Chargé Hutchinson
to the Secretary of State.
American Legation,
Caracas, September 17,
1904.
No. 326.]Sir: I have the honor to inclose a set of
duplicates of five affidavits, sent me by Mr. Robert K. Wright, manager
of the New York and Bermudez Company here, and which are the statements
of several employees of the said company at Guanoco, where certain
English and foreign workmen, who were in the employ of the company, were
said to have been forced to work for the receiver of the company’s
property, Mr. A. H. Carner, at the point of the Venezuelan bayonet.
I have heard from a good source here that a few days ago Mr. Carner had
an interview with the minister of foreign relations here, and that he
affirmed that the charges of paving made the company’s men work at the
point of the bayonet were absolutely without foundation, and were the
fabrication of the company.
[Page 944]
It is possible that many workmen, perhaps most of the workmen, were not
forced to work as described, but I have no doubt a few were subjected to
rough treatment, and I have faith in the affidavits so far as they
go.
The company, by its attorney here, presented its “solicitude” this week.
I will keep the Department acquainted with results as they occur.
The company’s attorney had his office broken into, Manager Wright tells
me, one Sunday not long ago, but although money was at hand, none was
taken, and only the company’s papers were tossed about in evident search
of documents to be used against the company. I can not vouch for the
truth of this incident, of course, but I do not think Mr. Wright would
knowingly misinform me.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure.]
Affidavit No. 1.
I, Alfred Webbe, make oath and say as follows:
I was employed by the New York and Bermudez Company at Guanoco, in
the Republic of Venezuela, as storekeeper.
On the 28th day of July, 1904, about o’clock in the forenoon, Mr. A.
H. Carner, accompanied by several government officials and soldiers,
arrived at Guanoco on the gunboat Bolivar.
They immediately proceeded to the headquarters and offices of the
New York and Bermudez Company and stationed soldiers at each window
and door, armed with rifles, and their officers carrying swords.
They also surrounded the buildings.
Shortly after this I attempted to pass out by the back gate, but was
stopped by the soldiers on guard. I then tried to pass through the
other doors, but was prevented and compelled to remain in the small
court within the building until 10 o’clock at night. I then saw Mr.
Carner and asked if I could go to my room to retire for the night.
He told me that I would have to acquaint the officer of the night
patrol, who would accompany me to my room. This I did, and after
being challenged by the sentry and the officer of the night patrol
giving the password I was allowed to enter my room and was cautioned
that to leave same without permission would be dangerous.
The following day, July 29, I was escorted to my meals by armed
soldiers, who kept constant watch over me and would not let me leave
the building, and at night was again escorted to my room by armed
soldiers, who stood guard at the door at night.
The following day, July 30, Mr. Carner placed me in the storeroom to
issue supplies as directed by him, but still kept me under
surveillance of armed guard. While in this position I supplied to
officers and soldiers, and also sent a large supply of food stuffs
to gunboat Bolivar, as per Mr. Carner’s
instructions, who told me that there were 100 men to feed on Bolivar.
Several persons were in the building when it was surrounded by the
soldiers and were compelled to remain there. Others were allowed to
pass within the guard, but were not allowed to pass out, and Mr.
Carner boasted of its being a nice trap for them. One woman also was
detained until late at night, and she had become frantic with
grief.
On July 28 Mr. Carner demanded the keys of the storeroom from me, and
upon receiving them turned them over to a Venezuelan officer.
On July 28 the foreman carpenter, Edward Bryant, was allowed to pass
within the guards, and I was present when he reported to Mr. Carner
of ill treatment he had received on board the Bolivar, stating that his thumbs had been tied firmly
together and that 26 rifles had been placed across his stomach and
kept there until he was exhausted.
Guards were stationed at the wharf and all the buildings and no one
was allowed to pass without a written pass signed by Mr. Carner.
On July 30 the steamship Rescue arrived at
Guanoco at night with Mr. L. A. Kuhn, an employee of the New York
and Bermudez Company, who was escorted to headquarters by armed
soldiers, who kept constant guard over him until he returned on the
steamship Rescue, July 31.
[Page 945]
Sworn to at No. 32 St. Vincent street,
Port of Spain, in the island of
Trinidad, this 12th day of
September, A. D. 1904, before me,
[Notarial seal.]
Vincent Leon
Wehekind,
Notary
Public.
This is to certify that Mr. Vincent Leon Wehekind is a notary
public, and that he has signed the foregoing.
The consul,
September 14, 1904.
Barcelo.
[Seal of the consulate of the United
States of Venezuela, in Trinidad.]
Affidavit No. 2.
I, Joséph Mayers, make oath and say as follows:
On July 28 I was employed by the New York and Bermudez Company at
Guanoco, Venezuela, as carpenter, and was working near the wharf.
Early in the forenoon Mr. A. H. Carner and about 60 armed soldiers
landed from the gunboat Bolivar. I was
immediately arrested and was not allowed to move from where I was
working until some soldiers and officers had returned from
headquarters, when I was told to go to work.
I was working under Edward Bryant, and saw him struck several times
with a sword and taken on board the gunboat Bolivar. I saw him when he came from the Bolivar and he was nearly exhausted and sat down and told
me that his hands had been tied and 26 rifles placed across his
stomach and kept there until he could hardly breathe. I saw the
marks on his thumbs where they had been cut by the cord. I was not
allowed any food until the following Sunday, July 31, and I then was
told that I would not be given any unless I went to work, which I
agreed to do. I was guarded by soldiers armed with rifles and
officers armed with swords, who were stationed all around, and when
I returned to work was always guarded by the soldiers.
