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THIS IS THE SECOND PAGE OF
DOCUMENTS FOR THE SECOND HALF OF 1930
on Nicaragua's Caribbean Coast region, housing
materials dated during the months of October, November &
December.
Month after
month, the astute Col.
Marston reports on the devastation &
misery wrought by the economic
depression, and, remarkably, in the
requisite categories, reports:
"Friction between Guardia and civil
population: NONE … Civil attitude
toward the Guardia: GOOD … Attitude
of press toward Guardia: FAVORABLE".
With local elections slated for
early November, much attention is
devoted to political affairs and the
Guardia's supervisory electoral
role. Given these conditions,
the absence of organized violence of
any magnitude in the Coast is
striking & stands in sharp contrast
to Las Segovias during this period.
Meanwhile on the western frontier,
with the Neptune & other
interior mines under continual
threat of attack by rebels, much ink
is spent on how, exactly, to protect
them. In the end, Henry
Springer, President of the Bonanza
Mines Company, cuts a deal with the
Guardia to split the cost (26 Nov).
General McDougal offers a realistic
assessment of the ungovernability of
the Upper Coco & indeed of much of
the interior (15 Dec), while J. A.
Fisher of the Moravian Church in his
annual report waxes despondent on
the backsliding & lack of Christian
charity among many of the converted
(31 Dec). The land dispute
between the communities of Bilwi and
Karata (20 Nov) offers a telling
instance of Miskitu insistence on
their “natural rights” as inscribed
in law – a discourse vastly
different than Sandino’s emphasis on
patriots & traitors & invaders &
defending the sovereignty of the
nation.
Meantime, Sandino begins
to set in motion his
planned spring 1931 offensive into
the Caribbean Coast region (21 Nov & 20
Dec).
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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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4 October
1930.
Record of Events, September 1930,
Eastern Area, Col. John Marston,
Bluefields, to Jefe Director GN,
Managua, p. 1.
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4 October
1930.
Record of Events, September 1930,
Eastern Area,
Col. John Marston, Bluefields, to
Jefe Director GN, Managua, p. 2.
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3 November
1930.
Record of Events, October 1930, Eastern
Area, Col. John
Marston, Bluefields, to Jefe
Director GN, Managua, p. 1.
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3 November
1930.
Record of Events, October 1930, Eastern
Area, Col. John
Marston, Bluefields, to Jefe
Director GN, Managua, p. 2.
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8 November
1930.
Letter from John
F. Muller, New Orleans LA, to Mr.
Dana G. Munro, Department of State,
Washington D.C.
"New Orleans, La.
¶ November 8, 1930. ¶ Department of
State, ¶ Washington, D. C. ¶ Mr Dana G.
Munro, ¶ Chief, Division of Latin
American Affairs. ¶ Dear Sir: ¶ Your
letter in answer to my telegram and
later communications for protection of
my Brother and his family located on the
Wanks or Coca River Cape Gracias
Nicaragua received some time back. ¶ I
have just received a communication from
those parts stating that an Officer and
six soldiers was sent on the River and
made an investigation they stayed only a
short time and returned to Puerta
Cabeza. I find that they did not get any
information as the people was afraid of
being punished or killed if the bandits
found they had gave out any information
against them. I have been informed that
the bandits have control of the upper
river as far as Wasspook Mouth. ¶ No
doubt you have had a report from the
Officer making the investigation as to
conditions. ¶I am again asking for
protection of my brother and his family,
their lives are in danger, they had to
leave their plantation on a few minutes
notice and cannot return as the bandits
are near and have sworn to kill him for
no other reason than that he served with
the United States Marines, they are
Americans. I fail to see why our
Government cannot give American citizens
full protection in Nicaragua especially
those performed special duty serving
their country. ¶ I am making a special
request that my brother and his family
be given full protection as an American
should be given in any part of the world
and at once before it is too late for
this protection. What have we got gun
boats for chase one of them to Cape
Gracias from there send up the river
several launches with Marines and wipe
out the bandits make a clean sweep of it
this time so there will be no comeback.
¶ Hoping that you can comply with my
request ¶ Yours very truly, ¶ J.F.
MULLER, 7806 Maple St."
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11 November
1930 (1158).
Radiogram from
Onofre Sandoval, Bluefields, to
Dr. Enoc Aguado, Vice President of the
Republic, Managua.
"Guardias
were withdrawn from the working mine
Bonanza the only industry of Pispis
district which subsist two villages.
Property looted twice before.
Bandits quartered at Bocaycito
patrolling at two days journey to the
mine undoubtedly they will loot the mine
for a third time causing another claim
against the Government as a result.
