The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-06-10
GOVERNOR IS
KIDNAPPED IN
ISLAND RAID
Mob RuSheS on Capital,
Captures Arms and
Steals Ship.
LIKE PIRATES OF OLD
Holland RuSheS WaTShipS to
Its West indian
Territory.
BB JHficd Press

By Jnttcd Press
WILLEMSTAD, Island Of Cura-
Goa, Dutch West Indies, June 10
The governmental machinery of two
nations was put into operation to-
day in an effort to run down the
perpetrators of the most daring
flibustering expedition seen on this
island of adventure in half CEN
tury.
The American consulate has re-
quested that United States
gunboats be dispatched here to aid
in running down an armed band of
men who on Saturday night, in the
manner of pirates of old, abducted
the governor of the island the chief
of the military organization, cap
tured great supplies of guns, gun
powder and ammunition, seized an
American owned ship and forced its
captain to sail for the mainland.
Fort Is Captured
The populous town of WiIlemstad
on the Dutch island of Curacao was
invaded Saturday night by the raid
ers, whose numbers were variously
estimated at from 200 to 500.
They assaulted Ft. Amsterdam,
the chief defense of the city, over
powered the small garrison, killing
at least two men and wounding sew
eral, and seized large supply of
arms and munitions, apparently
their objective.
Next they captured the Governor,
Dr.. Fruytier, the military COM
mander and several soldiers, who
they carried along as hostages.
The sleeping town, awakened by
the shots, remained under cover as
the band marched to the water
front, stopping at the jail long
enough to free all prisoners.
At the locks, they boarded the
American steamer Maracaibo, which
lay with steam up being due to
leave for New York shortly.
The raiders took over the ship,
their numbers preventing any ef-
fective resistance, and ordered Cap
tain A. T. Morris to sail for the
mainland.
Release Ship Captain
1t appeared certain, however, that
the raiders debarked on the Vene-
zuelan coast, short distance away,
landed their arms and ammunitions
and allowed Captain Morris to re-
turn to WillenStad at 7 8, m. Sun
day, having been gone since a. m,
the Dutch government Was advised.
The Dutch government has taken
prompt action. The cruisers
Hertzog, Hertog Henrik and three
destroyers we're ordered to leave
Amsterdam for this port. The cruis-
er Kortenaer was sent last night
from Helder, Holland Immediately
after receiving news Of the raid. The
Dutch governor Of Paramarlbo,
Dutch Guiana, also was understood
| to have sent warShips.
The Dutch foreign minister in an
interview at The Hague belittled
the possibility Of conflict with Vene-
zuela, however. holding tat the
Venezuelan government io not re-
SpOnSible.
Famous for Liquor
Curacao. one of the few islands
of the Caribbean remaining Of the
once great Dutch colonial empire,
has been famous for deeds of piracy
for three centuries. 1t has long
been a favorite refuse for political
fugitives from South American
countries, especially Venzuela.
Its nearness to the peninsula Of
Paraguana, a long tongue Of land
projecting from the Venezuelan
mainland has made it also a con-
venient gathering place for those
who wish to launch instructions IN
that country. Such expeditions were
made famous by Richard Harding
Davis. whose white Mice was
typical story of plotting and revolt
engineered from Willemstad.
Curacao is famous for the liquor
named after it, but now has more
commercial importance because the
largest petroleum refinery in the
world. belonging to Royal Dutch
| Shell is at Willemstad.
Island Is Important
The raiders were reported to have
been working at the oil refinery,
evidently coming to the island in
that guise and planning their coup.
The Dutch government was advised
that the oil works were undam-
aged in the raid.
The island is forty miles long and
is forty miles from Venezuela. Its
population on Jan. l, 1927 was 3d.
| 7Sl, of whom 1889 live in Willem-
stad. The garrison at that time con-
sisted of fonr officers and seventy
one men.
The Importance of Curacao and
the other islands Of its group is seen
in the fact that 6,8l7 ships visited
the islands IN 1926.
Mrs. Ida Trieb Dies