The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-30
AMERICAN GUARD OPPOSES REBELS IN CASTILLA RIOT
Guns And Ammunition Taken From St;p At
 Mobile

MOBILE Ala. July 29.-(Special Leased Wire. .)-While the federal dis trict attorneys office here began an in- vestigation of 5000 rounds of ammuni- ton and a number of guns and reyol- vers on the steamship Norma, eight passengers, who arrived aboard the yes- sel from Puerta Castilla, reported de tails of a tropical political upstir, in which several Jamiacan laborers were cut to pieces in tine strt ,ts and an armed guard of Americans was formed against depredatiOns by the revolution ists.
 The Norma is on charter to the United Fruit company and arrived here carly this afternoon with cargo of bahamas and cOcoanuts. Capt. l.. K. GabrielSen turned over the guns and ammunition to custom inspectors and reported they were found on the ship out of New Orleans It was be- livered they were destined for use in the revolution. A presidential order, prohibiting the shipment of arms to Honduras was issued some time ago, and the office of the federal district attorney immediately began an inveS- tigatiOn of the loading of the contra band, which apparently was done at New Orleans by agents of the revolu- tiOn, without the knowledge of ship of ficials.
 Oppose Foreign Labor
 With the e0nfiscatiOn of the arms, there came the first detailed informa- tion of what was termed a nasty furry" by natives in an effort to drive all foreign labor from the country.
 Armed forces of the Blues" po- litical faction now in power, marched through the streets of Castilla, accord the passengers of the Norma, brandish- ing guns and machetes, and threaten ing every foreign labOFer.
 Jamacians left the country on every outgoing schooner and vessel, he said, and an armed guard of Americans were formed to patrol the negro section of the town. Fires were lighted in the fields of the banana plantations, ac- cOrding to Mir. Parsons, causing great losses to the fruit crop. No attempt was made against the lives of Ameri- cans, Mir. Parsons said, but it was only diplomacy of the United States con stilar authorities and officials of the United Fruit company that prevented great blood shed.
 Jamaeians MObbed
 Demonstrations were carried on by the reVOIutiOnists with high enthusiasm, Mir. Parsons reported, and several Ja- macians were mObbed and cut to pieces in the streets. Telegraphic reports of the outbreak said the negroes were kill ed for the murder of a HOnduran, but according to reports from the ship to- day, labor conditions have long been an issue in the tropics, and the natives are anxious to get rid of foreigners who are given preference for employ ment, on account of their great abil ity. It was reported today foreigners were allowed to compete with native labor by the Reds" depOsed political faction, and the Blues" are attempt ing to put them out.
 Mir Parsons said. "I have seen many outbreaks among the natives. but this was the nastiest furry of them all" He has lived in the tropics for 26 years.
 Among the passengers who arrived here today were: Thomas K. BlOunt, James COwaFt and wife, Mir. Parsons and wife and Sidney H. Parsons, IT,, George H. -TarletOn and Charles P. JesSup.