Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 1, 1873, Part I, General Correspondence; and Papers Relating to Naturalization and Expatriation, Volume II
No. 419.
General Sickles to Mr. Fish.
Madrid, August 23, 1873. (Received September 18.)
Sir: During the progress of the late insurrectionary movement in Andalusia I have received from some of our consular officers narratives of the events happening under their personal observation of sufficient interest to merit the attention of the Department. Mr. Charles H. Eder, the vice-consul at Seville, in temporary charge of the consulate in Mr. Jourdan’s absence, sends me a succinct account of the progress of the cantonal rebellion in that city, and the sanguinary capture of the town by the government troops under General Pavia. I annex a copy of Mr. Eder’s report for your perusal. That gentleman has been informed that his course under the trying circumstances in which he was placed, as described, meets with the approval of this legation.
I am, &c.,
Mr. Eder to General Sickles.
August 4, 1873. (Received August 7.)
Sir: In compliance with your orders to this consulate, in your No. 34, I have the honor to give you a brief account of the principal occurrences in this city during these last days.
On the morning of the 19th of July, at a meeting of the chief of volunteers with the members of the ayuntamiento, they determined to form a separate state, under the denomination of “Canton Andaluz.” The intransigentes, who were in the majority, or were at least more determined, proceeded immediately to the public prison, releasing their principals, who had been prisoners, with suits against them, since the occurrences [Page 1030] of the 30th of June. They escorted them in triumph through the principal streets of the city, causing a great panic among the population, resulting in a general emigration to the neighboring towns and to foreign parts.
Assembled in the town-hall, they deprived the proper authorities of their command and nominated a committee under the name of “comite de la salud publica del Canton Andaluz,” composed of twenty-four individuals, among whom were republicans of the party of order. Few of these accepted the position, thus reducing the committee to fourteen individuals, and in a short time it was further reduced to six or eight of the original members.
One of their first acts was the suspension of traffic by rail, so that on the 21st all communications were stopped, and we were without mails or telegrams from that time to the 31st of July. Emigration continued by the river and by land in all kinds of transports, and on foot.
A regiment of volunteers visited the principal towns of the province, dissolving the ayuntamientos, and nominating committees of the same sort as that in this city. At Utrera, a town of importance about fifteen miles distant from here, they were repulsed with great loss to the volunteers, who left behind their guns and four cannons. Animated with a spirit of revenge, they arranged to return with a greater force to Utrera, but receiving news of the approach of two columns of troops, they suspended the expedition, and ordered the erection of barricades at the principal entrances of this city.
Foreseeing that a conflict might occur in the town, and with the idea of being prepared, if possible, to avoid the same, a meeting of the consular corps was held on the morning of the 24th of July, at the German consulate, at which meeting only two residing in the city did not attend.
After a long discussion, it was agreed to send a communication to the civil governor, or to his representative, as per copy No. 1, inclosed. A permanent committee of consuls was named, who were to meet at least twice a day in this consulate of the United States, composed of consuls or vice-consuls of Germany, England, Mexico, Italy, Guatemala, Belgium, and the United States, at which all consuls of other nations might be present, so as to determine on any unforeseen occurrence. The communication referred to was delivered by three consuls to the sitting committee of public safety, the only authority existing in the city that day. It was benevolently received by the said committee, and a few hours afterward each consul was supplied with a safe-conduct, and an announcement was also placarded facilitating to all foreigners free ingress and egress, on showing a pass from their consul, viséd by the committee of public safety.
Meanwhile barricades were in construction in the interior of the city, defended by cannon, of which more than fifty were placed, of various caliber, at the different barricades. The population remained quiet, and emigration, to a very large amount, continued.
In order to avoid the prejudices the commercial community was suffering, a communication was addressed by the consuls to the committee, as per inclosed copy No. 2, and on the following day the operation of loading and discharging on the river recommenced, but on a small scale, owing to all the carts being embargoed for the transportation of war material and other purposes.
It having come to the knowledge of the consular corps that in the public building called the “Consulado,” or “Louja,” in which are deposited the archives of the Indies, they were storing large quantities of powder and ammunition, a commission presented itself to the committee with the intent to avoid the great harm which might occur to the works of great merit, of so much interest to the whole world, and particularly to America; and although they did not concede all we desired, an order was given not to store any more powder, and to take preferably from that edifice what was necessary for the supply of the barricades.
The commission of consuls being informed on the 26th of July, at 11 p.m., that the government troops were at Lora, repairing the bridge of the railway company so as to continue their march on Seville, we proceeded to the telegraph station by authority of the sitting committee, transmitting certain telegrams to Cordova, and at break of day on the 27th, holding a telegraphic conference with that point in the hope of communicating with the commanding general, which was not effected.
