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THIS IS THE FIFTH PAGE OF
DOCUMENTS FOR THE PERIOD THROUGH 1927
on Nicaragua's Caribbean Coast region,
housing materials dated during the 73 days from
September 18 to November 29.
One of the major themes to
emerge here is labor unrest around
Puerto Cabezas stemming from
Bragmans Bluff Lumber Company's
efforts to remove the squatters from
the village of Bilway and keep wages
low by importing West Indian
laborers, and more generally, the
unsettled labor conditions at export
enclaves all along the Coast. Rumors
of Sandino's imminent arrival turn
out to be false; the region's
simmering unrest stems not from
outside agitators but from local
labor conditions and local
grievances. We see considerable
evidence here of various forms of
workers' disgruntlement, including
strikes, arson, and other forms of
direct action. We also see the
continuation of paperwork generated
by the lawsuit between Albert Fagot
of Cape Gracias and Sr. Ibarra;
continued local political wrangling
in the aftermath of the civil war on
the heels of many years of unpopular
Conservative rule; reports on local
elections in Bluefields and Rama
held on Nov. 6; and related matters.
As before, while Las Segovias
seethes in rebellion and violence,
Sandino has nothing to do
with any of these developments,
beyond a few rumors that his forces
are near.
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PERIOD MAPS
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1894 mosquito
shore
27 MB,
library of congress
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1920s
Standard Fruit
6.5 mb,
US National archives
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1928 Rio wanks
Patrol
3 mb, us
national archives
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1931 Moravian
2.4 mb,
comenius press
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18 September
1927.
Bilway y las Pretensciones de la
Bragman: Todo Monopolio es Odioso e
Inconstitucional,"
Diario
Moderno, Managua (Hemeroteca
Nacional, Managua).
"Sabemos que hace
cuatro días salió de la ciudad de
Bluefields, rumbo a Puerto Cabezas, el
general Juan J. Estrada, jefe político
de aquel departamento. Según nos
informan, el general Estrada va con el
propósito de hacer que desocupen por la
fuerza sus casas y propiedades los
habitantes de Bilway, población que
queda a corta distancia de Puerto
Cabezas; Bilway será entregada a la
Bragman Bluff Lumber Company a fin de
que aumente el radio de Puerto Cabezas.
No somos enemigos del capital extranjero
y comprendemos que la Bragman ha hecho
muchísimo por el progreso de aquellas
regiones; pero no somos partidarios de
que a la fuerza se obligue a los duenos
de sus predios que desocupen, para
entregarlos a una compañía. Denuncias
que nos hacen. Personas llegadas de la
Costa Atlántica nos informan que la
Bragman ha hostilizado en mil formas a
los habitantes de Bilway, no vendien
doles maderas para sus construcciones a
pesar de que las exporta, ni
permitiéndoles que desemba quen sus
artículos y mercaderlas en el muelle de
Puerto Cabezas; tienen que irlas a botar
a la orilla del mar - es decir - no se
les da acceso al puerto. La Bragman está
importando negros antillanos para sus
trabajos, dejando en cesantia a los
peones nicaragüenses, a quienes se les
ha ofrecido dos dolares de salario, y
puestos allá solo se les paga uno
sesenta, pero con cupones que han de
gastar en el mismo Comisariato. Un
tratado. El tratado Harrison-Altamirano
favorece a los indios mosquitos
poseedores y dueños de Bilway, a quienes
a la fuerza se quiere hacerlos desocupar
aquella población."
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18 September
1927.
"Los Fraudes Conservadores en la Costa
Atlántica: Tratan de Engañar al Comander
Kendell: Competencia en Navegación y
Venta de Hielo - Pasos y Compañía en
Favor de la I. P." Diario
Moderno, Managua (Hemeroteca
Nacional, Managua).
"Las
elecciones en Siquia ¶
Bluefields, 8 de septiembre—El domingo 4
de los corrientes tuvo efecto la
elección de Diputado en el distrito de
Siquia, que a causa de la recién pasada
emergencia no pudo tener verificativo a
su debido tiempo. Hubo orden,
orden completo mantenido por los marinos
del destacamento americano acampados en
este Litoral. Pero también hubo
fraude, mucho fraude mantenido por el
conservatismo temeroso de la derrota.
De antemano el chamorrismo hizo
inscribir fraudulentamente a muchos
conservadores en su catálogo para tener
mayoría; pero al hacerse la elección se
constató que el catálogo de los
liberales no correspondía con el de los
conservadores; éste tenía más
inscripciones que aquél. En el
cantón que tuvo efecto tal embrollo
fueron recusados los votos fraudulentos.
En otro de los cantones, apareció el
catálogo de los liberales mutilado, con
dos hojas menos. Además, a pesar
del convenio del Consejo Departamental
de Elecciones y el Comander Kendell,
especificando los lugares en que
únicamente habría elecciones, los
conservadores quieren ahora hacer
aparecer o que se lleven a efecto
elecciones en otros lugares es no
comprendidos en dicho convenio, y en
donde han pretendido burlar a los
liberales alegando que no asistieron a
formar parte del Directorio, teniendo
que llamar a individuos conservadores
que ellos hacen pasar como liberales; y
así por el estilo abusos de esta
naturaleza ha sido arma que ha empleado
el conservatismo para torcer la verdad.
¶ Tanto el Comander Kendell como
el Cónsul Americano tienen información
completa de los hechos ocurridos y de
este modo y muy a pesar de tanta trama
mal intencionada, y del aguardiente
sustraído clandestinamente del Depósito
de Bluefields para estimular al
conservatismo, se considera
completamente ganada la papeleta liberal
que defiende la candidatura del doctor
Onofre Sandoval. ¶ El
tesoro liberal en la Costa
¶ Se ha establecido una
oficina de propaganda que trabaja
tesoneramente por la reorganización de
liberalismo en la Costa Atlántica,
compactándolo de manera que esté bien
preparado para que, así como en la
guerra supo vencer, salga triunfante
también al amparo de la paz en las
luchas electorales que se avecinan.
Creemos que, labor de la misma oficina
propagandista, ha de ser la creación del
tesoro propio del liberalismo costeño,
como uno de los puntos más esenciales
para llegar al éxito en esas mismas
luchas. Más que discursos y hojas
volantes, se necesita dinero y más
dinero, de otro modo solo al fracaso
iremos y más valdría la pena que desde
ahora nos acostáramos a dormir . . .
¶ Acepte, señor ministro
Reñazco ¶ La compañía de
Carlos Pasos que hace la navegación
entre San Carlos y Bluefields, ofreció
al jefe político de esta ciudad conducir
hasta aquí la correspondencia q’ viene
del interior, y que los ciento diez
córdobas que el contratista Galeano
cobra actualmente por ese mismo servicio
queden a beneficio de las escuelas de
este departamento, contribuyendo así a
la mejora de los locales que ocupan y
que el Gobierno ha descuidado
completamente. No dudamos que el
ministerio respectivo ha de aceptar ese
contingente en pro de la instrucción
pública, que los señores Pasos y
Compañía ofrecen tan generosamente y muy
llenos de patriotismo. ¶ Oiganlo
Victorino y Mr. Peña ¶
Muy de placeres se hayan los que viajan
a las ciudades del interior o viceversa,
pues ahora como se ha establecido un
pugilato, de vida o muerte, entre las
dos únicas compañías que hacen la
navegación de San Carlos a Bluefields,
los precios de los pasajes están
llegando a su más infama expresión.
