The master of the schooner had made every effort to find the location of the port of Azua before leaving New York, as it is not charted.

4. President Heureaux has ordered the governor of Azua to watch strange vessels to prevent the assassins of General Campo from leaving the country, and the landing of arms and ammunition for use by the revolutionists.

It was for this purpose the soldiers were sent to Puerto Viego when the Henry Crosby was sighted. The firing on the boat was done without any investigation whatever to ascertain the character of the schooner.

5. By order of President Heureaux, General G. Marchena and eight others, supposed to be leading revolutionists, were shot at Azua on December 21, 1893.

The above report was signed by O. F. Heyerman, Commodore Commanding. He made no recommendations, but stated that he believed the report of Mr. John Hardy, Consular Agent, to the effect that Americans were well treated, and American interests were perfectly safe, in Santo Domingo.

Commodore Heyerman did not state how he reconciled this genial belief with the facts as stated by himself, namely, the wanton firing by Santo Domingo soldiers at a vessel flying the American flag in broad daylight, and the wounding of the officer and the seaman.

I shall agree with Commodore Heyerman that an American is reasonably safe in Santo Domingo, and was at that time - if he occupied the commodore's berth in a first-class American battle-ship.

As to safety in Santo Domingo under other conditions, I may refer here to the sworn report of the captain of the Henry Crosby.

Captain Stubbs stated that the United States flag was flying at the mizzentopmast of the schooner, as it had been since coming to anchor, the day before. ". A very large number of shots were fired, at least several hundred. The officers and crew of the schooner were compelled to take refuge below decks." Captain Stubbs took care of the wounded men the best he could. W. H. Brooks, the mate, had a flesh wound in the left thigh. The ball struck the exterior of the thigh a few inches below the hip bone, striking the hip bone and glancing off. A severe injury to the hip bone was produced by

the shot.

The sailor Smith was struck in the left thigh, the ball entering the under side of the thigh and coming out below the pelvis. The wound was some seventeen inches long. The man nearly bled to death.

After the wounded men were taken care of, a barge, carrying a number of soldiers, came alongside. The soldiers boarded the schooner, and remained aboard until she was finally discharged.

A trick that is very popular in our "Sister Republics" was now resorted to. I shall let the memorialists, Henry Lord et al., owners of the schooner, tell the story:

"After the vessel had partly discharged her cargo, and while she was lying at anchor off the port of Azua, the captain of the port came on board and

demanded of Captain Stubbs that he go at once to Azua, that the President wished to see him. Captain Stubbs at first declined to go, and demanded from the port captain his authority from the President directing him to appear. The port captain replied that he had no letter, but the President had sent him personally to bring Captain Stubbs to Azua. Finally Captain Stubbs agreed to go, and proceeded on horseback to Azua. He first went to the office of Captain Hardy, the United States consular agent, and had a conversation with Captain Hardy's clerk, who informed him that the President wished Captain Stubbs to go to the governor's office, and there sign a paper. Captain Stubbs went with the interpreter of the consular agent's office to the office of the governor. When they reached the governor's office, a paper written in Spanish was presented and Captain Stubbs was directed to sign it. Captain Stubbs twice declined, saying that he could not understand Spanish, and was not willing to sign any paper written in that language. Upon his refusal the governor gave some order in Spanish, which was followed by a bugle signal, and immediately upon the giving of the signal, soldiers to the number of seventy-five or a hundred surrounded Captain Stubbs. Upon the appearance of the guard, the interpreter said he would go to the consular agent and bring him to the governor's office. He was considerably alarmed at what was happening. When the consular agent appeared, he asked Captain Stubbs what was the matter. Captain Stubbs replied that he was asked to sign a paper written in Spanish, and that he was not willing to do so. Captain Hardy thereupon went into the governor's room. In the meantime the President had come and gone into the governor's room. He called Captain Hardy in there, and Captain Hardy went in. Captain Stubbs overheard a conversation in Spanish, the words of which he did not know, but from the manner of both the participants in the conversation there seemed to be considerable dispute between them. The conversation was carried on in an angry tone. Captain Hardy, after the conversation was over, upheld Captain Stubbs in his refusal to sign the paper, unless it should be interpreted into English, and Captain Stubbs given a chance to examine it. Captain Stubbs and Captain Hardy thereupon left the governor's office without molestation.

