Foreign Relations of the United States, 1894, Nicaragua (Mosquito Territory)

No. 81.
Mr. Braida to Mr. Uhl.

Consulate of the United States,
San Juan del Norte, July 23, 1894. (Received August 6.)

Sir: I beg to transmit you herewith a report which I received last night from our consular agent at Bluefields.

I include copy of Commander O’Neil’s note of July 14, addressed to the captains and owners of ships under the flag of the United States trading in these waters; copy and translations of Gen. R. Cabezas’s note to the United States consular agent and to the British vice-consul at Bluefields, declaring the chief, Robert Henry Clarence, and all those who participated in the last uprising, rebels, and that they shall be judged according to martial law by a military court. Declaring the district of Siguia (Mosquito included) in a state of siege.

Chief Clarence’s note to Consular Agent Mr. B. B. Seat, notifying him of the appointment of four members (two Americans and two Englishmen) to fill the vacancies in the executive council. These gentlemen are very respectable people.

I have to report that Her Britannic Majesty’s guuboat Mohawk arrived here yesterday noon, bringing dispatches to the consul and bound for Bluefields. I received several letters from people at that place, all stating that they will defend their homes against whatever attack by the Nicaraguans.

Six protests were filed at the United States agency at Bluefields about General Cabezas’s stopping the steamers, tugs, and other ships in the fruit trade, retaining them at Rama, which caused a great loss of bananas prepared for export. I also have to report the wreck of the American steamer Geo. Sealy, one of the fruit traders, on a reef near old Providence, July 11, A. C.

I beg to remain, etc.,

S. C. Braida,
United States Consul.

P. S.—The governor of Grey Town expects troops from the interior, intended to be sent to Bluefields, and makes all preparations for their shipment.

[Inclosure 1 in No. 81.]

Mr. Seat to Mr. Braida.

United States Consular Agency,
Bluefields, Nicaragua, July 16, 1894.

My Dear Sir: I have the honor to report herewith that on Saturday, the 14th instant, there were presented at this office several written protests against the seizure and detention of certain steam tugs, boats, and barges, the property of American residents, by order of Gen. Rigoberto Cabezas, as commissioner, etc., at Rama,

The said protests were made by Mr. Thomas Waters, agent of the Blueflelds Banana Company, Mr. A. B. Orr, representing the firm of Orr & Laubenheimer, and Mr. Burke, tally agent for Messrs. Brown & Harris, Copies of the said protests are herewith inclosed.

Authenticated copies of the said protests were immediately forwarded to Captain O’Neil, commander of the U. S. war ship Marblehead, and also to Lieutenant Bowman, commanding detachment of United States marines at Bluefields.

On Sunday, the 15th instant, the fruit steamer Hispania steamed up the Rio Escondido, having in tow the steam launch of the Marble-head, with Captain O’Neil himself on board, and boat’s crew (marines) and one Gatling gun.

The Hispania, with the said launch in tow, arrived at the wharf at Rama about 6 o’clock p.m.

Captain O’Neil went on shore, and after a brief interview with General Cabezas, the steam tugs, barges, etc., were released. Captain O’Neil remained in Rama during the night and returned to Bluefields this evening.

The steam tugs also came down from Rama, five of them. The river steamer Hurdy is also here, tied up at the wharf, and will probably make no more trips up the river until an adjustment of the troubles is effected.

The steamship Nicaragua went up the river this morning, the 18th, but will not go to. Rama, and will get her cargo from the lower river.

The commerce of the place has been so disastrously affected that the fruit on most of the plantations is rotting, and the laborers refuse to take employment on the upper river and its tributaries, claiming that they are afraid of violence at the hands of the Nicaraguans.

Very little communication is now maintained between the town of Bluefields and Rama. Nearly all American families on the river have come down to Bluefields in order to avail themselves of the protection afforded by the presence of the American marines now on shore at Bluefields. The town is patrolled at night by a strong police guard, supplied by the local authorities—that is, Clarence and his crowd.

The foreign residents also keep out a watch for their own protection, in order not to be taken by surprise.

