TWO CONSIGNMENTS.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11151, 18 December 1901, Page 2

TWO CONSIGNMENTS.

• bt h. a; tmxwS' Oβ October* 1887, the iftu-agoan* Sogar and Coffee Company, with fceadqttaxtess at> Buena Vista, Venezuela, through its president, the Senor Monte de del Monte, placed a C. 0. D. order far one hundred and ten. thousand dollar* , -worth of machinery -with the Smith and Biehaards Manufacturing Company, New York. Smith .and Richards, after telegraphing Senor Monte's references at Caracas and Gftivestonand receiving satisfactory replies, decided to fill the order. They also, as a precautionary measure, determined to for* ward the consignment in the personal card of Mr Edward* 33. Wilson, a competent and trustworthy young man, who had represented tie firm in the City of Mexico lor several years, thereby obtaining an acquaintance -with tie Spanish language and the peculiar characteristics of those who speak it. Wilson's instructions were to. retain the goods in his charge until payment "was made. Senor Monte was infoimed by letter that the machinery would t>a shipped in ninety days, accompanied by an agent empowered to close the transaction. He replied, saying the arrangement was perfectly satisfactory. When Smith and Richards notified the Spanish American Transportation Obmpany thai they expected to forward a large amount of machinery to Buena Vista, toy El Emperador Pedro, sailing January 18th, a representative of the company called! at the office of the Arm with the information that the Island of Ouracao, fifty.miles off the Venezuelan coast, was the nearest point to Buena Vista, at which their boats touched. He added that the necessary reshipment need involve no delay, "as steamers for all nearby towns on the mainland left Curacao twice or thrice a week. On the 12th of February; about noon, El Emperador Pedro, after a slow voyage, dropped anchor in tihe harbour, of Tiniiquillo, a free port on the south shore of Dutch Curacao, and signalled for a couple of lighters. The tide was too low to allow the big ship to come to the wharf, and the captain was anxious to be let off for La Gruayra. But before the lighters could respond a Venezuelan coasting vessel steamed alongside. "Is Senor "Wilson aboard?" called a man on the bridge of the new-comer., •'Yesi," ahbuteti the second officer of the Pedro. "Tfien I would epeak with him. I am the commander of this ship, the Santa Maria, of Buena Vista, and I am sent to transfer his cargo.'* "All riffht* captain? come aboard."

When the commander of the Santa Maria stood on the Pedro's deck it was seen that he "was a small, smooth-shaven man of forty, displaying a fine disregard of the nautical properties. He. was elaborately dressed in a frock coat; and light trousers, set off by a> flaming red Jiecktie and a, white helmet. "You are Senor Wilson, , ' said the stranger, grasping the outstretched hand of the New Yorker, who was presented: by the captain of the Pedro, "is it not so? Yes, my own name is Don Jose, Guanaire, Your firm has cabled tay- people that you hare a consignment of goods for the mainland. Is it not so? Yes? And I am to transport them; I have waited now one, two days until the steamer from the United States should arrive. . If the good captain here.will allow roe to make fast my vessel to his the unloading .will be much facilitated. The h&vVwmrjjiaster will make no interference. You will go ashore with your papers and explain to him the situation, at the same time giving him a little present, and he will not. require that we use the lighters or come to the wharf. He will grunt one time or two times in his Dutch -fashion and sign his name where he should." ' ' ' "I underetand,then, that you represent the Paraguana Sugar and Coffeei Company, which has received, telegraphic instructions from my firm?" indulred. Wilson. "It' is as the Senor -Wilson says. Because my people are in a tuny they cent mc to transport the goods, that there .may be no delay." - , "Very wely , replied the American; "the action' of your ( people saves mc the trouble of lightering/ hunting up a steamer and reloading. ,, - . - . / %. ";, ~ Th,& i&pta-in oi the, Pedro heartSy endonsea fa,- plan, which .promised to shorten his stay at Tinaquillo by. several hours. Wilson went ashore and ".found no difficulty in persuading the'"harbourmaster to be - reasonable. Then,. with' his vpapers' properly signed, the agent of Smith and Richards returned to the. liner, took & position ■ by the forward hatchway, and checked