Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 November 1893 — VALOROUS VAQUEZ. [ARTICLE]

VALOROUS VAQUEZ.

Fired On the Stars and StripesThe President of Bondur** in * Boligaron* ’ Mood. The New York Herald’s Llbertad dispatch, Nov. 7, says: Honduras fired on the American flag, Monday morning. By the alleged orders of President. Vasquez Seven cannon Shots were fired after the Pacific mail steamer Costa Rica, flying the Stars and -Stripes, as she steamed away, because she refused to surrender one of her passengers to the Honduras government. United States, Minister Baker was on board the Costa Rica at the time. Tho passenger about whom the trouble arose is Policarpc Bonilla, who recently led the revolution in Honduras, but was defeated by Genera! Vasqucz He then fled to Nicaragua, and with three hundred of his adherents joined the army of President Sarcasa, who was engaged in an attempt to quell the revolution. Bonilla had decided to leave Nicaragua in order to relieve the government from all responsibiiiey of harboring him. He, therefore, sailed from Coronto for Gautemaia, Nov. 4, on the Costa Rica. American Minister Baker and more than one hundred others were his fellow-passengers. They arrived on Monday at Amapala, a port of entry of Honduras on the Pacific coast, and in the afternoon Commander of the Pori Villila demanded that Captain Dow should surrender Bonilla. When this request was refused a threat was made to sink tho ship, and it was asserted that President Vasquez had given strict orders to that effect. An official protest against the refusal to surrender Bonilla was presented to the captain at 6 o’clock, and clearance papers were only issued to the ship after nightfall, when it was too dark to leave the harbor with safety. , A government officer came on board at 3:30 o’clock tho next morning, saying that new orders had been received from the President Insisting on the delivery of Bomilla or the bombardment of the ship. Capt. Dow repliod that the commander of the port would recieve his answer in half an hour, bnt before that time had expired ho steamed away. Seven shots were fired after the Costa Rica, although she flew the America flag. None of the shots struck her, but ft is feared the steamship Citv of Panama, of the same line, which was lying in the port, may have been Injured, because the firing continued for some time after the Costa Rica was out of range. The Congress of Honduras has conferred upon President Vasquez full power to make war upon Nicaragua whenever a revolution or an invasion of revolutionists from that Republic occurs. Secretary Gresham was at the Cabinet meeting at Washington when the dispatch from Minister Baker announcing the outrage was received. The matter was probably discussed, but nothing could be learned at the department of what reply was sent to Minister Baker or what steps it is proposed to take in the matter. It would ordinarily be expected, under the circumstances, that an energetic protest would bs lodged with th* Honduras government. The incident was discussed in the Navy department. The Alliance sailed Tuesday from San Jose to Acajutla, in San Salvador. Whether this movement is occasioned by the Incident was not stated at the department.