TERRIBLE MASSACRE IN HONDURAS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10479, 26 June 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

TERRIBLE MASSACRE IN HONDURAS.

THREE PRESIDENTS ELECTED AND SLAIN. News has arrived of a terrible massacre almost in British territory. It took place last month at Santa Cruz, the chief town of the Indians'of tlmt name, who inhabit the country north of the Rio Hondo, which forms, the dividing line botweefn this colony and Meiico. It appears . that the Head "Jefe," or Chief, has been for eqme ljijtle time suspicious and in fear of treachery from some of his subordinate chiefs and others, including .hie interpreter, who is a negro, and who generally accompanies tho usual party which visits Belize every Christmas. It is reported that the chief suspected those who went this year to Belize of making a compromise with Mexican agents, and so overthrowing his rule by assisting Mexico in conquering his territory. In any case, he said, " he! thought some of them were too friendly with the English, and visits'! Belize too much." However, although his reaspns for doing so may not be very clear, it is n fact that he ordered sixty of his subordinates to be hacked to piecee with machetes. Only two or three of them have escaped to tell the tale. The three principal chiefs slain were Hilariz Kilt, Jose Camil, and Jose Ake. Another revolution is reported from South Honduras, and three Presidents are said to have bean eleoted and slain in twenty-four hours.