"On their return to the consular office, what purported to be a translation of the paper was submitted to Captain Stubbs. It was an exoneration of the soldiers, the officers of the government, and the Republic of Santo Domingo from all blame for the firing upon the vessel when at anchor off Azua. Captain Stubbs declined to sign it."

The firing on this vessel was an unprovoked, unextenuated, coldblooded outrage. Why does the United States tolerate such things? Why do the Presidents of the United States, one after another, who know all about these cases through the official reports, continue practically to ignore their existence, and to advocate the now passé Monroe Doctrine? Why will admirals and commodores report that Americans in Latin America are treated kindly, and that their interests are safe, when experience shows that the reverse is the case?

To return to the Henry Crosby. An appeal was made to the State Department of the United States; and on April 10, 1894, Edwin F. Uhl, Acting Secretary of State under Walter Q. Gresham, wrote to the attorneys of the claimants as follows:

"I am unable to see that the owners of the vessel have any claim for damages, except to the limited extent hereinafter indicated. True, some shots were fired at her, but there is no charge that any real damage was done.

"If Smith were an American citizen, I should say that he was entitled to the intervention of this department to secure an indemnity for his injuries. He is not, however, an American citizen, nor does he come within that statute which provides that a foreigner serving as a seaman on an American vessel shall be entitled to American protection, if he has declared his intention to become a citizen; for it does not appear that he ever made such a declaration. Mr. Brooks is, perhaps, entitled to a small indemnity, though I may observe that no certificate of his naturalization is filed with the papers, as is required to be done when claims are preferred by naturalized citizens. I am unable to see that any other of the officers or crew are entitled to any damages."

These words are typical of the attitude of Grover Cleveland's State Department. No wonder we have but few large American enterprises in Central and South America. No wonder an American denies his nationality, and claims to be an Englishman, as soon as he goes to one of those countries. American protection for its citizens in that part of the world is such a hollow farce that it is disagreeable even to discuss it.

At the same time it must be said that one familiar with the administrations of Walter Q. Gresham and Richard Olney learns to speak with love and reverence of John Hay, who may justly be regarded as the greatest American Secretary of State up to his time. His instructions to his ministers and consuls were strong and dignified, scrupulously just, straight from the shoulder, courteous but firm. Honest himself and demanding honesty, he hated shams and lies and subterfuges, and was quick to see through schemes and pretences. He was inclined to adhere rather too strictly to the technicalities of international law, but he was sincerely desirous of protecting American interests, though without adequate means for affording such protection or a substantial public sentiment to back him. Let us hope that there may be ushered in a lasting era of Secretaries of the type of John Hay.

VI. OUR SISTER REPUBLIC, HONDURAS, FIRES ON THE AMERICAN PASSENGER STEAMER COSTA RICA, AND JEOPARDIZES THE LIVES OF ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN

On November 6, 1893, the fort of Amapala, Honduras, fired upon the American passenger steamer Costa Rica, endangering the lives of one hundred and fifty passengers.

Captain J. M. Dow, Master, made before the Examining Board the following sworn statement:

"Dr. Policarpo Bonilla, a native of Honduras, came on board the Costa Rica at Corinto, Nicaragua, on the 4th instant, as a passenger to take passage for San José, Guatemala. I had no knowledge of him more than any other passenger, until after arrival of ship at Amapala, Honduras. The Costa Rica arrived at Amapala at 6 A. M., November 5, 1893, and was immediately given permission for general delivery and receipt of cargo. At 2.15 P. M. a written communication, signed by the captain of port, was brought on board by an official in uniform, as follows:

COMMANDERY OF AMAPALA, Nov. 5, 1893.

MR. COMANDANTE, You will demand of the captain of the steamer Costa Rica the surrender of Dr. Policarpo Bonilla, who has been sentenced by the courts of the Republic. The government directs that you demand his delivery to me with the assurance that his life will be guaranteed; on the other hand, merchant vessels, according to the laws of the United States and of this Republic, do not enjoy the immunities which they claim in waters of a foreign country, they being wholly subject to the laws of the country in whose waters they happen to be.

