Office of the Historian

The Secretary of the Navy to the Secretary of State.

Navy Department,
Washington, September 13, 1890.

Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith, for your information, copy of letter dated San José de Guatemala, August 28, 1890, from the commanding officer of the U. S. S. Ranger, informing the Department [Page 102] of the acceptance of terms of peace by the Governments of Guatemala and Salvador, and the return of arms and ammunition seized from the Pacific Mail steamship Colima; also containing an account of the death of General Barrundia on board the Acapulco.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

B. F. Tracy,
Secretary of the Navy.

The Secretary of State,
Washington, D. C.

Lieutenant-Commander Reiter to the Secretary of the Navy.

U. S. S. Ranger,
San José de Guatemala, August 28, 1890.

Sir: I have the honor to report that the diplomatic corps at Guatemala having decided upon a basis for peace which, it was supposed, would be acceptable to the Governments of Guatemala and Salvador, and it being necessary that Señor Galindo, the envoy from Salvador, should convey to his Government this agreement, and that an answer be received before 6 p.m., 23d instant, at the request of United States Minister Mizner, there being no public conveyance available, I consented to send Señor Galindo to Acajutla in the Thetis and to bring back from there a commissioner within the time specified.

Señor Galindo left here on the Thetis on the evening of the 18th instant and was landed in Acajutla on the following morning, after which the Thetis proceeded to La Union and Amapala.

I went ashore on the evening of the 18th instant to meet Señor Galindo and take him on board the Thetis, when I found that his baggage had been seized and overhauled, and that the commandant had given orders that he should not be permitted to embark. On inquiry, I found that Señor Galindo was provided with a passport from the Guatemalan Government, which, on the arrival of the train at San José, was presented to a sentry and by him taken away.

I immediately sent the United States consular agent to inform the commandant of this fact, when he gave orders for the release of the baggage and permitted Señor Galindo to embark.

In consequence of this, I proceeded to the city of Guatemala the following morning, related the circumstances to the United States minister, and requested him to accompany me to the minister of foreign relations of Guatemala, to inform him of this action on the part of the commandant at San José, and that I would not go to Acajutla without the guaranty of the Guatemalan Government that anyone whom I might bring back as envoy from Salvador should be courteously received and not molested in any way; which guaranty was immediately given.

On the night of the 19th instant I proceeded to Acajutla, and sailed from there on the morning of the 22d instant, but without any envoy or commissioner. Señor Galindo, who came on board, handed me dispatches for the United States minister, which I received and delivered to him at 10:30 a.m., 23d instant, having arrived at San Jos6 at 4:30 a.m. and taken a special train from San José for the capital at 6 a.m.

The diplomatic corps was immediately convened to consider the terms submitted by Salvador, and at about 2 p.m. the United States minister informed me that in the opinion of the entire diplomatic corps, except himself, the Government of Guatemala should not be informed of the answer of Salvador, on the ground that it would give the Government of Guatemala an unfair advantage, there being a tacit understanding of an armistice until 6 p.m. of that day.

The United States minister then submitted to me the original basis of agreement and the reply of Salvador, and requested my opinion in the matter. I informed him that, as the armistice was to cease at 6 p.m., I did not think there could be any advantage on either side, as prudent commanders would be prepared for active operations at its expiration, and that the Government of Guatemala should be informed at once and given the opportunity to accept or decline the terms submitted by Salvador. This was done; an armistice was agreed upon until the evening of the 27th instant., and it was decided that the ministers of the United States, Spain, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua should go to Acajutla to confer with the Provisional President, Ezeta, on the 25th instant.

At the request of the United States minister, I conveyed these ministers to Acajutla, whence after a day’s conference with Provisional President Ezeta, I returned with them to this port, San José, arriving at 8 a.m., 26th instant.

[Page 103]

The minister proceeded by special train at 9 a.m. to the city of Guatemala, and on the 27th I received the following telegram from United States Minister Mizner:

“Peace bases accepted and signed by both nations. Belligerents notified and notice acknowledged. Armies to retire in two days.”

Referring to the last paragraph of my letter of the 14th instant, I have to report that on the 17th instant a demand for the immediate return of the arms and ammunition taken from the Pacific Mail steamship Colima was made by the United States minister.

During my conversation with the United States minister on the 19th instant, heretofore referred to, he informed me that in reply to his demand for the return of the arms he had received a letter from the minister of foreign relations of Guatemala requesting a personal interview at 1 p.m., 20th instant, and asked my opinion.

I told him that as no reply had been received to several requests for the return of these arms, and as he had made a peremptory demand for their immediate return, I thought he should decline this personal interview and inform the minister of foreign relations that he desired a written reply to his last communication on the subject.