Please take the matter up with the
President to reinstall Guardia there.
Manager of mine Henry Franklin Springer
in a last effort comprises to subsist
and pay five guardias armed with a
machine gun and protected by the people.
The hopeless situation of the East Coast
claims measures of protection to life
and interest."
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18 November
1930 (0920).
Radiogram from
Henri F. Springer, Bluefields, to
Jefe Director GN Gen. McDougal, Managua.
"Work at Neptune
Mine paralized. People are
fleeing. Five men defending
property. Bandits near. Request
you to send guardias from here before
bandits have time to sack mine as
Guardia say have no orders. Thanks
for your attention."
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20 November
1930.
Rights of Indians in the Bilwi-Karata
Dispute, cable from
British Consul
Owen Rees, Bluefields, to Foreign
Minister, London, p. 1.
[NOTE:
Consul Rees cable to London dated 29
Nov. 1930; his comment:] "This
is quite unintelligible to me."
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20 November
1930.
Rights of Indians in the Bilwi-Karata
Dispute, cable from
British Consul
Owen Rees, Bluefields, to Foreign
Minister, London, p. 2. Letter
from Dr. P. P. P.
Gallo, Attorney at Law, Puerto
Cabezas, to Mr. Owen Rees, H. M. Consul,
Bluefields, 20 Nov. 1930.
"Sir:
I have to acknowledge the receipt of
your letter of the 5th instant, in which
you state the facts, in connection with
the Bilway land dispute, in a concise
and clear manner, and I am asked to
assist you in defending the Community of
Bilway in their rights; having read and
studied carefully your letter. I
fully agree with you, when you say that
"The Community of Bilway were not
granted title to the SITE of their
village, and the Karata Indians were
arbitrarily and unlawfully granted title
to the site, thereby, depriving the
rightful owners of their acquired
natural rights, by what process of
reasoning this was done I cannot
understand, for the whole matter is in
direct contravention of the laws of
Nicaragua, and of the Protocol or the
Allotment List to the H-A Treaty, in
accordance with which all title for
lands have been granted to the Indians.
When Mr. Jackson was Sindico of Bilway
he made a copy of the one, that is on
file at this Consulate, - which is in
the hand-writing of the British
Commissioner (Mr. Chaulkley) - but in
case this is lost I will give in
continuation that portion of it,
pertaining to the question in dispute.
... "Karata's Allotment. - 1,200
Hectares. (1) Lamlaya on direccion
oeste de Bilwi Tignui, Lamlaya to a
point west of Bilwi Tignui. (2)
Dackban, east of a spring of water named
Carabila. Allotments of the TEN
VILLAGES. - 10,000 hectares.
The savanas between the rivers Hueso and
Tawa, enclosing the Site of each village
mentioned, within the boundary of land
allotted to it." You will observe
there is nothing in the above
instructions to warrant the Surveyor in
crossing to the east of Bilwi Tignui,
thereby, depriving the Community of
Bilwi of its acquired natural rights.
If the Indians appoint you to defent
them in their RIGHTS, I am of the
opinion that, this matter should be
brought before the Jefe Politico of
having a resurvey made. For
according to the LEY REGLAMIENTO all
disputes arising in connection with the
H-A. Treaty must be decided by the Jefe
Politico and Foreign Minister. . . . "
[signed by both Gallo & Rees]
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21 November
1930.
Carta de Gen.
Augusto C. Sandino, Cuartel
General del EDSNN, to Col. Abraham
Rivera, Río Coco, p. 1.
"... El
General González irá con los mismos
treinta hombres que están a sus órdenes,
y con el equipo íntegro a como lo
trajeron de Honduras, pues he
considerado que al hacer mi viaje al
interior, es bueno que en el Río quede
una fuerza competente, por muchos
motivos. ¶ No importa que el Gral.
González tenga un grado más alto que la
jerarquía de usted, pues irá bien
entendido, por las explicaciones que le
haré; y no será Jefe Expedicionario en
el Río, sino que irá como inspector
militar del Río Coco, Cnel. Abraham
Rivera. ¶ El hermano Gral. González es
un hombre sencillo, pero valiente y
sincero, por lo que sabrá ser muy
respetuoso con usted, así como es él
conmigo. ¶ He procurado que entre los
muchachos que van con el Gral. González
no vaya entre ellos ninguno que sea
padre de familia, para que puedan allí
mismo en el Río buscarse sus "hembritas"
y aumenten así los Defensores de la
Justicia. ..."
