Foreign Relations of the United States, 1894, Appendix I, Chinese-Japanese War, Enforcement of Regulation Respective to Fur Seals, Mosquito Territory, Affairs at Bluefields, Claim of Antonio Maximo Mora, Import Duties on Certain Products of Colombia, Haiti, and Venezuela, Affairs in the Samoan Islands
Mr. Braida to Mr. Uhl.
San, Juan del Norte, September 25, 1894. (Received October 20.)
Sir: I have the honor to transmit to you an affidavit filed at the office of the consular agency at Bluefields by Mr. N. L. Latson, purser of the American steamship Yulu.
[Page 344]The facts mentioned therein have previously been stated to me by other persons, and have been confidentially reported to the Hon. Lewis Baker.
I have, etc.,
Affidavit of N. L. Latson.
Bluefields, Nicaragua, September 22, 1894.
This day, before me, the undersigned authority, personally came and appeared Norman L. Latson, to me known, and on his oath declares that heretofore, to wit, on or about the 3d day of August, 1894, affiant was purser on board the American steamship Yulu, which arrived off Bluefields on the 3d day of August, 1894, having on board five hundred or thereabouts Nicaraguan soldiers and officials, among whom were Mr. José Madriz, Nicaraguan minister of foreign affairs, General Portocarrero, judge-advocate, and Carlos Lacayo, ex-commissioner of the Mosquito Reserve. Affiant further states that upon approaching the U. S. S. Columbia, which was at anchor off Bluefields, the captain of the Yulu signaled that he had on board the above-mentioned troops and soldiers, under protest.
He was thereupon ordered by the U. S. S. Columbia to anchor alongside, and was shortly afterward boarded by Lieut. O. W. Lowry, of said vessel. Lieutenant Lowry refused to allow the captain bf the steamship Yulu to disembark the Nicaraguan troops aboard until he had communicated with Captain Sumner, of the steamship Columbia, who was in the town of Bluefields. He directed Captain Johnson to take the steamship Yulu into the harbor of Bluefields and to come to an anchor there. Lieutenant Lowry also placed aboard the steamship Yulu a boat’s crew of eleven men, in charge of Ensign Kuenzli, who was to prevent the disembarkation of the Nicaraguan troops until the return of Lieutenant Lowry, who went into the town in the steam launch of the Columbia to receive instructions from Captain Sumner. Lieutenant Lowry offered to convey Minister Madriz and any of his officers into the town in his steam launch, but the proffered offer was refused, whereupon Lieutenant Lowry stated that he would return with Captain Sumner’s answer in the shortest possible time—probably two hours.
Affiant further states that the Nicaraguan officials were very indignant at the refusal to allow them to disembark the troops at once, and indulged in strong language against the action of the United States. As time passed, the excitement and indignation among them began visibly to increase. The water tanks of the steamship Yulu had been left open by the Nicaraguan soldiers during the night, and all the fresh water allowed to escape, and the aforesaid soldiers were clamoring for water during their detention. Finally some of the officials made signals to the Government wharf, about 50 yards away, at which was stationed a force of Nicaraguan soldiers, and two boats were sent out to the steamship Yulu in response. Affiant further states that in the wheel-house of the steamship Yulu were Ensign Kuenzli with two men, the remainder at the time of the occurrence being disposed about the roof of the upper deck. There were also present Carlos Lacayo, Ramon Enriquez, a merchant from Grey Town, Nicaragua, and the affiant, Norman L. Latson. The latter, leaning out of the window of the wheel-house, heard Minister Madriz, who was acccompanied by Judge-Advocate [Page 345] Portocarrero, ordered Captain Johnson, of the steamship Yulu, to take his vessel in to the Government wharf at once and discharge the troops. This Captain Johnson refused to do, stating that his vessel was in control of the officer from the U. S. S. Columbia, and therefore not in his power to obey such a demand.
Affiant further states that thereupon Judge-Advocate Portocarrero, closely followed by Minister Madriz, rushed into the wheelhouse of the steamship Yulu. They were both white with anger, and Portocarrero had in his right hand, with his finger on the spring, a clasp knife with a blade about 8 inches long. Ensign Kuenzli sat on a portion of the steering gear of the steamship Yulu, within a few feet of Portocarrero, and with his back toward him. He was reading, but remarked later that he was aware something serious was impending. The two other men from the Columbia were on the opposite side of the wheelhouse, looking out of a window, and with their backs also turned to the Nicaraguan officials. Most of the rifles belonging to the man-of-war’s men were stacked in this wheelhouse, and the Nicaraguans were aware that it would be almost impossible for the men who were on the roof to reach them in case of sudden attack. There were at least 100 Nicaraguans on the upper deck of the steamship Yulu, and completely surrounding her wheelhouse.
When Madriz and Portocarrero rushed into the wheelhouse they gathered around the two doors, which open onto the deck, and, with fixed bayonets and drawn swords, listened to what transpired. Portocarrero commenced a violent and insulting tirade against the United States, claiming, among other things, that her action in refusing to allow Nicaraguan troops to disembark was cowardly and the tyrannical oppression of a small and defenseless country by a large and powerful one. Madriz agreed with him, and stated that he considered this action an insult to Nicaragua through him; he further said that they had agreed to wait two hours for an answer and that nearly three had elapsed. Portocarrero then said, turning to Madriz: “Let us make them take the ship in to the wharf and disembark the troops.” Affiant then said: “You are making a serious mistake, General Portocarrero, and do not understand the circumstances of this detention.”
Portocarrero appeared to lose control of himself, and being seconded by some encouraging exclamations from the crowd around the doors, he raised his knife, and, pointing toward the young officer, said to Madriz: “You give the command and I will throw myself upon him, and we will take the ship in to the wharf against any resistance on their part.” At this instant, and before Minister Madriz could reply, Captain Johnson, of the steamship Yulu, stepped into the room and said that he saw smoke across the lagoon, and believed that the launch was returning. Madriz then turned to Portocarrero, who still stood, knife in hand, and said: “We will wait and see whether it is the launch; we will give them half an hour more, and if it is not, we will go in anyhow.” Both Lacayo and Enriquez endeavored to dissuade Portocarrero from the position he had taken, but they were not listened to. The smoke mentioned by Captain Johnson proved to be from the steam launch of the Columbia, and in due time Lieutenant Lowry reached the steamship Yulu with instructions from Captain Sumner to permit the disembarkation of the Nicaraguan troops.
Affiant further states that from his knowledge of the mood and temper of the Nicaraguan officials, and from the threats he personally heard expressed, he deposes and says that he believes a disaster and [Page 346] massacre aboard the steamship Yulu was only averted by the timely sighting of the Columbia’s steam launch.
Affiant further states that he is a native of the United States, born in the State of New York, and for five years a resident of Nicaragua. He also states that he thoroughly understands Spanish, in which language the above remarks were made.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this September 22, A. D. 1894.
United States Consular Agent