Mr. Braida to Mr.
Uhl.
United
States Consulate,
San Juan del
Norte, March 7, 1894.
(Received March 21.)
Sir: I beg to transmit herewith a report of
consular agent, Mr. Seat, at Bluefields. The Nicaraguan troops arrived here
on their way to the interior, on board of, Her Majesty’s ship Cleopatra, yesterday morning.
I furthermore inclose, in translation, a copy of the provisional treaty
concluded between Gen. C. A. Lacayo and Captain Howe, commander of the Cleopatra, countersigned by Her British Majesty’s
consul, Mr. H. F. Bingham, who also returned on the man-of-war from
Bluefields.
I am, etc.,
S. C. Braida,
United States Consul.
[Inclosure 1.]
Mr. Seat to Mr.
Braida.
United
States Consular Agency,
Bluefields, Nicaragua, March
6, 1894.
Dear Sir: I seize the opportunity of reporting
briefly the latest occurrences in Bluefields.
- First. On the 3d of March an agreement was arrived at for the
organization of a temporary provisional government for the Mosquito
Reservation.
- Second. This agreement was concluded between “Captain Howe,
commander of the British war ship Cleopatra,”
and Gen. Carlos A. Lacayo, and it provided for the appointment of a
municipal council consisting of four persons, two of whom are
appointed by General Lacayo and two appointed by myself, and Lacayo
to be the presiding officer of such council.
- Third. The parties appointed by Lacayo are Don Necho Thomas, of
Roma, and Dr. N. Barbarina, and the parties appointed by myself are
Messrs. Samuel Weil and J. S. Lampton, both American residents of
Bluefields.
- The agreement also provided that the English language should be
the business and court language of the country.
- Fourth. It was also agreed that the Nicaraguan soldiers should be
retired, leaving only a police guard of some twenty men until the
provisional government could be established.
- Fifth. The order to retire the Nicaraguan soldiers was executed on
the 5th, and they went on board the war ship Cleopatra and sailed the same evening tor San Juan del
Norte.
- Sixth. After the soldiers were withdrawn (martial law having been
declared off), there was an interregnum, during which time there was
really no established authority in the reserve.
- Seventh. About 3 o’clock p.m., after the retirement of the
soldiers, a Jamaica negro, said to be the servant of Commissioner
Lacayo, walked down the main street, revolver in hand, firing right
and left among the crowds of people standing and passing to and
fro.
- Eighth. After firing some five shots, which almost miraculously
did no injury, he was assaulted by a number of persons with clubs,
rocks, etc., and beaten almost to insensibility.
- Ninth. All the negro population seemed to be intensely excited
over this occurrence, and were collected in groups on the main
street, all talking and gesticulating excitedly.
- Tenth. At night, however, everything seemed quiet as usual, and
people went to their homes and all was still, and the streets
presenting their accustomed lonely, desolate look.
- Eleventh. About 9 o’clock p.m, a shot was fired in the upper end
of the town, then another, then another, until some twenty shots or
more were fired; and this startled the whole population, so that
suddenly the streets were crowded with excited crowds of men and
frightened women and children, and it was then ascertained that two
of the policemen on King or Main street had been killed near a
drinking shop belonging to a native by the name of Martin
Ellis.
- Twelfth. The vice-consul, E. D. Hatch, and Commissioner Lacayo
joined in a request of the officer commanding the British marines to
bring his marines on shore as quick as possible to protect life and
property and to prevent riot and bloodshed.
- Thirteenth. The request was promptly responded to, and this
morning we are feeling secure in the presence of Her Britannic
Majesty’s hardy, brave-looking marines.
Yours, etc.,
B. B. Seat,
United States Consular Agent.
[Inclosure 2.—Translation.]
Provisional treaty for Mosquito.
- No. I. The commissioner will organize a police force for the
security of Bluefields.
- No. II. The commissioner will also organize a municipal council,
consisting of five persons, two of whom will be appointed by the
American consul and three by himself.
- No. III. The military forces now in Bluefields and within the
Mosquito Reservation will be withdrawn.
- No. IV. The commissioner declares that he will respect all
international promises between the Republic and Her Britannic
Majesty’s Government.
- C. A. Lacayo.
- H. Howe.
- H. F. Bingham.
Correct translation:
S. C. Braida,
United States Consul.