Anteriormente se pagaba en ese travesía
la suma de quince córdobas por persona;
ahora cuesta cuatro el viaje de ida y un
córdoba solamente es suficiente para
hacer de regreso la misma jornada.
¶ Y tal sistema de matarse las
unas empresas a las otras se esta
generalizando con gran contento y
satisfacción del pueblo que está
saliendo ganancioso en estas luchas de
capital y de los intereses similares.
Nada menos que ya en esta ciudad las dos
fábricas de hielo que existen expended
su artículo por precios que están al
alcance de los bolsillos más miserables.
Antes costaba la libra de hielo cuatro
centavos, después dos centavos,
enseguida centavo y medio, y hoy se dan
cinco libras por un centavo. –
REDACTOR CORRESPONSAL"
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1.
21 September 1927.
Intelligence Report,
Capt. D. J.
Kendall, Bluefields, p. 1.
"The
general state of that part of Bluefields
Department in and near Bluefields and
Rama and along the Escondido river and
its tributaries is calm. The
hatreds and excitement caused by the
revolution is disappearing rapidly.
Along the Rio Grande River, particularly
at La Cruz and Rio Grande Bar, there is
considerable labor unrest, caused by
idleness and lack of work as a result of
the return from Puerto Cabezas of many
men who went there to work for the
Bragman's Bluff Lumber Company but have
been discharged and returned to their
homes. Incited by ex-revolutionary
leaders who are desirous of maintaining
political unrest, tradesmen who want the
extra money in circulation, and the men
out of work, those actually employed by
the Fruit Company in banana hauling on
the Company's boats have threatened to
strike if their wages were not doubled
and extra men were not put on to work in
the crews of the boats. In the
Puerto Cabezas district there is some
unrest due to the discharging of
superfluous labor by the Bragman's Bluff
Lumber Company, to the rumors of
Sandino's nearness in the vicinity of
the Pis Pis mines and the presence in
Puerto Cabezas of many disreputable
characters of the class that always
follow on the heels of a large
development such has been undertaken at
Puerto Cabezas by the Bragman's Bluff
Lumber Company. The situation
there is further complicated by the
efforts of the [Company] to have removed
from the grounds of its concession the
native village of Bilway which is
composed of squatters on the Company's
property, but nevertheless has grown up
..."
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2.
21 September 1927.
Intelligence Report,
Capt. D. J.
Kendall, Bluefields, p. 2.
"
. . . into a town of about 800 natives
some of whom have considerable influence
amongst the Company’s employees.
All of the foregoing trouble is largely
engendered by economic conditions rather
than political although the Liberals
have attempted to make political capital
out of the unrest and to keep affairs in
a chaotic state in order to lay the
dissatisfaction and unrest at the doors
of the Conservative administration.
¶ b.
ATTITUDE OF CIVIL POPULATION TOWARDS
FORCES. ¶ The
attitude of the population towards the
forces continues to vary from opposition
through tolerance to approbation.
The radical and unlawful elements are
opposed to the forces. The great
majority of the Liberals and
Conservatives are tolerant. A few
of the better educated and traveled
classes as well as many of the
shopkeepers are open in their
approbation of the forces. ¶
c. ECONOMIC
CONDITIONS. ¶
Economic conditions are fair in the
Bluefields District. The banana
demand in the States is higher this
summer than usual and that has made for
good conditions here in the banana
business. Although work is not
over plentiful here the extra labor has
gone to other fields leaving plenty of
work for those that remain. The
mahogany cutting is at an end for this
season as is most of the driving and
loading although a few of the
contractors are still driving logs in
the upper rivers and waiting for another
flood to get the remainder of their logs
down river. Gold mining is at a
standstill on account of the high cost
of provisions, labor and transportation
up river to the mines. Early in
October the contractors will make new
contracts for mahogany and the majority
of them are now hunting suitable tracts
to cut over the next season or have gone
to the interior to denounce the tracts
they have previously located. ¶
Although there is the normal amount of
work in the banana industry on the Rio
Grande the excess labor there is having
a bad effect as outlined in subparagraph
2 of paragraph 1. ¶ (Fresh
fruits are coming into Bluefields from
Corn Island and Pearl Lagoon is
constantly increasing quantities.
They are of excellent quality and
command good prices.) It is
believed economic conditions will
improve in the Bluefields and Rio Grande
district soon, due to opening up new
mahogany cuttings on the Kurringwas
River next season. . . . "
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3.
21 September 1927.
Intelligence Report,
Capt. D. J.
Kendall, Bluefields, p. 3.
"
. . . d. ATTITUDE
OF THE PRESS. ¶ The
attitude of the press continues to be
tolerant. ¶ e.
FRICTION BETWEEN
TROOPS AND CIVIL POPULATION.
¶ There is not any friction
between troops and civil population as a
whole. During the past week a
native criminal in Puerto Cabezas was
shot by a Marine and killed while
attempting in company with three
companions to murder a negro. The
rest of the gang led by the man who was
killed, six in number left Puerto
Cabezas surreptitiously the same night.
They had previously killed a steward
from off a civilian steamer in Puerto
Cabezas. There has been no hard
feeling engendered by this among the
respectable elements of the population
and in fact most of them seem glad that
it has happened as it had a salutary
effect on the rest of the criminal class
in Puerto Cabezas. ¶ f.
POLICE OPERATIONS.
¶ During the past week the Marines
have discontinued policing the streets
in Bluefields and have turned that duty
over to the native police force which
has been issued seven pistols for the
officers and patrolmen actually on duty.
In both Puerto Cabezas and Bluefields
the Marines keep a reserve ready to
assist the police if necessary. A
force of Marines has also been left in
Wawa Central sixty miles into the
interior from Puerto Cabezas to assist
the newly organized police force there.
¶ g.
MILITARY OPERATIONS. ¶
On Sunday, September 11 a patrol of 1
Sergeant and eight men was sent at
midnight from Bluefields to Rio Grande
Bar aboard the Cuyamel Company’s
gasoline tug, Rover with order to
prevent damage to the American property
and interests on the Rio Grande due to
the troubles there. From Thursday
to Saturday two patrols of two men each
went up the Rio Grande on the Power
Barges of the Cuyamel Company picking up
bananas with orders to maintain order
aboard and prevent damage to American
property and interests. The
remainder of the patrol stayed at Rio
Grande Bar. ¶ On Monday
September 12 at midnight fourteen
Marines and two machine guns were
despatched aboard the gasoline Tug B. W.
Waite to Puerto Cabezas as
reinforcements to the detachment of
Marines from this company garrisoning
that place. These reinforcements
were sent in response to a request from
Lieutenant Connette as it then appeared
due to an attack on the Commandante at
Rama Central that Sandino’s forces were
nearing Puerto Cabezas. On
Thursday September 15 the Tulsa arrived
at Puerto . . . "
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4.
21 September 1927.
Intelligence Report, Capt. D. J.
Kendall, Bluefields, p. 4.
" . . .
Cabezas, and landed her Marine Guard
while the remainder of the 51st Company
Marines on duty there went out to Wawa
Central to reinforce the patrol of eight
men sent out there Monday from Puerto
Cabezas. The rumors of Sandino’s
presence in that locality proved false
and the trouble was found to be personal
animosity towards the Commandante at
Wawa Central for overtaxing the laborers
and general malfunctions in office by
that official. ¶ h. POLITICAL SITUATION.
