PUERTO CABEZAS, NICARAGUA.
1 January 1932.

From:     The Department Commander.
To:       The Area Commander, Eastern Area, Guardia

          Nacional de Nic., Bluefields, Nic.

Subject:  Intelligence report on bandit activities.

Enclosures: 1. Receipt to Sebastian Ismael by Abraham Rivera for property taken at Siuna.

1. Transmitted herewith is a receipt to Sebastian Ismael by Abraham Rivera for property taken from him at Siuna on 14 December 1931. The Anderson arrived here from Prinzapolka on 30 December 1931 bringing Sebastian Ismael and Mr. Stantin from Siuna.

2. Questioning elicited the following information:

Early in the morning of 14 December 1931 Irias at the head of about 100 men attacked the Siuna Mine and caught everyone by surprise. He remained around Siuna for a number of days burning the houses and holding various people in custody. Looting and robbery were his main suits.

On Wednesday the 16 Pedron Altamirano joined him in Siuna with about 200 more. As soon as Pedron appeared he began his butchering of the people held, killing Charles Hasslam [Haslam] and about five natives. All the shopkeepers were stripped of their stock and given receipts for value received. A receipt held by Sebastian Ismael for five hundred dollars is held here. The Comandante of Siuna escaped and came up on the Anderson with a German by the name of Stantin.

On Friday the 18th the whole outfit left Siuna on the trail leading to the Electric Light Plant of Neptune Mine but their progress has been slow due to the sickness of the men in ranks and soreness of feet. Pedron spoke of returning a widow of one of the dead men to Matagalpa but that may simply have been a ruse to get her to accompany the bandits on the trail more easily. There was also talk of burning Neptune Mine and Puerto Cabezas in the near future.

All the bandits are equipped with a rifle and a machete and 2 hand bombs. The rifles are of all classes and calibers. 75% of the band were Indians from Segovia and the Upper Coco, not to be used as machete man but as actual fighting men. Pedron has 3 riot guns, 2 TSMG’s and 2 BAR’s. Irias has 1 TSMG. Each man has about 40 rounds of ammunition.

Jefes recognized by Stantin who employed most of them at the San Albino Mines were Pedron, Irias, Gonzales, Palma and Abraham Rivera. Another jefe who went to Wuani was Julio Castro.

There are in Siuna these people who are known to be giving aid to the bandits and are supplying them with all necessary information: Pedro Moncada, a cook by the name of Celestino, and a wanton by the name of Bertha.

/s/ C. A. INMAN.

IR32.01.01: 8-9

Transcribed by Pleet Initiative-funded Lebanon Valley College student-researcher Nicholas J. Quadrini.