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T R A N
S C R I P
T I O N
Marine Detachment, Dario, Nicaragua
12 May, 1928
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From: |
Second Lieutenant A.R. Pefley,
U.S. Marine Corps |
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To: |
The Commanding Officer |
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Via: |
Commanding Officer, Dario |
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Subject: |
Patrol to St. Augustine, report
of |
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Enclosure: |
Sketch of St. Augustine Valley. |
1. On Thursday 10 May, 1928
I, with, seven men left Dario to
investigate charges against the Orozco
brothers residing at St. Augustine.
Cleared Dario at 5:45 for Terrabona
arriving late in the afternoon.
Interviewed the local judge who informed
us that he had heard there were rifles
in St. Augustine. After stating to the
natives that we were returning to Dario
the first thing in the morning we made
camp at a store on the plaza. Left
Terrabona the following morning at
daybreak for St. Augustine. This place
is about four miles up a very steep
mountain; the trail is very narrow,
rocky, and hard to travel. Arriving at
the top we looked into the St. Augustine
valley. There are four houses, two
together, where Martin and Mathilde
Orozco [ p. 2 ] live and two a little
ways off. We saw nothing suspicious.
After watching for a few minutes we
hurried down the trail to St. Augustine,
made a thorough search of the premises
including the bush in all directions.
There was no place giving the appearance
of freshly dug earth where rifles had
been buried. The Orozco family appeared
very poor. After we explained the
purpose of the marines in Nicaragua and
told them we would not do them any harm
as long as they remained peaceful their
fear of us yielded to friendliness.
After climbing out of the valley I
watched the place from the saddle on top
of the mountain and saw nothing
suspicious.
We returned to Terrabona, rested, and
started back to Dario arriving at 2200.
The shop-keepers of Terrabona report
that they are not molested by bandits.
Also, a traveler who we met on the
mountain trail stated that the Orozco
brothers were [ p. 3 ] good men, never
bothering anyone.
Conclusions:- As we came upon the
Augustine valley when we were not
expected and observed them when they
were unaware, discovering nothing, I do
not believe these people are bandits.
They do not bother Terrabona and there
are very few places in the St. Augustine
valley where banditry would be
profitable.
The only implement we found was one
working machete.
The road to Terrabona from Dario is very
narrow, and rocky. There are few houses
along the way and water is difficult to
find. Near Terrabona the trail became
mountainous and difficult to travel.
There are no camping spots along the
way.
/s/ A. R. Pefley
127/43A/20
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