¶ The election of deputy from the
District of Siquia which occurred in
Rama and Vicinity Sunday September 4 on
the official count of the ballots by the
Departmental Council of Elections at
Bluefields, Sunday September 11 resulted
in a victory for the Conservative
nominee by 23 votes. ¶ Political
activity has lapsed temporarily in this
Department except in Bluefields and Rama
where the preparations for the Local
Elections in October are going forward.
The nominees in Bluefields for Mayor are
as stated in the previous report. In
Rama the tickets are as follows: ¶
[table: LIBERAL: Alcalde Proprietario
Carlos Fornos, Alcalde Suplente José
Matamoros, Regidor José Manuel Angulo,
Regidor Suplente Alfonso Montano,
Regidor Suplente (Unknown), Syndico
Leonardo Cajinas ¶ CONSERVATIVE: Alcalde
Proprietario Francisco Salgado, Alcalde
Suplente Padre Nicano Obando, Regidor
Syriaco Brenes [Ciriaco Brenes], Regidor
Suplente Guillermo Soto, Syndico Jose
Dixon [José Dixon] ¶
] ¶ In view of
the facts that the votes in Rama in the
election for Deputy was tied, and that
the Conservative ticket is comprised of
older, more respected, and better liked
men than the Liberal ticket it is
believed that the Conservatives will win
the election in Rama. ¶ Donald J.
Kendall"
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22 September
1927.
Letter from S.
Milon, Providence RI, to US
Consul A. J. McConnico, Bluefields.
"Honorable
Sir: ¶ Your message by Mr. Nat Kloch has
just been received. Please send me
instructions concerning evidence
required. ¶ I should like to state a few
facts that may help some. ¶ General
Viquez in personal witness that I was
shot while forced on a commission by his
command on May 20th, 1926. General
Viquez took statement of these facts and
personally promised me to see that I was
compensated for the damage. ¶ General
Arguello was in charge of Rama when my
house was destroyed. He knows all the
details of how it was broken down and
used for Firewood, Coffins, and for
building Camps on the hills. Considering
this, I should think that the same
General Gustavo Arguello would be the
proper witness to sign these papers of
mine. If I had to go to Managua to
remind him of these things that would
entail a lot of expense that I can’t
afford. Why couldn’t these facts be
brought to his recollection and have him
sign the papers there in Managua by
mail? If it should be so necessary to
get other officials that was in Rama at
the time I could get a few here. ¶ As to
the Looting of the two houses that had
my things, everybody in Rama can be my
witnesses, and some who are in
Bluefields now. ¶ Should I be deprived
of my property, my tools by which I made
an honest living, because of the various
obstacles that are being put in the way
by the Commission of Reclamas, making it
more inconvenient for me to get my
money? I am just now down and out and
can’t undergo any further expense. My
only hope is in you that you will try
your utmost to get this money for me. ¶
I am awaiting your instruction at the
earliest moment. ¶ Yours truly, . . . "
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24 September
1927.
"Peligroso Incendio en Puerto Cabezas:
Millón y Medio de Dólares Escapó de
Perder la Bragman Bluff Lumber Company,"
Diario
Moderno, Managua (Hemeroteca
Nacional, Managua).
"El 9 de
los corrientes, a la media noche, fue
alarmada la ciudad de Puerto Cabezas con
un incendio que se inició en las ricas
propiedades de la Bragman Bluff Lumber
Company valoradas en millón y medio de
dólares y donde trabajan centenares de
nicaragüenses y muchos extranjeros,
éstos como empleados principales. ¶ Solo
3.500 dólares ¶ El fuego sólo destruyó
una casa-bodega cuyo valor es de 3.500
dólares. ¶ Debido a la actividad de la
policía nacional y americana y del
pueblo, pudo solocarse el incendio sin
que causara más daños de los apuntados.
¶ Se cree que en el hecho haya mano
criminal; y no ha faltado quien diga a
Mr. Veitch, gerente de la Bragmann –
según nos informan – que los
responsables del incendio son quizás la
gente de Bilway que no quieren a la
compañía por el litigio que sostienen
por los terrenos. Naturalmente que el
más responsable, en tal caso, en el
Gobierno, que tarda en fallar en este
asunto. ¶ Sin embargo no falta quien
diga que el incendio es obra de
individuos extranjeros que residen en
Puerto Cabezas. ¶ La sombra de Sandino ¶
La noche del 11 del corriente, Alejandro
Ramírez, por asuntos amorosos, dió
muerte a Castón Gómez e hirió gravamente
a Aurelio Sasso. ¶ Con motivo de estas
cuestiones salieron de Bluefields para
Puerto Cabezas los marinos
norteamericanos que vigilaban la primera
población, pues circulaban las noticias
más alarmantes, como la de un levamiento
militar en Puerto Cabezas; que habían
ultrajado la bandera americana y que el
general Augusto C. Sandino se encontraba
en Wawa. ¶ Por supuesto que todo era
producto de la fantasía popular."
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28 September
1927.
Intelligence Report,
Capt. D. J.
Kendall, Bluefields (p. 1 only).
"1.
The following intelligence report is
submitted by this office under the
subheadings as specified in the
reference: ¶ a. GENERAL STATE OF
TERRITORY OCCUPIED ¶ Bluefields district
calm. Rio Grande district quieting due
to continued presence of Marine patrols,
and of Mr. Baker, Nicaraguan manager
Cuyamel Fruit Company who has delivered
an ultimatum to strike promoters and
discharged malcontents among company
employees . Puerto Cabezas district
quieting. ¶ b. ATTITUDE OF CIVIL
POPULATION TOWARD FORCES ¶ Unchanged
since last report . ¶ c. ECONOMIC
CONDITIONS ¶ Improving throughout
Bluefields department due to increased
demand and higher prices for bananas in
the United States necessitating
employment of more banana cutters and
loading crew; rise in price of coconuts
bring about increased shipments and
necessitating more labor and opening up
of new mahogany cuttings and contracts
with organization of new logging crews.
¶ e. ATTITUDE OF PRESS. ¶ Continue to be
tolerant . ¶ e. FRICTION BETWEEN TROOPS
AND CIVIL POPULATION. ¶ None reported. ¶
f. POLICE OPERATIONS. ¶ Although the
Marines are no longer regularly policing
the streets of Bluefields patrols were
called for twice during the past week to
stand by to lend aid . . . "
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28 September
1927.
Message re Albert Fagot, from
US Consul A. J.
McConnico, Bluefields, to US
Minister C. Eberhardt, Managua.
"(True
reading of Code Message sent to the
American Legation, Managua, September
28, 1927). ¶ PM MINISTER, Managua,
September 28, 3 P.M. ¶ Albert Fagot
wishes to ascertain if it is possible
for you to intercede in his behalf in
the case referred to in my report of
August 10. ¶ McConnico."
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22 October
1927.
Intelligence Report,
Capt. D. J.
Kendall, Bluefields, p. 1.