[NOTE:
English translation of last sentence:
"I have tried to arrange things so that
among the young men who go with General
González no family fathers will be
included, so that there on the river
itself they may look for their 'little
women' and thereby multiply the
defenders of Justice ..." (trans. is
Robert E. Conrad's, in his Sandino:
Testimony of a Nicaraguan Patriot,
Princeton Univ. Press, 1990, p. 356).
This is a key text illustrating
Sandino's "pro-natalist" policy toward
the indigenous peoples of the Upper Coco
& the deep interior, encouraging
consensual sexual relations between the
Segovian (Spanish-speaking) members of
his Army and the indigenous Miskitu &
Sumu young women of the zone. The
missive also hints at Sandino's initial
planning for his spring 1931 offensive
into the Atlantic Coast region.]
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21 November
1930.
Carta de
Gen. Augusto C. Sandino, Cuartel General
del EDSNN, to Col. Abraham Rivera, Río
Coco, p. 2.
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26 November
1930.
Memorandum Agreement between
Henry F. Springer
and Col. John Marston,
Bluefields.
"It is
hereby agreed, in consideration of
police and protection services of a
detachment of enlisted men from the
Guardia Nacional de Nicaragua, that the
Bonanza Mines Company will furnish
transportation between BLUEFIELDS (or
PUERTO CABEZAS) and the NEPTUNE MINE,
suitable living quarters, adequate
rations and best medical sevices
available locally, for ten (10) enlisted
men. The Bonanza Mines Company
also agrees to furnish transportation
between BLUEFIELDS (or PUERTO CABEZAS)
and the NEPTUNE MINE for all transfers
and replacements of enlisted men, all
stores, clothing, munitions, and
official inspection trips of officers as
may be necessary in the course of
military routine. This agreement
is effective this date and will continue
in force until formally cancelled by the
Guardia Nacional or The Bonanza Mines
Company, on thirty (30) days notice."
[Signed by Springer & Marston]
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26 November
1930.
Area Special Order No. 17 - 1930.
Col. John
Marston, Bluefields.
"1. NEPTUNE MINE
post is hereby established at NEPTUNE,
Nicaragua, in the Department of Northern
Bluefields, Eastern Area, Guardia
Nacional de Nicaragua. 2. This
post will be garrisoned by eight rasos,
one corporal, and one Noncommissioned
Officer in Charge, total ten. ..."
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26 November
1930 (1610).
Radiogram from
Col. John Marston, Bluefields, to
Jefe Director GN, Managua.
"STRONGLY
RECOMMEND REAPPOINTMENT LACAYO AS JEFE
POLITICO BLUEFIELDS PERIOD LOCAL EFFORT
BEING MADE TO CREATE IMPRESSION HE IS
OPPOSED BY GUARDIA 14026 NOV 30 MARSTON"
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1.
3 December 1930.
Record of Events, November 1930, Eastern
Area. Col.
John Marston, Bluefields, to Jefe
Director GN, Managua, p. 1.
"December 3,
1930. ¶ From: The Area Commander,
Eastern Area. ¶ To: The Jefe Director,
Headquarters Guardia Nacional de
Nicaragua, Managua, Nicaragua. ¶
Subject: Record of Events, November
1930, Eastern Area. ¶ -2- ¶ SUBJECT :
Record of Events, November 1930, Eastern
Area. ¶ C. MILITARY OPERATIONS.
(Continued) ¶ 12 Nov Lieutenant
Schriber, USMC, Lieutenant Bowling, USN,
Ph M1C1 Biggar, USN, and sixty-three
Marine enlisted embarked on U S S
ASHEVILLE for distribution to CANAL ZONE
and MANAGUA. U S S ASHEVILLE left for
CANAL ZONE. ¶ 13 Nov Two planes,
Lieutenants Mc Quade and Young, USMC,
pilots, Captain Best, passenger, left
for MANAGUA. LIEUTENANT WITHERS,
Commanding, with LIEUENANT MARTIN, the
Seventeenth Company, (37 enlisted, 1
guide) left for MANAGUA, via schooner
ROSITA. ¶ 14 Nov LIEUTENANT HOLDAHL,
SERGEANS KIPP, HUTCHCROFT, RAGSDALE, and
CORPORAL BELL and FRYE, USMC, joined
Guardia Nacional by transfer from Second
Brigade, USMC, and assigned to duty with
Headquarters Detachment, Eastern Area. ¶
18 Nov CAPTAIN WOOD left on inspection
trip to LA CUZ, EL GALLO, and RIO GRANDE
BAR, via Cuyamel Fruit Co Barge No. 2. ¶
21 Nov CAPTAIN WOOD returned from
inspection of LA CRUZ, EL GALLO, and RIO
GRANDE BAR. ¶ 26 Nov Acting CAPTAIN
HOLDAHL and Acting LIEUTENANTS KIPP,
HUTCHINCROFT, RAGSDALE, BELL and FRYE
left BLEUFIELDS for MANAGUA Via schooner
ROSITA. ¶ 27 Nov LIEUTENANT RIEWE and
ten enlisted left BLUEFIELDS via
schooner ULTRAMAR, under orders to
establish permanent post of NEPTUNE
MINE, in the Department of Northern
Bluefields. ¶ 2. Military duties
performed. Police of EA, and military
training of personnel. 3. No enemy
contacts. ¶ D . POLICE OPERATIONS ¶ 1.
