial, went
to San Juan de Norte in a warship in
1871. Not long after. his arrival he
was joined by vessel flying the Mo-
| squlto flag. The. Nicaraguan COM
mandant. Colonel .Quijano, was notified
that he must recognize the sovereignty
OF the Mosquito king. On refusing, he
/ was kidnapped and forced to sign a
document recognizing the validity Of
the kings title. Nicaragua appealed
to European Powers. but her appeal
went unheeded.
Great eritain's desire to act foot.
hold in Niearasus was apparent 10