"1. The following intelligence report is
submitted by this office under the
subheadings as specified in the
reference: ¶ GENERAL STATE OF TERRITORY
OCCUPIED ¶ Bluefields Department calm. ¶
ATTITUDE OF CIVIL POPULATION TOWARD
FORCES. ¶ Tolerant. ¶ ECONOMIC
CONDITIONS ¶ Improving because of
endeavors of Cuyamel Co., to produce
more bananas and therefore putting more
laborers to work on its plantations on
the Rio Grande and the new contracts for
mahogany causing the employment of more
lumberjacks. ¶ ATTITUDE OF PRESS ¶
Ignoring tolerance. ¶ FRICTION BETWEEN
TROOPS AND CIVIL POPULATION ¶ None. ¶
POLICE OPERATIONS ¶ Bluefields District,
efficient. Puerto Cabezas and Wawa
Central, marines are aiding native
police as also in the La Cruz and Rio
Grande since Thursday. Civilian police
alone . . . "
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22 October
1927.
Intelligence Report,
Capt. D. J.
Kendall, Bluefields, p. 2.
" . . . unable to cope with lawless
elements in Puerto Cabezas and Wawa
Central and threats on life of
conservative fiscal agent in liberal
community of La Cruz making it necessary
for Marines to police that place. ¶
MILITARY OPERATIONS ¶ None. ¶ POLITICAL
SITUATION ¶ On Wednesday, 19 October the
Jefe Politico of this department
requested the undersigned to send a
marine with the native policeman to
avert disorder or bloodshed while the
policeman was searching a Native house
for two registers of voters in which the
secretary of the conservative party for
the central canton of this city was said
to be illegally inscribing voters. On
the return the registers were
inadvertently left in this office but
were immediately turned over to the
Criminal Judge and receipts for same
secured, as they would be needed by him
as evidence when the charges were
preferred. From the appearance of the
books it seems that illegal registry of
conservative voters had been practiced.
Outside of this incident the campaign
for the municipal elections in Rama and
Bluefields on November 5th has proceeded
without incident during the week
reported on herein. ¶ Donald J.
Kendall."
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26 October
1927.
Letter from J. A.
Fagot, Bluefields, to US Consul
A. J. McConnico, Bluefields.
"Dear Mr. McConnico: - ¶ I beg to
enclose letters of L.S. Mena and Messrs.
Zepeda and Guandique, the lawyers
handling the case for the Albert Fagot
Company. ¶ As the secretary of the
Supreme Court did not answer Mr. Mena,
he is enclosing Guandique’s letter of
notification regarding the court
decisions, dated July 14th; accordingly,
that must be the approximate date of the
decision. ¶ Mr. Mena bases his claim of
injustice on the fact that the Supreme
Court did not allow his brother’s
protest on the records, claiming that he
(Mena) being Albert Fagot’s attorney,
should have done so himself. The fact of
the matter is, that Mr. Mena was first,
a political prisoner and afterwards, was
chased out of town. The opposing lawyer,
as well as the Court, being cognizant of
this fact, took advantage of it to throw
out the protest made by Dr. Mena’s
brother in his absence. ¶ The history of
the case, however, dates back to 1920.
Mr. Ibarra, in whose favor the case was
decided, was Commandante at a place
called Waspook, on the Rio Coco or
Segovia. He signed two contracts for
mahogany with The Albert Fagot Co. One,
to be worked himself, the other to
consist of purchases of mahogany from
Indian cutters. The cutting by the
Indians was illegal, but due to his
position and influence, he was able to
get away with it. His claim is based on
the logs cut by the Indians, part of
which he delivered, part of which
remained in the creeks. ¶ We believe
that Mr. Mena’s protest should have been
allowed, thereby giving him an
opportunity to properly protect our
interests. ¶ Respectfully yours, ¶ J. A.
Fagot."
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1.
29 October 1927.
Intelligence Report,
Capt. D. J.
Kendall, Bluefields, p. 1.
"1.
The following intelligence report is
submitted by this office under the
subheadings as specified in the
reference: ¶ GENERAL STATE OF TERRITORY
OCCUPIED ¶ Quiet. ¶ ATTITUDE OF CIVIL
POPULATION TOWARD FORCES ¶ Tolerant. ¶
ECONOMIC CONDITIONS ¶ Less favorable,
due to the fact that only two of the
mahogany companies have commenced
operations and those two on a reduced
scale only, whereas, in past seasons
contracts have been awarded and work
commenced by all companies prior to this
time. There is some doubt as to whether
or not the remainder of the companies
will attempt to operate at all this
coming season. This attitude has caused
a general weakness and uncertainty in
all business along this coast except the
banana company which continue increased
activities noted in the past several
reports. The Bragman Bluff Lumber
Company shows lessened activities in its
lumbering business which contributes to
the weakened business conditions along
the coast; although this company
continues its efforts to get larger
acreage planted with bananas. ¶ ATTITUDE
OF PRESS ¶ Tolerant. ¶ FRICTION BETWEEN
TROOPS AND CIVIL POPULATION ¶ None. . .
. "
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2.
29 October 1927.
Intelligence Report,
Capt. D. J.
Kendall, Bluefields, p. 2.
"
. . . POLICE OPERATIONS ¶ Bluefields
district efficiency and discipline of
the policemen is good and continues to
improve, although, due to the lax
attitude of the Director of Police
crimes and corruption is on the increase
in Bluefields itself. Puerto Cabezas
continued active cooperation of the
marines with the civilian Director of
Police, Louis Castro, in Puerto Cabezas
had a deterrent effect upon crime there
and is causing migration of many of the
disturbing elements to other parts of
the coast. Rio Grande: at the request of
the Jefe Politico the Marine force at La
Cruz, Rio Grande assisted the civil
authorities of that place in arresting
and bring to Bluefields the men who have
attacked or threatened the Fiscal Agent
sent there and who have attempted to
maintain disorder on the Rio Grande.
These men were placed at the order of
the Criminal Judge and process of law
was instituted against them by the Jefe
Politico. The fact that the Jefe
Politico took this action against
members of his own political party and
the presence of Marine force actually in
La Cruz itself has made a great
improvement in the formally unsettled or
threatening conditions along that river.
A Marine force at the request of the
Department Criminal Judge assisted the
negligent, insubordinate, and
inefficient local agent of police at
Pearl lagoon in rounding up and bringing
to Bluefields for trial the members of
the gang of negro Liberals who have
controlled and terrorized that locality
for some years and I believe who have
assassinated not less than five people
in the last two or three years. Although
the arrest and bringing to trial of the
believed assassins has had a settling
effect on the remainder of the
discordant elements in that locality,
nevertheless, it appears from reports of
proceedings of the trial of these men by
Dr. Jacinto Leon that he intends to
whitewash them of their crimes which
according to common talk and belief here
included the brutal and devaulting
murder of an American John Bolton and
his Nicaraguan common law wife, Doreth
Fox. Puerto Cabezas, Wawa Central, and
La Cruz are now being policed by Marines
in view of this inability of the
civilian police to successfully cope
with the lawless element in those
places. The patrol which made the
arrests in Pearl Lagoon also searched
that locality for arms and found nothing
more than three worn out shotguns, one
sporting rifle, and a Vickers machine
gun belt filling machine. ¶ MILITARY
OPERATIONS ¶ Puerto Cabezas detachment
continues its outpost at Wawa Central
and La Cruz Detachments now maintain
patrols on the Rio Grande River. . . . "
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3.
29 October 1927.
Intelligence Report,
Capt. D. J.
Kendall, Bluefields, p. 3.
