Corinto Expedition Nicaragua 02-04 May 1896
On 02 May 1896, at Corinto, of a force of about one hundred American and British marines from the United States cruiser Alert and the British cruiser Comus, who, acting in the most perfect harmony, occupied that port and protected, until May 4, the property of foreigners in the custom house and at the railroad station, subduing a riotous and drunken mob which threatened to cause the most serious disturbances. The Tennessee adventurer, William Walker, was a spectacular figure in the Nicaraguan scene from about l855 to the date of his death in l860. After thirty years of Conservative control, during which the capital was permanently located at Managua, Jose 8antos Zelaya, in l893, began a sixteen years dictatorship. His regime was characterized by brazen speculations, and by mischievoue intrigue in the political affairs of other Latin American nations. The first term of Zelaya as president expired in 1896, but he forced his re-election, and continued his regime as virtual dictator. This caused a great deal of dissension, there being more than the unusual unrest among the people, and agitation between the different factions - which resulted in foreigners being again endangered. On this occasion the threatened area was that of Corinto.
The British abandoned the last shreds of their Mosquito protectorate, and when a revolt broke out in western Nicaragua during 1896, the United States landed marines at Corinto on Zelaya's invitation, protected property, and returned the port. A British naval force took possession of the city and port of Corinto, 1896, in satisfaction of damages done to British interests and insult to a British acting consul. Security was given for the payment of the claim and the British force was withdrawn.
The British government had a representative present in the person of the commander of HMS Cormus, and the United States was represented by Commander Franklin Hanford, in the Alert. The Nicaraguan commandant requested the Ameri can Consul, Henry Palazio, to cause an American landing force to be sent ashore, as he was unable to furnish protection to foreigners with the forces at his disposal. The Consul com municated this request to Commander Hanford, who acquiesced by sending l5 Marines, under First Sergeant Frederick W. M. Poppe, and l9 sailors, all under the command of Lieutenant Albert W. Dodd. This force landed about 3 o'clock in the afternoon of May 3nd, and remained ashore until the morning of the 4th, when withdrawn. The British vessel also had a landing party ashore at this time,
During the revolution in Nicaragua there were remarkable instances of the lawless manner in which so-called ministers of provisional governments can act when they have the opportunity. For instance, about March 24, Samuel Mayorsa, who was Minister for the Treasury in the Baca, or revolutionary government, made a demand on Mr. H.S. Harding, an English subject, controller of the branch at Leon of the London Bank of Central America, for a loan of $80,00O or about 133,000 of Nicaragua bonds of doubtful ownership, threatening to withdraw protection from the bank if the demand was not complied with within a given time. Mr. Harding succeeded in having the matter off until he managed to have letters delivered secretly to Commander Franklin Hanford, of the United States cruiser Alert, then the only war ship at the port of Corinto, and to the United States consular agent at Corinto, Mr. Henry Palarlo.
Commander Hanford Immediately assured Mr. Harding that he would resist any effort to take by force the property of citizens of the United States or of subjects of foreign governments in friendly relations with the United States. Commander Hanford sent this letter by the United States consular agent, who took prompt action and succeeded in saving the money of the English bank from the Nicaraguans. while, at the same time, clearly showing the insurgents that the property of foreigners could not be interfered with.
On 16 April 1896 Minister Mayorga issued a decree, in the name of the revolutionary government, declaring that the officers and books of the custom house at Corinto were to be at once removed to Leon, the capital of the revolutionary government situated about thirty miles in the Interior, adding that "owing to the fact that the troops of Honduras (sent to assist the force' of President Daca's troops at Corinto and seize the millions of dollars' worth of merchandise in the custom house belonging to citizens of Nicaragua and to foreigners, as they had robbed private dwellings and stores in. the town of Elviejo, twenty-five miles from Corinto.
Samuel Mayorga, Minister of the Treasury, had gone to Corinto with railroad trains in order to remove the merchandise, belonging largely to foreigners, from the custom house of Corinto to Leon. It was evident, however, that the real object of Mayorga's move was to obtain possession of this property and hold it as security for a war loan. The foreigners protested to Commander Hanford and to Capt. Henry H. Dyke, of the British cruiser Comus, which had arrived at Corinto about April 5.
