The Adair County news. [volume] (Columbia, Ky.) 1897-1987, 1914-08-19
WON ON HIS BLUFF
How an American Consul BROUGHT
a Dictator to Terms.
A THREAT AND A SURPRISE.

The Venezuelan Despot to Whom Uncle
Sans Official Had Issued a Comic
Opera ultimatum First Got on His
High Horse and Then Stepped Down.
A great many years ago Phil Hanna
was consul at La Guayra, Venezuela.
when little revolution broke out 4
military martinez In command Of tina
town announced himself dictator and.
needing money to carry on his activt-
ties, seized a bunch OF American, Eng
hsh and German residents In the place
and locked them in the town jail
They were Informed that they would
be released when they had made GER
tain cash contributions to the reyolu-
tonary wal chest.
Hanna was notified of the situa don,
and. looking up the consulate and leav-
ing an extra sized American flag hy-
ing. be marched up to the headquar-
tiers of the dictator.
'Mr. Dictator" said Hanna, Il note
that you have locked up a number Of
Americans. Permit me to introduce
myself as the American consul"
The dictator asked what interest that
fact had for him
1T signifies that 1 am here in the
name Of my government to demand
that these Americans be released In
stantly." replied Hanna.
Cant do thing for you" replied
the general. They've been told that
when they cough up they'll be turned
loose"
They'll be turned loose without
coughing and without delay" retorted
Hanna. Il desire, in the name Of my
government. to say that If the Ameri-
cans and all the European citizens
whom you have locked up are not re-
leased by 6 O'Clock this afternoon 7
shall proceed to shell the town"
ITO shell-what'l you shell 1t with7"
snorted the dictator. why, you
haven't an American ship within a
thousand miles, and you know it"
What I said" replied Hanna with
frozen faced dignity. was that If those
people are not released by 6 o'clock III
shell the town" And he marched out
again.
Hanna knew perfectly well that there
wasn't an American ship nearer than
New Orleans, and he knew the dictator
knew it But he had something up his
sleeve. He went back to his office and
waited patiently. meanwhile sending a
Nlorlr TO fhr - -.
things.
The day wore on to midafternOon.
Hanna was getting nervous. He must
make good somehow. At last bis mes
senger returned
Two British cruisers are coming into
the harbor. sir" he reported.
Il knew they were due today" 70
piled Hanna Now, you get word to
the commander about what we've done
here and tell him it's very important
for him to come and see me-"
At 5 o'clock that afternoon three very
Impressive officers In the uniform OF
the British navy came ashore and
marched straight to the American con-
sulate
oduud SlOuCueu OuI Oh us CHIT.
shook hands all round and explained
his scrape. The naval man wanted to
know how he could best serve the
necessities of the moment
'Just go back on shipboard and begin
clearing those vessels for action In
the most ostentatious way you cam"
replied Hanna. "I'll do the rest"
As soon as the necessary time had
elapsed to assure that these facts would
have duly impressed themselves on his
dictatorship Hanna started for the
palace again. He didn't have to wait
for admittance.
Have the American and European
prisoners been released?' he asked.
"rhey have not yet" replied the die
tator
Then permit me to say that at
o'clock sharp. as | mentioned this morn
ing. ! begin Smelling this town."
Where's your American shipsY per-
sisted the dictator
1.-The two British cruisers that have
entered the harbOr today are under my
orders" replied the American consul.
land Wen blow you and your town or
this coast before morning If you don't
perform. Do you get it?''
The dictator didn't know whether It
was bluff OF not. but at $50 O'Clock the
prisoners were turned loose
Hanna got promotion for the job
New York Sun.