"
. . . POLITICAL SITUATION ¶ The
political situation is quiet outside of
Bluefields and Rama where the campaign
for the local elections of November 6th
continue, although in a quiet way. On
October 27th a patrol of five men was
sent to Guadalupe in the Rama District
where the greatest dissatisfaction with
the conduct of the elections of
September 4th occurred and where there
has been some maneuvers between the two
political factions to procure their own
Agent of Police for that place in order
to control the elections there. It is
said that the Jefe Politico has
appointed country judges in the various
polling places while the Conservatives
have attempted to counteract this move
by getting the Administro of Government
to appoint Conservative Agents of Police
in those communities. It is rumored that
they intend to dispose the Internal
Revenue Squad on post in those places to
aid in counteracting the influence of
the Liberal Judges appointed by the Jefe
Politico. ¶ DONALD J. KENDALL"
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8 November
1927.
Special weekly East Nicaraguan coast
information bulletin for week ending 5
November, 1927,
L. B. Green, USS Rochester,
Special Service Squadron, Enroute
Cristobal, Canal Zone.
"1.
The following report of information,
messages and despatches are quoted for
your information: ¶ BLUEFIELDS: On 7
Nov. this garrison inspected by the
Squadron Commander. Conditions were
satisfactory. No disturbances during the
recent elections. 51st Company (less
Puerto Cabezas detachment) is
distributed as follows: ¶ Bluefields –
Capt. Kendall – 29 enl. marines, 1 enl.
navy. ¶ El Bluff – 7 enl. marines ¶ La
Cruz – 2d Lieut. Carroll – 16 enl.
marines. ¶ Rama – 11 enl. marines. ¶ RIO
GRANDE: Area quiet. None of La Cruz
detachment are stationed here. One armed
guard travels on daily trip of Cuyamel
Fruit Company boats. ¶ PUERTO CABEZAS:
Squadron Commander arrived in Rochester
on 6 Nov. and proceeded to Wawa Central.
Detachment at Puerto Cabezas inspected
by Squadron Marine Officer. The area is
quiet. ¶ 2. No report of any
disturbances along the east coast
involving the military forces. ¶ L. B.
Green, 2d. ¶ By direction."
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1.
9 November 1927.
Intelligence Report,
Capt. D. J.
Kendall, Bluefields, p. 1.
"1. The
following intelligence report is
submitted by this office under the
subheadings as specified in the
reference: ¶ GENERAL STATE OF TERRITORY
OCCUPIED ¶ Quiet. ¶ ATTITUDE OF CIVIL
POPULATION TOWARD FORCES ¶ Generally
tolerant to good. Attitude of
Conservatives on the surface is good but
there is an under-current of opposition
becoming manifest on the part of the
Conservatives due to their realization
that the forces are really neutral
rather than in their favor and their
consequent anxiety over the probable
loss of power in a free and honest
election. The attitude of the majority
of the Liberals in improving also due to
their dawning realization that the
forces are neutral and their belief that
for the first time in the history of
Nicaragua there will be a free and
honest election. However along the negro
Liberals who are readers of Markus
Garvey’s publications, with their
antagonistic articles there is a strong
feeling of opposition to the Marines
which they attempt to conceal, however,
probably at the behest of the Liberal
party leaders. In certain localities
such as Puerto Cabezas which was
formerly the seat of Dr. Sacasa’s
Government, La Cruz on the Rio Grande
which was for many months the
Headquarters of Moncada’s Army and Pearl
Lagoon where the Liberals won the
victory which defeated the Conservative
forces on this coast, recent activities
of the Marines in apprehending criminals
and attempting to overcome the boasts
and threats of the natives that only
Liberals could live in those localities
and that no Conservative or foreigner
would be permitted to stay long or leave
those places alive has wakened
opposition to the Marines. However as
these steps were taken at the request of
the Liberal Jefe Politico of this
Department and with the . . . "
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2.
9 November 1927.
Intelligence Report,
Capt. D. J.
Kendall, Bluefields, p. 2.
" . . .
approbation and endorsement of the
Liberal party leaders who did not desire
the good name of the Liberal party
endangered by the activities of such
fanatics and radicals it is believed
that their attitude will soon change
when they find public opinion is against
them and that they have no support in
their opposition to the Marine Forces
even from their own party leaders. ¶
ECONOMIC CONDITIONS ¶ Economic
conditions on this coast are now
extremely serious due to the face that
the Mahogany companies have given but
very few contracts and are expected to
almost completely retire from business
on this coast. If this occurs it is not
believed that the banana companies and
the Bragman Bluff Lumber Company with
its yellow pine lumber business and
railroad construction can possibly
absorb the extra labor. If such occurs
Indians formerly working in the logging
crews will go back into the hills and
continue their existence without
difficulty but only a small number of
the Spaniards from the cutting crews can
be absorbed in the banana plantings and
practically all the negros who have been
occupied in operating power boats in the
mahogany business and stevedoring the
mahogany ships will be without a sense
of livelihood. Some of the younger ones
can return to their house in Grand
Caymans Islands or Jamaica but the
majority of them are older men who have
spent their lives here and own small
properties in the towns and their
situation will be very severe. ¶
ATTITUDE OF PRESS ¶ Tolerant. ¶ FRICTION
BETWEEN TROOPS AND CIVIL POPULATION ¶ No
serious friction but some small and
unfounded complaints growing out of
desire of guilty parties involved in the
cleanups of Puerto Cabezas, Pearl
Lagoon, and La Cruz to shield themselves
and detract attention from their own
misdemeanors. ¶ POLICE OPERATIONS ¶
Bluefields native police continue
policing the city. Although there are
small complaints from time to time from
Liberals who are arrested and attempt to
conceal their derelictions by claiming
they were arrested for political
reasons, nevertheless it is practically
always the case they have committed some
breach of the law which in itself
justified their arrest. Contrary to the
belief expressed in this report a week
ago the trial of the Pearl Lagoon
assassins is progressing satisfactorily
and it is . . . "
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3.
9 November 1927.
Intelligence Report,
Capt. D. J.
Kendall, Bluefields, p. 3.
" . . .
believed that the culprits against whom
public opinion and the burden of proof
is overwhelming will shortly be remanded
to a jury for trial. Although principals
in the disorders at La Cruz were
released under bond to keep the peace it
is believed that this will be sufficient
punishment and warning to prevent
reoccurrences. Marines continue to
assist local police in La Cruz, Puerto
Cabezas and Wawa Central. A notable
decrease in machete slashings and
shootings has occurred in all parts of
the department except in the country
back of Puerto Cabezas which is
difficult on access from the coast, but
where the culprits have an easy means of
escape over the border into Honduras. No
unauthorized allowance of rifles and
ammunition has been issued to the
Governor of the territory of Cabo de
Gracias, who is an extremely fearless
and efficient official, in the hopes
that he may be able with their aid to
cut down the movements of smugglers and
criminals back and forth through his
territory from Honduras into the Puerto
Cabezas district and return. ¶ MILITARY
OPERATIONS ¶ Puerto Cabezas Detachment
continues its outpost at Wawa Central
and La Cruz detachment continues
patrolling the Rio Grande River. La Cruz
Detachment is patrolling that vicinity
in search of the arms hidden nearby by
Liberal soldiers on returning to that
locality after the forces were
disbanded. ¶ POLITICAL SITUATION ¶ The
feature of the political situation was
the Municipal elections campaign in Rama
and Bluefields which together with the
elections themselves are included in a
separate report. ¶ Donald J. Kendall"
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1.