The American and British commanders decided that they would not allow tho insurgents to take possession of tha property of foreigners in the custom house or railroad depot at Corinto. As the latter buildings were within six hundred yards of the guns of the two warships tbey were at least as safe as if the property was at Leon. This enraged Minister Mayorga so much that- he caused the arrest of all native males in Corinto between the ages of seventeen and seventy years on the plea that a great battle was imminent at Momotombo. After detaining them on the railroad cars for a few hours Mayorga released all those who could pay him from $100 to cash and returned to Leon with the other unfortunate inhabitants of Corinto, without giving any receipt for the money collected, but declaring that he would return again to Corinto. This he did on, May 1, when his party disbanded and sought safety in flight, with ponalderable sums of money extorted from the people of Nicaragua. They escaped to Guatemala in a small schooner, the commanders of the American and British war ships having no authority to arrest them. But their flight showed the necessity of protecting the property of foreigners to be greater than ever. Although the chief of the Insurgent party succeeded in escaping, a great number of the officers and soldiers of the insurgent army, with their arms, flocked to Corinto in the hope of getting out of the country, but were unable to get away owing to lack of means.
The disappointed soldiers became reckless after their leaders deserted them, and began drinking and rioting. Some of them succeeded in crossing the estuary and made for the woods. Others commenced robbing houses and threatening the lives of everybody of the law and order class at Corinto. Women were insulted, and an attack on the custom house was planned. The native commandants and the handful of police at the port were utterly impotent, and, at about 9 o'clock in the morning of May 2, the commandants, at the request of the peaceful residents, sent a committee to Chinandaga with a letter to Manuel Bonilla. Vice President of Honduras, who was in command of the troop of that republic sent to support President Zelaya. Sonor Bonilla was at El Vayko, and when he received the "request from Corinto to send a force to protect the port he promised to comply.
There was considerable delav, and the few policemen sent did not reach Corinto until 7 p.m., which would have been too late to save the custom house and its contents, although Chinandaga is only about twenty-two miles from Corinto. While the committer was away the most serious disorders broke out at Corinto. The disbanded soldiers, seeming to be insane with drink, violated women and young girls and began gathering about the custom house. Palmer, the commandant of the custom houe, hurried a written request for protection to Mr. Henry Palazio, the United States consular agent, requesting the latter to appeal for help to the commanders of the American and British war ships in port, the Alert and Comus, asking them to land men and take charge of the fort and protect the persons and property of Nicaraguans and foreigners and of the govrnment of Nicaragua until the government of I resident Zelaya could send troops.
Commander Hanford and Captain Dyke again consulted and decided to comply with the request. Both of these officers had been ashore, and from personal knowledge were aware of the terrible state of affairs existing. Consequently, at about 1 p.m. on May 2, a force of about 100 marines, commanded by four officers and a number of midshipmen, were landed from the Alert aad the Comus. The marines went ashore In the most perfect order, as if simply for a landing drill, and quickly drove the rioters into hiding. Commandant Palmer cheerfully gave up the custom house, railroad depot, cars, locomotives and merchandise, etc., to Lieut. A. C. Baker, U.S.N., taking the latter's receipt for the property and then the commandant (an insurgtnt official) retired into private life once more.
By order of Lieutenant Baker the flag of Nicaragua was again hoisted to the flagstaff in front of the custom house, and the stars and stripes were hoisted on the flagstaff at the northeast side of the custom house. The British flag was hoisted by Lieutenant Lewin, of the Comus, on the south si3e of the building and also on the west end of the railroad station. A squad of marines, under a lieutenant and two midshipmen, was stationed at the office of the United States consular eqrent, who was also the consular agent for England and for Italy. Lieut. J.V.Dodd, U.8.N., was in command of the United States marines ashore, and he soon had the custom house office thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. He then quartered his men as comfortably as possible, posted sentries and got the signal corps in working order.
During this time Lieutenant Baker, of the Alert, and Lieutenant Lewin, of the Comus, with squads of marine, hurried through the town, releasing the citizens who had barricaded themselves in terror, from their house, closing all the liquor ahops ana disarming all the officers and soldiers of the insurgent army who could be cornered. In less than half an hour after the marines landed perfect order and peace prevailed in Corinto and the residents hurried to bedeck themselves in holiday attire, in honor of their gallant rescuers. Captain Dyke and Commander Hanford then came ashore and, together, inspected the posts occupied by the marines. They received the hearty thanks of the citizens ashore and of the refugees who had been in as much danger as the inhabitants.