When about leaving the minister of foreign relations after our interview in regard to the Salvadorian envoy, he referred to his letter to the United States minister, asking if it bad been received. Mr. Mizner replied that it had, but that he must decline a personal interview on the subject. The minister of foreign relations then expressed the greatest regret at the seizure and for the discourtesy of his predecessor in not replying to the minister’s communication, and his willingness to return the arms at once.

The United States minister thereupon consented to a personal interview the next day for final arrangements for return of the arms.

The arms are now at San José, ready for shipment on the next steamer bound north on the 30th instant.

At about 6:30 p.m. yesterday, 27th instant, I received the following telegram from United States Minister Mizner:

“General Barrundia is on the Acapulco, Guatemala alleges that he is hostile, and, being in their waters, they can arrest him. I think that they have the right.”

As the Acapulco was at this time reported in sight, I immediately went on shore and sent the following telegram to the United States minister:

“Barrundia expected in steamer. As peace is declared, I suggest that you ask Government to permit Thetis to take him to Acapulco, we acknowledging their municipal rights over steamer. Steamer Acapulco in sight.”

I also requested the commandant to suspend action until I received a reply to this telegram, which he declined to do, but went on board the steamer and returned without attempting the arrest of Barrundia.

This morning at 9:30 I received the following telegram from United States Minister Mizner:

“This Government declines offer to take Barrundia away in Thetis. Have advised Captain Pitts to deliver him.”

At about 2 p.m. it was thought that a number of shots were heard on board the Acapulco, and at 2:15 the Guatemalan flag was hauled down from the fore and the United States flag hoisted in its stead, when I supposed the United States minister was on board. But at 2:30, when the whaleboat came alongside with Lieutenants Bartlett and Halsey, who had been visiting the Acapulco, Lieutenant Bartlett reported to me that the commandant was on board, and that promiscuous firing had been going on on board the ship, and that they desired protection, the United States flag at the fore having been hoisted to signify that desire. I immediately left the ship in the gig to go alongside the Acapulco, and ordered Lieutenant Harris to follow me at once with an armed party of marines in the whaleboat. On my arrival on the Acapulco I found all quiet and no necessity for any protection, so that on arrival of Lieutenant Harris a few moments afterwards I directed him to return to the Ranger.

The following is, as near as I could determine from the statements of Captain Pitts and First Officer Brown, of the Acapulco, the correct account of what occurred on board:

The commandant came alongside with two boats and went on boad the Acapulco with three or four detectives.

Captain Pitts asked him if he had a letter for him. He replied that he had and delivered it to him. They then went to the captain’s room, where the letter was opened and read.

It was from United States Minister Mizner informing Captain Pitts that, if he were within the marine league of the shores of Guatemala and General Barrundia were on board, it was his duty, under the law of nations, to surrender him upon proper demand.

Captain Pitts took the precaution to send his first officer to notify the cabin passengers to go below into the dining saloon and the steerage passengers to keep forward.

[Page 104]

He then went with the commandant to the stateroom on the hurricane deck occupied by General Barrundia, where they found him standing up smoking a cigarette. They remained outside, one standing on either side of the door.

The captain informed General Barrundia of the letter received from the United States minister, and that he could not extend him any further protection. The commandant then had some conversation with General Barrundia in Spanish. General Barrundia said “Bueno,” and immediately reached for a revolver, which was concealed under a mattress in the upper bunk, and fired two or three shots through the doorway between them. The captain and the commandant beat a hasty retreat aft, taking refuge in an unoccupied stateroom.

They were followed by Barrundia, firing wildly. He stopped and fired several shots into the stateroom where the captain and commandant were concealed.

He then apparently ran forward and crossed through the “social hall” to the starboard side, where he fired forward and aft, then crossed to the port side again and started forward, when he fell.

The detectives, as near as I could determine, ran out of the “social hall” and forward when Barrundia first commenced firing, but some time during the melee, returned and began discharging their revolvers at him. It was impossible to ascertain definitely any details of the occurrence after this; but General Barrundia died where he fell, having been pierced by several bullets.

His body was taken on shore by the commandant.

The Thetis returned to this port yesterday morning, the 27th instant, and Lieutenant-Commander Stockton reports everything quiet at La Libertad, La Union, and Amapala.

The health of officers and crew is very good.

I am, sir, very respectfully,

  • Geo. C. Reiter,
    Lieutenant-Commander, U. S. Navy, Commanding.
  • Commodore F. M. Ramsey, U. S. N.,
    Chief of Bureau of Navigation, Navy Department, Washington, D. C.