9 November 1927.
Report of elections in Bluefields and
Rama held on 6 November, 1927,
Capt. D. J.
Kendall, Bluefields, p. 1.
"1. The
first move on the offensive in regard to
the election campaigns for municipal
elections in Rama and Bluefields
occurred early in October when Carlos
Pasos, the Liberal Jefe Political,
unearthed an old appointment of Colonel
Trinidad Gutierrez as Agent of Police of
Guadalupe and ordered the post turned
over to him. T he next about a week
later was to appoint Juez de Canton in
the outlying cantons of Rama and
Bluefields in the hope that they might
influence the elections there. The
Conservatives counteracted this by
securing from the President
reappointment of Louis Mongrio a
conservative as Agent of Police at
Guadalupe and appointment of
Conservatives as Agents of Police in the
small outlying cantons of Bluefields and
Rama thus due to the fact that Police
Agents have Judicial Powers,
automatically relieving the Juez de
Cantons which were appointed only in
places where there were no agents of
Police. On October 25th the “theft” of
one hundred litros of guaro from the
Nicaraguan Bonded warehouse in
Bluefields was reported. The Director of
Police, the Administrador de Rentas, and
the Delegate of Hacienda combined to
raise a hue and cry over the “theft”. In
doing so they searched the Chinese
store, imprisoned an innocent negro and
questioned managers of some of the
American Mahogany Companies about
movements of their boats on the night
when the loss occurred. However two
barrels of guaro arrived at Rama two
days before the Elections and the
Marines policing Bluefields election day
closed up several places which were
dispensing free guaro under the auspices
of the Conservatives, to the Voters. On
October 27th a patrol of five Marines
was sent to Guadalupe to maintain order
there, before and during the Elections,
as it was feared that trouble might
occur there due to the attempts of both
parties to ensure control of the Agency
of Police and the fact that the
incumbent at that time, Colonel Trinidad
Gutierrez of the Liberal forces formerly
occupying that place, might attempt to
unearth and move away some of the arms
and ammunition known to the hidden there
by the Liberals and which it has been
impossible thus far to discover. On
October 31st these men were relieved by
a patrol of three Marines and returned
to Bluefields under arrest where they
were awarded Deck Courts for
Drunkenness, regaled by the fiscal Agent
in Rama, with guaro. . . . "
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2.
9 November 1927.
Report of elections in Bluefields and
Rama held on 6 November, 1927,
Capt. D. J.
Kendall, Bluefields, p. 2.
" . . .
On November 3rd a patrol of four men was
sent to Rama and two each to Recreo and
Motaca with orders to preserve peace and
observe the Elections in those places. ¶
2. On November 3rd the Jefe Politico and
the Director of Police in Bluefields,
that it was the desire of both
candidates, and themselves, that the
Marines police the polls and the streets
of Bluefields, and that the Native
Police be withdrawn from the streets
election day to avoid any clashes or
imputations of police pressure during
the elections. The same day the liberal
sector of the Departmental Council of
elections furnished the undersigned with
a signed statement from the Secretary of
the Council, Mr. Salter a Conservative,
sending the following cantons for the
Elections. ¶ [table] ¶ The results of
the elections as far as known are as
shown after the cantons. In the
Bluefields the voting did not commence
at El Bluff until 12:00 noon and the
Agent of Police was President of the
Directorate, therefore the results were
not published and the elections will
probably be repeated November 13th. At
Rama Key the ballots did not arrive due
to the failure of the motor launch in
which they were being sent and the
election will be held there November
13th. Although Punta Gorda which lies
about thirty miles to the southward of
Bluefields on the coast was not
specified by the Department Council as a
canton, nevertheless, a ballot box has
come in from there. Its contents are not
known, inasmuch as the scrutiny of the
votes will not be practiced until after
November 13th, when the ballots are
received from El Bluff and Rama Key. It
is rumored that voting also occurred in
Cucra River and that the ballots will be
brought in by the Conservatives. Both
Punta Gorda and Cucra River was said to
be almost unanimously Conservative. In
Rama District, returns from Posos
Redonda which is several days paddle up
Siquia River have not been received. The
ballots from Motaca which went strongly
Liberal were being returned to Rama in
the same canoe in which the Marine
patrol from that place returned to Rama.
About half way down the Conservative
President of the Directorate who had the
ballots in a rubber canoe bag left the
motor canoe taking the ballots with him
into his own canoe which was towing
astern . . . "
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3.
9 November 1927.
Report of elections in Bluefields and
Rama held on 6 November, 1927,
Capt. D. J.
Kendall, Bluefields, p. 3.
" . . .
and returned to Rama therein. The motor
canoe went up the Mico River to Recreo
to bring down the Marines from that
place to Rama. On Monday morning at Rama
the Mayor asked the Marines from Motaca
for the ballots, the Conservative
President of the Directorate having
claimed that he left them with the
Marines. This was disproven however, by
testimony of members of both parties and
the President of the Directorate was
sent to Bluefields for confinement
awaiting trial on charges of destruction
of the ballots; brought by the Liberal
candidate for Mayor of Rama. ¶ 3. At
Bluefields the Jefe Politico and both
candidates requested that the ballot
boxes be deposited at the Marine
Barracks until the scrutiny is performed
as they had no secure place to keep
them. The ballet boxes are now here at
the barracks awaiting the scrutiny after
November 13th. ¶ 4. On Friday November
4th the Conservative President of the
Central canton was ordered confined by a
jury which tried charges against him of
illegally inscribing voters. ¶ 5. In
Bluefields during election day Liberals
frequently complained that Conservatives
in many cases did not permit Liberals
who were inscribed to vote. In carrying
out my mission of observing the election
in several such cases I went to the
cantons to find out whether or not the
men actually were inscribed. In a number
of cases I found out that the men were
inscribed in several different cantons
and were not allowed to vote for that
reason while in other instances due to
differences in age of the man attempting
to vote it was clear that the would-be
voter was not the man who inscribed
himself. In other cases the age of the
incumbent voter and the fact that he
admitted having lived all his life in
Bluefields and was a negro showed that
he came under the provisions of the
Harrison-Altamirano Treaty and therefore
was not allowed to vote. The
Conservatives contend that negros
resident in Bluefields before the date
of the treaty are not Nicaraguan
citizens and therefore not eligible to
vote. While the Liberals claim that this
treaty confers on the negro residents
here before the date of the treaty all
privileges of the Nicaraguan citizen and
therefore the right to vote. As a matter
of fact these same negros while most
vociferous in their claims of their
right to vote are nevertheless the first
to claim English citizenship when they
are in trouble of services to the
Government or taxes are demanded from
them. In some few cases inscriptions
seemed to be correct and when any
information regarding the reasons for
not having permitted to vote was sought
by the undersigned the President of the
Directorate would state that they had
not tried to vote previously and would
then accept the vote. Although I
explained to the President of the
Directorate at each canton that I had no
right nor desire to interfere in any way
but would appreciate an opportunity to
observe and verify the truth or
falsehood of the complaints that were
brought to me nevertheless since the
election I have heard of some complaints
by . . . "
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4.
