Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 September 1889 — THE VEN EZUELAN CLAIMS. [ARTICLE]

THE VEN EZUELAN CLAIMS.

A Romantic Episode Involve in Former Negotiations. Washington Special. The Venezuelan Claims Commission, which was organized' yesterday, will adjourn for several weeks while waiting for the preparation of suitable quarters. Mr. Walker Blaine, who has charge of this matter, has. selected a building which, if it can be put in order in be made the permanent quarters of the Venezuelan commissien,and will also accommodate the International American congress and the Marine congress during their sessions.

It will be remembered that the Venezuelan claims originated well on to a quarter of a century ago in the destruction of a number of vessels owned by the Americans in the Orinoca river during one of the frequent revolutions of the Republic. In 1871, after years of attempt at arbitration, the whole matter was dropped for a time on account of a scandal alleging bribery against Godlove S. Orth, of Indiana, who was one of Ahe arbitrators at that time. The matter was revived by the last Congress, which-provided for a commission to reinvestigate the entire business. The amount involved is nearly 81,000,000.

When Senator Evarts was Secretary of War he wrote to Judge Russell, of Boston, then minister to Venezuela, saying that he wanted those claims paid. Russell replied that there were two ways of. getting at the matter, one to s.uid down a fleet of gun boats and the other to give President Guzman Blanco a good slice of the claim. The letter came to tho- State Department, when some clerk who saw it thought it was too good to be lost, and gave it to the press. It traveled back to Caraccas. President Guzman immediately sent a file of soldiers, who took Minister Russell in charge and escorted him to a New York steamer, with orders to get out of the country. Senor Shara, a nephew of Guzman his favorite,and the commander of the Venezuelan troops, who Was engaged to be married to Judge Russell’s daughter, went to Guzman and protested against the indignity put upon his prospective father-in-law, and he and the President had a fearful quarrel. At last Guzman told Shara that he must choose between the girl and his political prospects. Shara, in great passion, broke his sword over his knee flung the pieces at his uncle’s head, and rushed from the place. That night he and some companions pulled down and broke in pieces the bronze equestrian statue of Guzman which stood In the public square, then took to horse over the mountains, reached the harbor where the New York steamer lay, boarded her, sailed home to Bostoq with Judge Russell, and married the Judge’s daughter. He is now living as the agent of several Brazilian coffee-houses.