See Departmental Reports. ¶ 2. General
Police Conditions. QUIET. ¶ E.
INTELLIGENCE. ¶ 1. General state of
territory occupied. QUIET. ¶ 2. Military
situation. No known enemy in this Area.
¶ 3. Economic Conditions. ¶ The economic
depression noticeable throughout the
entire republic is probably having a
more serious effect upon the residents
of the East Coast than any other part of
the country. The chief agricultural
product here is the banana. Very few
other products are grown. Corn is not a
staple article of food, and garden
vegetables are practically unknown. The
small quantity of rice grown at PEARL
LAGOON and the few beans grown along the
river banks during the dry season, when
the water is low, have no significance
as a source of general food supply.
[...]"
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2.
3 December 1930.
Record of Events, November 1930, Eastern
Area. Col.
John Marston, Bluefields, to Jefe
Director GN, Managua, p. 2.
"[...] SUBJECT:
Record of Events, November 1930, Eastern
Area. ¶ E. INTELLIGENCE. (Continued) ¶
3. Economic Situation. ¶ The principal
foods on this coast are rice and beans,
generally fried with lard. All three of
these foods, (rice, beans and lard), are
imported from the United States or
Colon, except some of the bean supply
which comes down the San Juan River from
the “Interior”. ¶ As a consequence, no
one eats the usual diet on this coast
unless money is available for the
purchase of the food. Green bananas can
be boiled in an emergency and can, I
suppose, support life for a considerable
period, but the East Coaster prefers,
and must have rice and beans. I am
inclined to believe that the lack of
local food produce is due to climatic
conditions, (the heavy rains making it a
difficult matter to raise most crops),
and not, as many believe, due to
indolence or indifference. ¶ I have
noticed on my inspections the ragged and
tattered and ill-nourished appearance of
hundreds of river dwellers who have lost
their employment as workers with banana
or mahogany companies. Under these
conditions robbery and thievery and
allied misdemeanors are certain to
increase. Already two commissaries of
the United Fruit Company subsidiary, The
Cukra Development Company, have been
robbed, and further depredations are to
be expected. Thus, the reduction of the
Guardia Nacional has come at a time when
police conditions of the Area are making
greater and greater demands upon the
outlying posts of the organization. ¶ No
serious disorders have yet occurred, but
there is sufficient evidence to indicate
a restlessness on the part of the
laboring element, which may break out in
violence at any time. There is growing
resentment against the Government
because of the high duties placed on
food stuffs and other essentials of
existence on the East Coast. ¶ 4.
Friction between Guardia and Civil
population: NONE. Civil attitude toward
Guardia: GOOD. Attitude of press toward
Guardia: FAVORABLE. The weekly
newspaper, “THE AMERICAN”, Sr. Fernando
Chamorro, P., proprietor, Dr. Jose Angel
Romero Rojas, editor, started
publication on November 1, 1930, in
Bluefields. ¶ 5. Political Situation.
The victory of the Liberals’ candidate
in the recent elections, in Bluefields,
was a conclusive one, but the
Conservatives feel that they made an
excellent showing. Heberto Correa, the
Labor-Independent candidate, obtained
only a very few votes, indeed. The work
done by the Guardia guards in connection
with these elections was apparently
thoroughly satisfactory to all
concerned. [...]"
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3.
3 December 1930.
Record of Events, November 1930, Eastern
Area. Col.
John Marston, Bluefields, to Jefe
Director GN, Managua, p. 3.
"[...] SUBJECT:
Record of Events, November 1930, Easter
Area. ¶ E. INTELLIGENCE. (Continued) ¶
6. Weather. Increasing rains, with
cooler weather. ¶ 7. Condition of roads
and trails. ¶ The existing trails are in
poor condition. The first shipment of
supplies of machinery for construction
work on the RAMA – MANAGUA HIGHWAY has
been received in the Customs at EL
BLUFF. This shipment includes 151 crates
of maerials, including 22 tram, dirt
cars, with derrick and tractor parts and
accessories. ¶ 8. Condition of telephone
and telegraph communications: GOOD. ¶ F.