9 November 1927.
Report of elections in Bluefields and
Rama held on 6 November, 1927,
Capt. D. J.
Kendall, Bluefields, p. 4.
" . . .
Conservative members of the Directorate
that I force them to accept certain
votes. Although probably upwards of
three hundred of the negro Liberals were
absent from Bluefields during election
day loading banana ships or mahogany
ships, nevertheless, practically every
negro who is registered voted, except in
a few cases where young boys were
detected trying to vote for men twice
their years. ¶ DONALD J. KENDALL"
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14 November
1927.
Cable from US
Minister C. Eberhardt, Managua,
to Sec. State, Washington D.C., p. 1.
"Sir: ¶
I have the honor to report that the
American Consul at Bluefields,
Nicaragua, on August 10, 1927,
transmitted to the Legation a request
from Mr. Albert Fagot, an American
citizen residing at Cape Gracias, that
the Legation assist Mr. Fagot in
connection with a case recently decided
against him by the Supreme Court of
Nicaragua. It appears that Mr. Carlos
Hernaldo Ibarra had brought suit against
Mr. Fagot in connection with a contract
for cutting mahogany and cedar and that
the suit had been decided against the
latter, first in the local court and
then by the Appellate Court at
Bluefields. When the decision of the
later court was rendered, Mr. ¶ Fagot’s
. . . "
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14 November
1927.
Cable from US
Minister C. Eberhardt, Managua,
to Sec. State, Washington D.C., p. 2.
"
. . . Fagot’s attorney, who was a
Liberal, had been imprisoned and later
deported for political reasons. A
brother of the attorney, acting as
“agente oficioso” appealed to the
Supreme Court at Managua, which rejected
the appeal on the ground that the
“agente oficioso” under the
circumstances, had no legal standing
before the court. This decision was
rendered by the Supreme Court before its
re-organization in accordance with the
Stimson Agreement. The Legation has thus
far been unable to obtain from Mr. Fagot
a full statement of the facts upon which
the original suit against him was based.
¶ The Legation is today requesting the
Consul at Bluefields to inform Mr. Fagot
that it is not in a position to take any
action in his favor. The only ground
upon which Mr. Fagot’s claim for denial
of justice is based appears to be the
Supreme Court’s decision that the appeal
from the decision of the Appellate Court
at Bluefields could not be considered
because the case was one in which as
“agente oficioso” could not properly set
under the local law. This would appear
to be a matter for the Supreme Court to
decide and the propriety of questioning
the decision would, in any event, be
very doubtful. Under the present
circumstances it would be extremely
inadvisable to suggest that one of the
decisions of the former Supreme Court be
reversed, because the Legation and the
Department have constantly insisted that
the decisions of the de facto court be
respected. ¶ I have the honor to be,
Sir,"
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16 November
1927.
Intelligence Report,
Capt. D. J.
Kendall, Bluefields, p. 1.
"1. The following intelligence report is
submitted by this office under the
subheadings as specified in reference
(a). ¶ GENERAL STATE OF TERRITORY
OCCUPIED ¶ Calm, except Puerto Cabezas
where reports of incendiarism and
disorder are being made, due to
approaching elections for Senator,
November 20th, and efforts of Bragman
Bluff Lumber Company to remove squatters
village from its land at Bilway to new
location. ¶ ATTITUDE OF CIVIL POPULATION
TOWARD FORCES ¶ Generally improving.
Majority of Liberal element shows
improvement in attitude toward forces
and Conservatives attitude shows no
opposition, although uneasiness on their
part is manifest, both reactions being
due to increasing realization that
forces are neutral and not in favor of
either party. Local public opinion at
Pearl Lagoon and La Cruz seems to be
awakened in favor of Marines for
suppressing the diodes formerly
occurring in those places. This local
opinion is manifested by letter
addressed to friends of the Marine
Forces here and by cessation of the
threats of disorder and reprisals and by
a more generally favorable attitude of
the local civil population in those
places and their friends and relatives
in Bluefields toward the Marines. ¶
ECONOMIC CONDITIONS ¶ Previously
reported poor economic conditions show
slight improvement this week due to the
fact that Mahogany companies have
resumed making contracts and the
stoppage of their business is not as
serious as at first had been
anticipated, although their operations
will be . . . "
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16 November
1927.
Intelligence Report,
Capt. D. J.
Kendall, Bluefields, p. 2.
"
. . . greatly curtailed in comparison to
previous seasons. The banana business
continues excellent in the Bluefields
and Rio Grande districts due to the high
quality of fruit which has been brought
about by increased care in the handling
of same since Mr. S. H. Baker and his
assistant Mr. Buckner resumed
managership of this division of the
Cuyamel Fruit Company. ¶ ATTITUDE OF
PRESS ¶ In general good; no articles in
opposition to the Marines having
occurred in any of the papers except the
newly organized Bluefields News which
contained a mild attack on the Marines
for assisting the Native Police in
apprehending the Pearl Lagoon assassins.
This paper is organized and controlled
by the radical Liberal negros and the
article in question was inspired by the
lawyer of the Pearl Lagoon assassins in
hopes of clouding the issue of their
crime and mitigating their offenses. ¶
FRICTION BETWEEN TROOPS AND CIVIL
POPULATION ¶ None. ¶ POLICE OPERATIONS ¶
In Bluefields, where native police are
in control, the number of arrests for
political reasons seems to be
increasing, as likewise those for
personal reasons on the part of the
policeman, although where latter cases
are known to the Director of Police the
arrested persons are promptly released
and the policeman reprimanded or
punished. In Puerto Cabezas, Marines and
native police are cooperating in
policing that district where the problem
is particularly difficult due to large
criminal element brought about by the
boom conditions there, and the easy
means of ingress and egress over the
border from Honduras. It is believed
that the effects of providing the
Governor of Cabo de Gracias with arms
for the police force will shortly be
felt in reducing the freedom of movement
of smugglers and criminals across the
border. The Agent of Police at Guadalupe
has been provided with arms for a police
force and is actively prosecuting a
search for the hidden arms left there by
the Liberals. Puerto Cabezas has been
organized and will operate a combined
force of ten men and Commandante. The
force has been armed and dispatched to
Rio Grande district where it is believed
that cutting down the flow of cheap
illicit liquor will greatly decrease
disorder and machete bouts."
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1.
22 November 1927.
Intelligence Report,
Capt. D. J.
Kendall, Bluefields, p. 1.
"1. The
following intelligence report is
submitted by this office under the
subheadings as specified in reference
(a) ¶ GENERAL STATE OF TERRITORY
OCCUPIED ¶ Calm. ¶ ATTITUDE OF CIVIL
POPULATION TOWARD FORCES ¶ No change. ¶
ECONOMIC CONDITIONS ¶ Improvement
continues owing to resumption of
business by Mahogany companies although
their business is far below normal. The
economic condition of all activities
dependent upon the Government of
Nicaragua is poor. For example, the
Postmaster at Bluefields has only been
paid for every other month since he took
over the office in June, he is only paid
for one assistant and has to hire two
more from his own funds, and he states
that the Government allows him but ten
dollars per month for handling mail to
and from the Bluff whereas he has to
spend thirty dollars per month to get
the necessary work done. Therefore the
mail service is very poor and business
suffers accordingly. Also the telephone
personnel has been out down to only one
operator and no lineman while the
demands on that service are unchanged.