The wires having been cut no telephone or telegraphic communication could be had with Corinto, Chinandega and Leon, and the railroad track had been injured at several places between Chlnandega and Leon, rendering travel extremely difficult and slow. As there was no cable station at Corinto the American and British commanders were unable to communicate with their respective governments before landing the marines. During the afternoon Mr. Talazio sent a messenger to Chinandega to notify the commander of the Honduran troops there that tha situation at Corinto had become so alarming as to necessitate the landing of American and British marines, and that the town was occupied by them.
In the evening General Metuta, of Honduras, and about eighty soldiers arrived at the outskirts of Corinto and sent forward a messenger demanding the surrender of the cusom house, railroad station and port immediately, and that the marines return to their Ships. Lieutenant Baker received the message and sent a reply asking for a written request from President Zelaya or some official of his government competent to represent him. General Metuta evidently had no such authority and he returned to Amayia highly offended, after writing Lieutenant Baker a note, full of self-eulogy, telling of his greatness and pointing out what pigmies all other persons are when compared to him.
At about 11 o'clook in the morning on May 3 General Metuta again appeared at Corinto with about eighty Hondurans and proceeded toward the custom house. But, when he reached the west end of the railroad station, he was halted by a British marine sentry and the Honduran soldiers were ordered into a narrow street between the walled up south side of the station and a high plank fence, a position which placed them almost directly under the rifles of a detatchment of British marines who occupied the upper veranda of the custom house and also opposite to and within 600-yard range of the six-inch breech-loaders and rapid-fire guns of the Comus.
General Metuta, after a parley with the young lieutenant in command of the British marines, was allowed to pass with some of his aides to the headquarters of Lieutenant Baker, of the Alert. There he stated he had come with authority from General Bonilla, Vice President of Honduras and commander of the Honduran allies of President Zelaya, of Nicaragua, to occupy the property of the government of Nicaragua, etc. It was not then known in Corinto what great outrages the soldiers had committed on women and girls at El Veyjo, nor was it known that they had destroyed a great deal of property while occupying that place during the past two months, or General Metuta's reception might not have been as pleasant as it was.
However, Lieutenant Baker signalled for Commander Hanford and Captain Dyke, who soon arrived at the custom house. For an hour or so they patiently listened to Metuta's bluster, but when he threatened to occupy Corinto without waiting for President Zelaya's orders, although the latter was only about thirty miles away, the American and British commanders decided to teach the Hondurans a lesson. A few sharp orders were given, and the American and British marines, fully armed and equipped, were drawn up at their different stations ashore, the Alert was signaled to steam up to and opposite the custom house, and the Comus cleared for action.
These preparations had a calming effect on General Metuta. He been to apologize as energetically as he had at iirst attempted to bluff, promised to retire with his troops if the American and British commanders would permit him. Finally it was agreed that General Metuta and his soldiers should be allowed to come in out of the hot, tropical sun and roost upstairs in the telegraph offices at the northwest corner of the custom-house square. But they were warned to keep quiet and to behave themselves until advices were received from President Zelaya.
A train at about 6 p. m. arrived at Corinto from Chinandega, bringing about sixty Nicaraguan soldiers, under General Emello Herrera, with a letter from General Aurelius Estrada, a close personal friend of President Zelaya, and commander-general of the civil department of the republic. The letter was addressed to the United States consul at Corinto, notifying him that General Herrera had been appointed commander at Corinto and assuring him and the commanders of the United States and British warships that Herrera was an honest, cool, prudent and reliable man, who would protect life and property and that Corinto might be turned over to him with safety as the representative of tho legal government of Nicaragua.
General Bonilla, Vice President of Honduras, also reached Corinto by the same train and, at the conference with Commander Hanford, Captain Dyke and General Herrera, apologized for the conduct of General Metuta. Terms were agreed on, and at about 8 o'clock in the morning of May 4 Corinto was turned over to the Nicaraguan force. When Presldnt Zelaya was informed of the occurrence he at once telegraphed his approval to the American legation at Managua, with his thanks, and later telegraphed an invitation to Commander Hanford and Captain Dyke and their officers to visit Managua and enjoy the hospitality of the government of Nicaragua.
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