CONFISCATION OF ARMS. See Departmental
reports. ¶ G. TRAINING. ¶ Improvement in
routine drills has been obtained during
the past month, and progress has been
assisted by the recent discharge of
fifteen rasos who did not come up to
standard. Most of these discharges, for
convenience of the government, were made
in the Miskito Indian element.
Particular attention has been given to
emergency drills and exercises in rifle
practice. ¶ H. MISCELLANEOUS. ¶ Four (4)
Guardia deserted from the service, and
two (2) were discharged “For convenience
of the Government” during the period. ¶
The following inspections were made
during the period, by the Area
Executive. The conditions found at these
posts were satisfactory, in general: -
LA CRUZ, EL GALLO, RIO GRANDE. ¶
(Signed) JOHN MARSTON"
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15 December
1930.
Letter from Gen.
D. C. McDougal, Jefe Director GN,
Managua, to American Minister Matthew
Hanna, American Legation, Managua.
"15 December
1930. ¶ My dear sir: ¶ Your letter of
December 9th, enclosing a copy of a
leter from Mr. Muller to the State
Department, has been received. ¶ Mr.
Muller has property at Waspuk on the
Coco (or Wanks) River located
approximately 140 miles up the Coco
River from Cabo Gracias a Dios. This
property is about 145 miles from the
nearest Guardia post. The total value of
supplies at Sang Sang (near Waspuk) is
about $600.00 and at Waspuk, the
supplies have a value of about $400.00,
or a total of $1000.00. The remainder of
the settlement consists of Indians with
little or no property and who have lived
for years under their own tribal system
without police supervision. ¶ There are
no organized bands of bandits in that
vicinity but as the coco River is about
450 miles from its source to Cabo
Gacias, there are at times bandits, as
individuals or groups, who are somewhere
on this river. As the Indians are too
poor to be an objective for bandit
depredations on any scale, no leaders
have operated in this region except when
individuals or small groups use the
river to pass to the East Coast. The
East bank of the river is Honduran
territory into which Guardia cannot
operate. ¶ Mr. Muller is not in a
position to know what information was
obtained by the patrol which visited
Waspuk and other points on the Coco
River. ¶ In view of the enormous expense
of establishing a post for Mr. Muller’s
individual protection and in view of the
limited number of men available which
are required for the protection and
police of larger and more important
places, it is impossible to establish a
post at Waspuk. ¶ An Expedition
suggested by Mr. J.F. Muller, namely
several boat-loads of men up the river,
would be futile as any bandits in that
region on the 450 miles of river could
remain hidden until the expedition
returned or could cross into Honduras
where they would be safe from attack. ¶
I am, Sir, Very truly yours, ¶ D. C.
McDOUGAL."
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20 December
1930.
Carta de Gen.
Augusto C. Sandino, Cuartel
General del EDSNN, to Gens. Ismael
Peralta & Pedro Blandón, sus
campamentos.
"... Ahora
bien: en carta reciente de esta Jefatura
Suprema para Uds., se les hizo sentir de
que en los casos que no se efetuara la
gira de las tres columnas, al mando de
los hermanos Pedro Altamirano, Ismael
Peralta y Pedro Blandón, a la Costa
Atlántica de nuestra República, que cada
una de las columnas operara con sus
respectivos jefes por los lugares más
convenientes, pero que siempre en
contacto las tres para mientras
recibíamos comunicaciones de los que
están proyectando levantarse en armas en
el interior de nuestra República, y
después nosotros disponer hacer lo que
conviniera más a nuestra causa. ¶ Como
en nuestra causa no ha sucedido ni
sucederá, puede que se haga lo que no
convenga, porque nuestra inspiración es
la justicia divina, fue por eso que la
gira a Nuestra Costa Atlántica se
efectuó, y apoyándonos en ella he
procurado el ataque simultáneo a varias
plazas de las Segovias. …"
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1.
31 December 1930.
Excerpts from Report of Haulover Station
& Its Filials, Ending December 31st,
1930, J. A.
Fisher, Moravian Church, p. 1.
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2.
31 December 1930.
Excerpts from Report of Haulover Station
& Its Filials, Ending December 31st,
1930, J. A.
Fisher, Moravian Church, p. 2.
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3.
31 December 1930.
Excerpts from Report of Haulover Station
& Its Filials, Ending December 31st,
1930, J. A.
Fisher, Moravian Church, p. 3.
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