The telephone line from Bluefields to
its port, El Bluff, . . . "
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2.
22 November 1927.
Intelligence Report,
Capt. D. J.
Kendall, Bluefields, p. 2.
" . . .
is in very bad condition due to lack of
repairs and lack of personnel to make
what repairs might be accomplished
without any materials. The consequent
slowness in these two means of
communication used by business houses
retards commerce and depresses economic
conditions. ¶ ATTITUDE OF PRESS ¶
Tolerant. ¶ FRICTION BETWEEN TROOPS AND
CIVIL POPULATION ¶ None. ¶ POLICE
OPERATIONS ¶ The activities of the
Resguardia de Hacienda in the Rio Grande
district are cutting down the flow of
illicit liquor in that regent and
consequently decreasing crime while
augmenting the sales of the government
guaro. Marines continue to assist the
native police in La Cruz, Puerto Cabezas
and Wawa Central. ¶ MILITARY OPERATIONS
¶ Puerto Cabezas Detachment continues
its outpost at Wawa Central and
maintains weekly patrolling of the
Railroad line between that place and
Puerto Cabezas. The La Cruz Detachment
maintains patrol of the Rio Grande
River. ¶ POLITICAL SITUATION ¶ Although
according to the figures submitted by
the Marine Patrols which maintained
order and observed the local election
held November 6th at Rama and
Bluefields, the Liberals won by a large
majority in each place, nevertheless
Conservatives claim the victory in both
places. The scrutiny of the votes has
not been practiced in either place. The
excuses being, at Rama, that the votes
from Mataca were lost and the scrutiny
cannot be performed until they are
found, at Bluefields, voting has not
occurred at Rama Cay due to the absence
of both registers. At Bluefields a
ballot box with votes from Punta Gorda
was brought in evidently by the
Conservatives in hopes that that
locality which is almost unanimously
conservative would enable them to swing
the election. Punta Gorda is shown on
the map as a canton of Sequia district
and it is difficult to determine what
possible excuse there is for allowing
votes from there to be introduced in the
Bluefields municipal election. . . . "
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3.
22 November 1927.
Intelligence Report,
Capt. D. J.
Kendall, Bluefields, p. 3.
" . . .
It is believed that the failure to
practice the scrutiny of the votes is
part of a studied and deliberate attempt
on the part of the Conservatives to gain
the victory by fair means or foul. It is
believed that they do this in an
endeavor to give the lie to the Liberal
claims of a majority here and to hold
the power until the next election. It is
believed that they hope to delay the
scrutiny until the new Senate has an
opportunity to name a Conservative
Supreme Court when any protest by the
Liberals against votes thrown out would
be fruitless. Although it is incorrect
according to the election law to thus
postpone the scrutiny nevertheless there
seems to be an element of justice in the
grounds upon which the conservatives
will probably attempt to throw out many
of the Liberal votes. These grounds are,
that although many of the creoles were
absent from Bluefields on election day
stevedoring on ships nevertheless
somebody cast a vote for practically
every creole inscribed, and many of the
creoles inscribed as voters are listed
at the English Consulate as English
citizens. ¶ Advise was received from
Puerto Cabezas that no catalogs of
voters could be found and therefore it
is believed no elections for Senator
were practiced there Sunday, November
20th as scheduled. No returns or advises
scheduled for other parts of this
Department on that date have yet been
received and it is seriously doubted
that any were practiced and it is
believed that the Conservatives who
control the Departmental Council of
Elections desire if possible to prevent
any elections before the Senate
reconvenes in order that this Department
will keep its Conservative Senator and
not jeopardize the conservative majority
in that body. ¶ Donald J. Kendall"
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29 November
1927.
Intelligence Report,
Capt. D. J.
Kendall, Bluefields, p. 1.
"1.
The following intelligence report is
submitted by this office under the
subheadings as specified in the
reference. ¶ GENERAL STATE OF TERRITORY
OCCUPIED. ¶ Calm. ¶ ATTITUDE OF CIVIL
POPULATION TOWARD FORCES. ¶ In general
tolerant. Liberals more favorable.
Conservatives undercurrent of
dissatisfaction due to failure of forces
to fall in with or overlook their
mismanagement of elections. Pearl Lagoon
and Creole population, friends and
relatives of Pearl Lagoon assassins
opposed to forces, enemies of assassins
highly favorable to forces. ¶ ECONOMIC
CONDITIONS. ¶ Banana business excellent,
Mahogany business greatly decreased,
except in the vicinity of Pearl Lagoon
and Curinhuas River from which
localities practically all new contracts
are being given. Completion of a rice
mill at Pearl Lagoon greatly improves
conditions in that locality and makes
possible successful planting of rice
there, thereby enabling it to be sold on
this coast at a great reduction in price
over the imported article and providing
a new source of revenue to the coast. ¶
ATTITUDE OF PRESS. ¶ In general
tolerant. Creole newspaper opposed to
forces as far as their aid in
apprehending the Pearl Lagoon assassins
is concerned. ¶ FRICTION BETWEEN TROOPS
AND CIVIL POPULATION. ¶ None. . . . "
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29 November
1927.
Intelligence Report,
Capt. D. J.
Kendall, Bluefields, p. 2.
" . . .
POLICE OPERATIONS. ¶ Services of the
native police at Puerto Cabezas under
the command of Louis Castro continues to
be efficient. An increasing tendency of
the part of the native police in
Bluefields to make arrests of persons of
the opposite political belief on very
little or no provocation, and to ignore
misdemeanors and crimes of those of
their own belief is noted. ¶ MILITARY
OPERATIONS. ¶ The detachment at La Cruz
was reduced from one Lieutenant and
sixteen men to one corporal and eleven
men on Saturday November 26th that
section having been greatly pacified by
the presence in La Cruz of a marine
detachment. ¶ POLITICAL SITUATION. ¶ On
Saturday November 26th through the
medium of the marine forces a conference
was brought about between the two
candidates for mayor of Bluefields, the
present acting mayor of Bluefields, and
the Departmental Council of Elections at
which it was decided to dispense with
any further attempt to hold an election
for Mayor of Bluefields in the canton of
Rama Key this year and a pact to that
effect was signed. Thus the delay in
practicing the scrutiny of votes should
be terminated by Wednesday November
30th. Although the Conservatives in Rama
claim a victory in the elections there,
and state that they have practiced the
scrutiny, nevertheless the results of
same have never been released. They
claim that their victory was brought
about by throwing out votes of repeaters
but no definite information has been
given out as to how many votes were
thrown out in this manner. According to
information from marine patrols who
observed the election in Rama district
and information from other sources it
seems very probably that repeating was
practiced on a very large scale by the
Liberals although this of course does
not excuse the secret scrutiny performed
by the Conservatives nor their
subsequent failure to release its
results. Conservatives at Rama claim
that the results of the scrutiny were
withheld until fifteen days after the
election in order to prevent the
Liberals appealing the decision to the
Supreme Court which they control. The
Liberals in this locality state that Dr.
Sandoval claims to have received
information from Marino Arguello, a
Liberal politician in the interior that
the election for deputies in the Rama
district was awarded to Sandoval as a
result of representation made by the
American Minister and it is stated here
that Sandoval and Dr. Casanova will
leave here December 12th for the
interior to take their posts as deputy
and vice deputy respectively. ¶ DONALD
J. KENDALL"
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