the boxes of machinery as they were lifted out of the 'hold and swung over the side. . Captain Ouanare, * meanwhile, seated.on the after deck , of the Pedro, entertained a group of passengers with a vivacious account or Curacao Island, its history, people and customs. Late in the afternoon the last-box was lowered into the hold of the Santa Maria. Wilson; sent his personal effects to the smaller vessel,, badelos fellow-pasaengeiw adieu, and> accompanied by Captain. Guaaiaxe, went over the side. In the Santa Maria's cabin the American pleaded a splitting headache, caused: by exposure to the tropical etui, as & reaeon. for eating no dipper and. retiring immediately to his stateroom. - It was two hours after dawn next morning, with- the : Santo Maria - eighty miles west of Curacao Island, before Wilson discovered the. existence of a misunderstanding between Captain Jose Guanare and himself. "It was . well done—it was admirably done, ,, said the captain, as iihe two sat at breakfast. "The commander of the Pedro suspected nothing. He is "an idiot-. The harbourmaster suspected nothing. He is stupid—-like a pig. What could be more natural than the purchase of pumps and printing presses and sugar crushers from the Americans?. So these people/reason. They are dolts: 1 ' That remark of yours about the Paraguana : Sugar and Coffee' Company- was excellent, S&nor, most excellent. It was co plausible before that thick-headed captain. It was difficult for mc not to.laugh in his face." "I think I tlo not understand what you are driving at," remarked the New Yorker, looking steadily at the man opposite. "Why carry thfe pretence co far?" cried Captain Guanare. "It is unnecessary. Wo understand each-other. I well know that your name is not Wilson. I do not seek to know what it is. Enough-that you are, a belkver in liberty. The goods were to arrive by steamer from the United States; perhaps by 'EI Emperador Pedro,' perhaps by some, other boat. These things cannot always be arranged as we would like. My instructions were to await the steamer bearing Senor Carlos Wilson.. , You are that man. You are here. . The goods are in the hold of the Santa Maria.- With these guns, with thieee cartridges, my compatriots will fight their way to the very capital itself. I may tell you that I am to be. the admiral of the new navy. ,r *IMy dear sir," returned the" American, with considerable irritation, "you are the victim of a strange delusion-or an awkward mistake, for which you are alone responsible. My name is not Charles Wilson. It is Edward Everett Wilson-, and I represent the firm of Smith and Richards, of New York. The boxes in the hold of your vessel contain machinery, consigned to Senor Monte de del Monte, of Buena Vista. I will take it ac a favour if you wfll land mc there at your earliest convenience; I know nothing of any shipment of arms and ammunition." ''Carramba!' , cried the Spaniard, striking the table witb bis fist. "But you would make sport of mef he continued inquiringly, his face lighting with an insinuating smile. > "I was never moire serioos in my life," interrupted: Wileon. "„ "I mean exactly what I eay. ,,r Then Captain Guanare fairly exploded with wrath. He pounded * the table, stamped on the floor, shook his fist, and hurled volleys of imprecations at the American. The latter, accustomed to the violent outbreaks of the excitable' Latin races, coolly eyed the officer and waited. "Now, Captain "Gnanare," demanded Wilson sternly, when at last the commander of the Santa Maria? to listen, "I want you to tell mc who sent you to Tina* •quilio to find mc, end also why yon lied to mc when I asked if yon came from the Para<guazut Sugar and Coffee Company of Buena Vista. ,, . tr^J "Sanctissima.!" replied the officer, witb a gesture of disgust. "I thought your question was intended to deceive .the commander of the Pedro. I was sent to Curacao by General Mendez, asd instructed to await the arrival of an Americaa steamship bearing a