On learning that the troops were in sight of Seville, about two miles distant, and disembarking by railway, a commission of the consular corps presented itself to the committee, soliciting a railway-carriage to go out and have a conference with the general, which was immediately agreed to; and at 4 o’clock p.m., said commission, composed of nine individuals, left Seville, and not meeting the general of the division, we had a conversation with Brigadier Salcedo, asking for due protection, in case of an attack, for the consuls and the houses of foreigners, which would be known by the display of the flags of their different nations.
The brigadier assured the commission that the consuls might rest tranquil, and that strict and positive orders would be given that they and their citizens would be respected, thus closing the interview.
[Page 1031]The same morning of the 27th, General Pierrad arrived, placing himself at the head of the insurgents and giving orders to re-enforce and augment the barricades that were in the town.
On the following day, the 28th of July, at 2 p.m., fire was opened on both sides with cannon and musketry, without previous intimation from any quarter, which fire lasted six hours. The troops took some barricades and adjoining houses, where they remained during the night.
At 3 o’clock a.m. of the 29th the consular corps was cited to hear the sitting committee of public safety, who solicited the intervention of the corps so as to avoid the occurrences, but unfortunately it was too late, as we exacted from them, for our interference, that they should display a white flag at all the advanced posts, as also one over the Giralda, (the town of the cathedral,) which was done, but had no result or effect, the firing continuing on both sides from four in the morning, when it commenced again.
On this day, as also on the previous one, the attack by the troops was weak, they forming only a small number, although meanwhile they were taking up their line of attack. The defenders of the barricades then had recourse to a plan disdained and prohibited by the laws of war and humanity, and this fine town presented a horrible spectacle which dishonored her before the civilized world. With petroleum and other combustibles they set fire to the houses occupied by the troops, but, thanks to the peculiar construction of the houses in this city, the fire did not extend itself with rapidity.
The city at that time presented an imposing aspect; the inhabitants of the threatened district were flying en masse, carrying with them their most valuable effects and soliciting and seeking protection everywhere; the churches, including the cathedral, served as a refuge to many unfortunate families, the flames and smoke meantime rising to a great elevation.
A commission of the consular corps presented itself to the sitting committee, energetically protesting against these barbarous acts, but there was no authority over the incendiary volunteers to prevent these abuses.
At nightfall the combat ceased almost altogether, the troops remaining in the houses they had gained and the volunteers, re-enforced at the nearest barricades, continuing their incendiary work and pillage.
On the morning of the 30th the firing commenced again with more firmness by the troops and much less energy by the insurgents, many of these having abandoned their posts, disgusted at the incendiarism and pillage of their companions. At 12 o’clock the troops took the town-hall, and a few hours afterward the city was conquered.
The population, of all political opinions, received the troops with great demonstrations of joy.
The harm done by the war material is not very great, but not so that caused by the fire, which has destroyed about 30 houses. The aspect of the district is indescribable.
Several arrests have been made, among them some of the members of the committee, and two Frenchmen.
The civil governor, who took possession of his rank and post after the taking of the town-hall by the troops, ordered the same day the disarming of the volunteers, which was done without any resistance.
Among the houses burned there are some the property of French and Portuguese subjects.
For the rest, and in virtue of truth, I beg to observe that the committee of public safety, the volunteers, and the government troops have respected, as much as lay in their power, the interests of foreigners, having been affable and attentive to the indications suggested by the consular corps.
I have not sent you any printed published account of what has occurred, as I have not seen a correct one in the local newspapers.
I trust the conduct of the consular corps, and particularly mine, will meet with your approval.
I am, &c.,
United States Vice-Consul.
To the Civil Governor of this Province:
The undersigned, foreign consuls resident in Seville, having met to-day in the consulate of the German Empire, have the honor to address themselves to you to inform you that, in view of the grave circumstances through which this capital is now passing, they trust that their respective domiciles, and those of their fellow-citizens, will be respected in whatever conflict may occur.
Likewise, in the event of army forces undertaking hostile operations against this [Page 1032] place, they represent to you the duty incumbent upon them to put themselves in communication with the commanders of said forces, with the object of obtaining from them the respect due to their flags and their citizens. To attain this object they request you to be pleased to grant them the necessary safe-conducts, in order that they may quit and re-enter the city without any hinderance from the popular forces. And to this end the address of each is given, with, the signature.
To the Chief of the Governmental Bureau of Seville:
The permanent commission of the consular body of this city having met in the consulate of the United States of America, it is resolved to address your corporation, requesting that, in order to avoid the serious prejudice suffered by the foreign vessels at anchor in this port by reason of the paralyzation of the operations of loading and unloading cargo, you will be pleased to contrive means to check this paralyzation, so that the necessary operations may go on and foreign vessels suffer no detention here.
At the same time it is also resolved to excite the zeal of your corporation to endeavor, by any means in your power, to devise ways of admitting the mails to this city, as their non-arrival causes serious prejudice to natives as well as to foreigners.