Notifying you that the steamer will not be permitted to weigh anchor without effecting the delivery,

I am, etc.

Captain Dow wrote in reply as follows:

BELISARIO VILLELA.”

"Your communication of this date demanding the delivery of Mr. Policarpo Bonilla, a passenger on board this steamer, holding a through ticket to San José de Guatemala, has just been received. After consultation with the Minister of the United States now on board my vessel, I beg to state that your demand cannot be complied with."

Captain Dow then received the following letter:

COMMANDERY AND CAPTAINCY OF AMAPALA, REPUBLIC OF HONDURAS,
AMAPALA, November 5, 1893.

To the Captain of the steamer Costa Rica, present:

I am in receipt of a new order to demand of you the delivery of Don Policarpo Bonilla, so I hope you will execute it. If not, you will not be permitted to weigh anchor, and if you should do so without first delivering him, you will suffer the consequences of a bombardment for which you alone will be respon. sible by reason of your refusal.

B. VILLELA.

Captain Dow was now confronting a very serious situation. United States Minister Lewis Baker, and family, fifty-eight men, sixteen women, several children, and sixty-two members of the ship's company, were aboard. Mr. Baker was very likely reminded of the shooting to death but a few years before of General Barrundia on board an American steamer and of the recall of Minister Mizner. Moreover Mr. Bonilla was travelling on a through ticket from a Nicaraguan to a Guatemalan port, with no intention of going ashore at a port of Honduras; and both Minister Baker and Captain Dow knew that an attempt to take Bonilla by force would probably result in a scene of bloodshed on the decks of the ship.

Captain Dow decided to weigh anchor and leave. He testified:

"The ship was heading up-stream, and twenty minutes were occupied in turning her. At 3.55 rang to go ahead fast, to make the final turn, to head out of the harbor. At the same moment a cannon shot was fired from the Amapala shore, the projectile passing about one hundred feet astern of the Costa Rica and between her and the City of Panama, anchored in the harbor. Other cannon shots were fired, but I was too busy to count them, as I was getting the ship out of port. I slowed down after I thought I had gotten out of range, to see if the City of Panama had been damaged by the fire."

Mr. Louis Chable, who was designated by Minister Baker to investigate this affair, reported, November 8, 1893, that he together with United States Consular Agent Kohucke had called on Mr. Villela, the comandante who had ordered the firing done.

"Mr. Villela told me that about twelve at night on the 5th, he had received new orders from President Vazquez insisting upon his compliance with former orders and stating that if Bonilla had not been delivered, troops should be sent to the steamer to take him out, and if this could not be done, to sink the ship.

"Meanwhile [continued Mr. Villela] I was getting ready the men and the launches to go to the steamer, but within the half hour the ship began to steam away, and I had to comply with the other orders which I had, to shell the vessel. Accordingly a Krupp gun of '8 or '12 calibre, was discharged on the vessel from the fort five times by my orders, and two times after orders had been sent by telephone to stop firing.

"In the whole matter I obeyed superior orders; there were seven telegrams sent me by the President in the matter."

These statements, which were amply corroborated, show that the shelling of this steamer was the deliberate act not of the Amapala authorities but of the Honduras "President" himself, as he had given positive instructions "to sink the ship" if Bonilla were neither delivered up nor taken by force.

As soon as P. M. B. Young, the American Minister at Guatemala and Honduras, was advised by Minister Baker of this affair, he cabled Washington, and was directed to "protest." His despatch in reply follows:

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, LA LIBERTAd, Nov. 12, 1893.

TO SECRETARY OF STATE, Washington.

Sent the following, Friday, at two o'clock:

HIS EXCELLENCY ANTONIO LOPEZ, Minister of Foreign Relations:

In the name of the United States, I earnestly protest against the insult to the American flag, and the illegal act of firing into the American ship Costa Rica on the 6th instant, and demand a disavowal of this act by your government, and an apology for the same. Will your Excellency give me an immediate answer to the above?"