Senor Wilwa*, wKo w*»ia chargft.of a, consignment of fines «nd cartridges. The mi* take is » costly one, and ite ooissequenoes must lest apon your ehouWksra. You trill remain a pneonear .until tre reach the camp of General Meodess, ' -who trill determine ! -what ihaJl. bs <lone with you and your cargo." "I am an American citisen," protested the captive, "and my Government will demand reparation for this ooferage**' , - , '1 care not if you are a citizen of all *be countries in the wodd," dbeuted tfce captain furiously. 'TTour Government will have to catch mc "before it can' punish." And! the officer, still muttering imprecations, strode oat of the cabin and went on deck. All that day the Santa Maria steamed westward. About nightfall the wars© was altered to south by west. Wilson was sufficiently familiar with the coast of Venezuela to conjecture thai they were entering the Gulf of Maraoaybo* which lies to westward of the Paiuguana Peninsula. Early the next morning the Santa Maria turned her nose to the land «nd entered a narrow river. Ten miles from its mouth she tied tip nt a rade log wharf, &a& a cheer arose from a crowd of ragamuffins on the «hore. Captain Gu&nare commanded Wilson to follow liim, and the American, hiving no other recourse, obeyed. Aa soon as he stepped ashore he found himself under guard, his captors paying not ihe slightest attention to bis vehement protests. From the palm-leaf hut assigned him, .near the centre of the revolutionary encampment, for such it was, the New Yorker saw his goods, unloaded, and, with an excess of thoughtfulness, placed under a shed. Then the Santa- Maria backed out in the stream and turned i*er prow toward tlw sea. This made clear to the mind of ■ the American, if he did not already understand it, the reason for his detention. The I steamer was going back to Curacao to await the arrival.of Mr Charlee Wibon, filibuster. Meanwhile, owing to the loquaciousness of Captain Guanare, Mr Edward Wilson, of the i Smith and Richards Company, knew entirely tco much of the situation. It would have been unwise for the commander of tibe" Santa Maria to land Mr Sdward Wilson either at Tinaquillo or at Buena Vista. There was no ' toiling what, in his state of mind', the American might say to the Dutch governor !at Curacao or to the Venezuelan authorities at Buena. Vista. Mr Edward Everett Wilson, of New York, decided that he had a score to settT* with Captain Jose Guanare. Hβ also realised that there was but one possible way of squaring the account. After dinner the prisoner was visited by General l&lendez, ft fcig man..in a gorgeous uniform, a?ha accused lam of misleading the commander of the Santa Maria, -with,intent to defeat the plans of th© revolutionists. "But I tell you was made by -ibor<T te" lied Wilson

your own subordinate, replied! Wilson. l 'He deliberately represented himeeii as the agent of the firm to whom my goods are consigned." "Captain Guanare has reported differently to mc, responded the general, "and I choose to believe him. You are an untruthful rascal, and I will make you pay for your misdeeds. If the Santa Maria returns safely and in time, with the riftee-and I will permit you to ransom yourself and your cargo for" the sum of fifteen thousand dollars in gold; but if you have done,.permafcent injury to our cause I will have you shot and will confiscate "your property." And General Mendez, professional insurgent, brigand, and military robber, stalked pompously away. The -unfortunate American kept a keen eye on the' routine, or lack of it, in the encampment; but, however lax the discipline seemed to be, the sentinels of the prisoner were watchful enough. Nevertheless Wilson planned a desperate method of getting away. To his surprise, he. had not at any time been searched, and still retained, hidden in his shirt front, a good revolver, witih t9ra uee of which he was not unacquainted. Hβ also had, belted about the waist, next the skin, a considerable quantity of American gold. . The New Yorker determined, when darkness arrived, and the camp was asleep, to hold up Ms. two guards, take to the woods, and trust to liKk for reaching a friendly settlement.: The first night, however, frustrated tiiia purpose, as the sentinels stayed apart .from each other, thus making it impossible to , cover both at one time. The second nigbb an unexpected incident occurred. About'; 12 o'clock one of the .soldiers on duty came' to the, door of ih& hot and ewk;dcmn. just , inside. In-a few .minutes he turned^-aud, , , in low tones/ addressed hia. prisoner inbroken English. . > "You got /money, Sefior.?" "Why do you-ask?" replied Wilson, in' ' Spanish. ■ • ' ' . "No talk Bspanol, other guard sabe/ Yougot money we make a d'scape." "Blow will money help,me to escape?" enquired the American, stall. doubting the sincerity of his interrogator. f ' "Listen. The Senor desire,jo'to Cura-"-cao; I desire go. to Puerta Oaiballo. I have money when J come here". Mendez he steal 'em. I go Puerto Caballo, send letter to Government, tell 'bout this camp, get a revenge on Mendez. No have ,money, no get boa*; got money, the» hire boat." , ' ■ s , "Wbere b ean you get a boat?" interrupted the now tliorougMy interested captive. "Listen, &mov. This, camp on Taroares River, free league from M&racaybo Lake., AH ,boati3 on Lake know Mend«z; 'fradd him catch 'em. We go north twenty league, strike San Feftfc, <m Gulf Ma-racay-bo. Get boat there. 