July 19.—Mr. A. B. Orr has just arrived from Rama and reports all quiet and no apparent movement indicating an attack on Bluefields.

Yours, sincerely,

B. B. Seat,
United States Consular Agent.

[Inclosure 2 in No. 81—Translation.]

General Cabezas to the American and British consuls at Bluefields.

In the River Escondido, At—, On the afternoon of the 12th day of July, 1894.

The members of the provisional council being congregated by order of its president for to deliberate on the events that occurred from the 5th to the 8th of July, it is manifest that having absolute occupation, imposed by the circumstances we nominate to restore them Mr. D. H. Thomas, who was called immediately to take possession of his place, and there under his presidency was opened for discussion, having in sight the proclamation of Mr. Robert Henry Clarence, in which he reassumes the command of the Mosquito Reserve, from which he was despoiled by the Supreme Government, and by an expressed consent, celebrated between the commissioner and Her Britannic Majesty’s consul.

This act, outside of being flagrant usurpation of authority, is illegal, because various crimes center thereon:

That of lese sovereignty, because the multitudes ran through the streets, grasping rifles, and keeping up a continual fire on the palace of the Nicaraguan Government, which lasted from 9 p.m. until 4 a.m. of the 6th instant; the discharges and mutinous clamor and outcry disturbed profoundly the order, and they imposed by their violence a dangerous uneasiness to all the peaceable citizens in the city.

That of disrespect to the sovereignty, intimidating the representative of the Republic and military chief of the coast, causing him to yield.

That of assassination, committed on the soldiers of the Republic who were in charge of a piece of artillery on the bluff, and who, taken by surprise, were killed.

The basis of the usurper government rests in blood, and this Government, viewing all the detestable characters of the crime of high treason, in virtue thereof, all their acts are void of effect, and considering that it is necessary to provide measures of repression until the Supreme Government resolves that suitable, the legitimate constituted provisional council agrees to declare:

(1) That all dispositions or acts emanating from Robert Henry Clarence or his council will be null and void.

(2) Disauthorizing all those factious employees from receiving or delivering rents or taxes of the reserve or contracting obligations in its name.

(3) Declaring accomplices to the crime of rebellion all those that loan their help or serve under the regime rising from the parties of force and blood, committed on the night of 5th and 6th of July.

The present decree, together with the acts of this session, will be forwarded in copy to the commissioner of the Republic, who will present them to the Supreme Government and to the American and-English consuls resident in Bluefields.

• Denis H. Thomas.
• Jesús Monterey.
• Narciso Barberenó.
• Oscar Lacayo.
• H. G. Higley.
• Aubert,
  Secretary.

This is a true translation.

S. C Braida,
United States Consul.

[Inclosure 3 in No. 81.]

decree.

Rigoberto Cabezas, inspector-general of the Atlantic Coast and governor for the district of Siguia, considering that the public peace in Blueflelds has been disturbed by an armed rebellion, that it is the duty of this authority to anticipate the best way for the maintenance of order, and for the security of my associates, and by use of the faculties of which I am invested—

(1) I declare the district of Siquia in a state of siege.

(2) That all common crimes or faults during the time martial law is in force shall be judged by a military court.

Given in Rama this 12th day of July, 1894.

Communicate.

R. Cabezas.

This is a true translation.

S. C. Braida,
United States Consul.

[Inclosure 4 in No. 81.]

Chief Clarence to Mr. Seat.

Bluefields, July 6, 1894.

Sir: I have the honor to inform yon and for the information of your Government that by request of the people I have assumed my right of office as hereditary chief of the Mosquito” Indians and president of the council, and that in order to preserve peace and safety to life and property and to conciliate the people I have appointed the following gentlemen, who were duly sworn into office, to fill the vacancies that have occurred in the executive council:

• Charles Lobner, American.
• Henry Brown, English.
• Sam Lampton, American.
• Jacob Brownregg, English.

I have, etc.,

Robert Henry Clarence,
Chief and President.

This is a true copy.

S. C. Braida, United States Consul.