Sworn to at No. 19 St. Vincent street,
Port of Spain, in the island of
Trinidad, this 14th day of
September, 1904, before me,
[Notarial seal.]
A. V. M.
Thavenot,
Notary
Public.
This is to certify that Mr. A. M. Thavenot is a notary public,
and that he has signed the foregoing.
The consul,
September 14, 1904.
Barcelo.
[Seal of the consulate of the United
States of Venezuela in Trinidad.]
Affidavit No. 3.
I, Frederick Adolphus, make oath and say as follows:
I was employed by the New York and Bermudez Company at Guanoco as
assistant engineer, and on the 28th of July, 1904, Mr. A. H. Carner,
accompanied by several government officials, and I should say about
60 soldiers, arrived at Guanoco on the gunboat Bolivar. They proceeded to the company’s offices and
surrounded the building containing same, placing guards at each door
and window. The soldiers were armed with rifles and the officers
carried swords. I, along with several others who were anxious to
know what was taking place, were allowed to pass the guards, but
could not return to our quarters until very late, being first
compelled to obtain a written pass signed by Mr. Carner.
On the 30th of July the S. S. Rescue arrived
at Guanoco with Mr. L. A. Kuhn, the engineer employed by the New
York and Bermudez Company, on board. On coming alongside the pier,
soldiers were immediately placed to guard him, and Mr. Kuhn was
accompanied to headquarters by soldiers, who remained with him
during the day and his stay at Guanoco. I attempted to speak with
Mr. Kuhn about my family in Trinidad, but was prevented by the
soldiers who were with him. Many other persons, also anxious to hear
some news of their families, were prevented from having any
conversation with him.
Frederick (his X mark) Adolphus.
Sworn to at No. 32 St. Vincent street,
Port of Spain, in the island of
Trinidad, this 12th day of
September, A. D. 1904, before me,
Vincent Leon Wehekind,
Notary Public.
[Notarial
seal.]
[Page 946]
This is to certify that Mr. Vincent Leon Wehekind is a notary
poblic, and that he has signed the foregoing.
September 14, 1904.
Consul,
Barcelo.
[Seal of the consulate of the United
States of Venezuela, in Trinidad.]
Affidavit No. 4.
I, Prince Joséph Alexander, make oath and say as follows: I was
employed by the New York and Bermudez Company at Guanoco, Venezuela,
as cook.
On the 28th of July, 1904, early in the forenoon, Mr. A. H. Carner
and several officers and soldiers arrived on the gunboat Bolivar. They came up to headquarters where I
was working and surrounded the building and placed soldiers at each
window and door. The officers carried swords and the soldiers were
armed with rifles. There were about 50 of them.
I was not allowed to leave the building and had to obtain a pass
before I could enter my room, which is in the same building, to
retire, and during the day when I was working I was constantly
watched. I attempted to pass out during the day, but was stopped by
an officer.
I was subjected to this treatment for a number of days. It was
boasted by the officers and soldiers that they were going to capture
the S. S. Viking, and when the S. S. Rescue arrived on July 30 they were confident
that they were in a position to do so. They mistook the whistle of
the S. S. Rescue for that of the S. S. Viking. They left a small guard at
headquarters and the majority of them went to the wharf. Mr. L. A.
Kuhn arrived on the S. S. Rescue and was
constantly guarded by armed soldiers. Later, while I was attempting
to have my time adjusted, I was ordered from the office, and an
officer caught me by the shoulder and handled me roughly and said,
“Come, I will take you to prison.” I resisted, and he left me and
ran for a sword. In the meantime a soldier held a rifle on me. I was
finally released and returned to work in the kitchen.
Sworn to at No. 32 St. Vincent street,
Port of Spain, in the island of
Trinidad, this 12th day of
September, A. D. 1904, before me,
Vincent Leon Wehekind,
Notary Public.
This is to certify that Mr. Vincent Leon Wehekind is a notary
public, and that he has signed the foregoing.
September 14, 1904.
Consul,
Barcelo.
[Seal of the consulate of the United
States of Venezuela, in Trinidad.]
Affidavit No. 5.
I, James Alleyne, make oath and say as follows: I was employed by the
New York and Bermudez Company at Guanoco, Venezuela.
On the 28th of July, 1904, I was working on the railroad line about 4
miles from headquarters. It is customary for a train to run between
11 and 12 o’clock, bringing the men’s breakfast. On that day no
train came up, and about 4 o’clock a woman walked up, bringing her
husband’s breakfast. She notified us that Mr. A. H. Carner and a
party of Venezuelan Government officials and soldiers had seized all
the company’s property. On hearing this the entire gang walked down.
On arriving opposite the company’s office at headquarters we were
stopped by soldiers on guard and our tools taken from us. I saw
about 50 or 60 soldiers at headquarters. Later on same day, as is
customary, I attempted to get to the company’s store to purchase my
usual supply of food, but was stopped by the guards at the entrance
and had to remain without food until 12 o’clock on July 30, when
those of us who were guarded by soldiers at the ranch made such a
demonstration that Mr. Carner allowed us to go to headquarters for
food.
I was compelled to work or not get any food, and while at work was
guarded by armed soldiers, who returned with me and others who had
been forced to work, and the soldiers guarded the ranch and would
allow no one to pass.
Sworn to at No. 32 St. Vincent street,
Port of Spain, in the island of
Trinidad, this 12th day of
September, A. D. 1904, before me,
Vincent Leon Wehekind,
Notary Public.
[Notarial
seal.]
[Page 947]
This is to certify that Mr. Vincent Leon Wehekind is a notary
public, and that he has signed the foregoing.
September 14, 1904.
Consul,
Barcelo.
[Seal of the consulate of the United
States of Venezuela, in Trinidad.]