1 kn<iw I country, born here." \ , -■ • <s ßut Itow can we get away without tihe sentinels seeing us?" ' • ' - • "No many eeutinele 'bout ,camp, Senor;. all half 'sleep. I ha-ve* password. I get other soldiers' in here,- come get .Tiacco. You catch., him >t*roat as he no' yell, \ti& him moiutli shut.' ■ You take him clotlies and gun.r ■ You got money, Senor?" "V«ry well, I ihave money endugh," said - Wilson. "If you get mc safely away from, here I will give you a hundred dollars. Get the other guard in' here, and I will do my part." • . ■ The scheme worked- admirably. ■ The unsuspecting sentry "Vrae enticed into the .hub, suddenly seized in a.way that prevented oufcery, disarmed, gagged, stripped, of his uniform, rehabilitated in Wilson's suit, bound,' and left.lying on the floor. The American' and the Venezuelan crept .stealthily out of .the CJimpV . keeping to the shadows,- and'were not once ! challenged by the eleepy. or sleeping, ' pickets. Once clear of-the revolutionary J cantonment they walked more swiftly, the « native leading the way with an eaae in- I herited from tropical 'birth and training. 1 AH tihe refit of the dark hours the.two men 1 travelled- through a dense forest. The ' route lay along-..a narrow pathway, or trail,. which, in many places, had been cut out of the .thick verdure. At. dawn the

, ........ -.^JI^ course was altered to eastward, and &ns?l hoto , * walk brought ttoem to a range 1 foothills. '■ Tfoe guide led Jus American &!«&; < lower into a little defile, then stopped, autt*/ 'i that tliae was the place to cam© * i for resfc and food. The latter was ££ *\ '* nished with, ■wild.iruit, which the iiativr J ■ kaett , how to procure, while Wilson, em, plofed his time in bagging a. couple <>f edible birds. They slept until four ia . tihe afternoon, then, arose and continued, the journey. ' T , : Three days thereafter, Wilson and hw Venezuelan ally, seated in a email Ssluaw boa*, were cruidng the waters of Mara, '" caybo Gulf, in the hope of sighting a y«j, set bound outward for Caribbean portal - This hope was realised before nightfall, and the fugitives boarded the little steam, er Tree Hermanos, which, ran betweenMaracaybo City and La Guayra. It «. quired lit*le persuasion, when bacfced Wi*--' good United Sttite* (Join, to induce the cap.- 1 ' tain of the Trss Hermanos to- deviate froj^- J bis usual course «»nd laad th& American ;. ~ Curacao. In twenty-eight hours from tjj*, •> time of hailing the steamer, Wilson havWh , cheerfully" retvnrded his guide, stepped-'-.' upOrf thft long wharf at Ttnaquillo. Tfifa'~ next morning he .noted, with great satis,"';- < faction, that the Santa Maria was lyiagu at anchor in the harbour. *!; An inexp*rienc«d man would have goneat once to the Governor of the Island and, laid the whole case before Mm. Wilsoix did not. He knew enough of mea and things under the tropics to have no desire to "be held as a wdtness in a matter whuji involved international complications. So • - he secured lodgings facing the water front and watched the bante. Maria with one eye and the bay with the other. From his post of vantage on the verandah of 6he little inn the American noticed that whenever a northern steamer entered the harbour the Sant* Maria dropped a "boat and hailed her. Ho knew the question asked. When the - launch returned at once to Captain Guanare's vessel he conjectured that the inquiry had been answered in the negative. '- On the morning of the fifth day's vigilance the Spanish-American liner Balboa swung' majestically up to the deck, was hailed oy ' the Santa Maria's boat, and took aboard its ofScer. "I tiunk," said the New Yorker to him* '■ self, as he lowered his glasses, "that I am Hkely to find Senor Carloe Wilson on that ship. I will step down and see." . But the agent of Smith and Richards • did not seem in a hurry to interview hie V namesake. Screened by a great pile of j coffee sacks, he watched the un- -.■ loading of various balea ■ and boxe»>,,.. marked "Chas. AVilson, Tinaquilta {t . Curacao; via • Sp. Am. Trans. Co.*V,V , Finally, when the wharf was piled liigh.v; = ■with the goodii, the American arose, waDc. % ed leisurely up the gangplank of the. ii".

Ed ledsurely up the gangplank of the-- , ; Balboa and inquired. fov Mr Wilson. "There he % sir/ , said the purser; "the larger of the wo gentlemen talking to* - ' gather." The smaller man was Captaun ;; Jose Guanare. ■ '' \'l' ■ "How do yoi* do,, Captain?" said the ,7 New Yorker, approaching and extending ■ his hand. "This gentleman, I suppose, S ' the Mr Wikori of -whom you were speak- . s Ing the other day. My name is also Wil- ' ! eonfi, and I hail from New York." . . ,; "Very glad to meet you, I*m sure, , *.. " ; replied Wilson of the ,Balboa, in a voice, . , which indicated anything but joy. Meani- 1 ; while .the face of Captain Jose Guanatre\ •; was the piotur© of surprise wad despair.." - ; "How? How?" he sputtered. > "How did I" escape, you mean, to adcr". .' suggested the American. - '"Oh,' that was ..-> easy enough. I will tell. you the etary •(* ; when you Save more time to head , it. Just \ ;< at present I want, to ask you to ta*k& the •'/.. ; Santa Maria, run down to a. point we;, J. know of and bring back the consignments, ,>?; of machinery you landed there On your laeb. v i>, trip. Please don't lose a. moment in" getting' tinder way." ■ - ■ 'Jf "I have a prior claim on the Santa'-f-j* Maria/ interposed .the second Wilson, with' -il a fine assumption of hauteur/ I have just '.'& arranged with Captaan .Gaanare to tr*nej-/k ; port my cargo ix> the mainland." "" >, '.\ "But I am sure, , ' replied the agent • of,/■£ Smith aad $w«etly, - "that, you "v. will gladly Tesign your claim in _my, >.. our.. J[ insist that shall %- conreot his mistake before "he dotes anything-;;..' else. In fact," he. continued, dropping-Uis <'. voice, "if the Santa Maria'e ,crew is inofe ,?-\: <■', turning in twenty minutea J shall tell tbe^ captain of the, Balboa what those cases on the wharf contain,'h»ve ,hira,'%« $; rest ut*mng>#,r' false manifest, then.report* the .matter* *4&V, the Governor of Curacao and cable <tin-f r £ "Venezuelan authorities."' ■ > • s -*-->> . "'Certainly I certainly I , * cried Guanare. "It is right *hn* I should rect my mistakes, tgo at'once. Vjfaoofe.■'•']: I return with tiie machinery of t&e %sfc'■, V Senor' WUeon. I will transport thai ,v cry of the" second . .v^V 'Four days and ,a half" the «s&oond Sen«? : .. 'Wileon- hung .about: the 'linaqm'llo dock,' , ' \' watching his goods with a; Solicitude whicht":-:' only the -first Senor Wilson undera*ood; : ; ; - Then the Santa Mariajcawte iha:, machinery 'consigned to Senor del;j;-f Monte, and toot abodod'the "machinery" ?> : : ± for which, CSaptain Dot) Jqee Gnanare Jiai T ,^ 4 ; made tliree trips. ' ' .;•,'" When, a week"-later,, the ftgenfc Smith and Uichards*', having, received his> ; , : money, was abtrab to say farewell to "■;.• d«l Monte, that gentleman remarked,."You; f^ ■• narrowly missed seeing a revolutipn in oi»r.'"''; } country. ,, • '- • , '■" "* '" • \-' 1 " •'How is that?*' , ' :. - - W":' '•■ "The rising—so it was reported—ww te'j*.-?' '.OCCU3C four day* ago. There is α-rurainjr.'.' s ,'" that a" filibustering expedition, which was , bringing arms and ammunition to.:,the \n*:"j%; surgente failed to arrive ia. timer and otu '"■■'' . Cl, Government) warned by,% ditscontented re- ';;•,-$, voluttoabt wlu> escaped the ftentineta ot //s&< , General Mendez, 'sent n, coupl« of gTinboaW/>J?i#- | and - 'attacked the rebels wfcen most pf..;%| them were Tt-ftiiout awns with which wss£ -fight. The gunboats also sunk the t-eriug carrfctrred its crew." , "How interesting," replied Mr Bdwwiliwt,Everett Wilson, -of New York. ' v •