Nicaraguan Bandits.

July 25th, 1931.

Mr. John Brownson,
Acting Manager,
Foreign Department,
New Orleans, La.

Dear Mr. Brownson:

The bandit activities in the upper regions of the Prinzapolka and Bambana Rivers just before and at the time of my visit on both may be of interest, and herewith follows what I gathered on both from some of the residents and a few others who had returned from the seat of activities, as well as one or two fugitives whom I met.

Getting to the village of Tungla, some 115 miles up-stream from the sea, on the Prinzapolka, the noon of the 3rd. Inst., I decided to look over the immediate back lands in the vicinity and so we (I was accompanied by Messrs. Donaldson and Leeming) camped in a hut about a mile down-stream. Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights were spent here and the three following a few miles lower down-stream.

On coming out of the woods at Tungla on Sunday afternoon at about four o’clock, we learned from the people of the village that news had been brought in by the first one of five men belonging to Tungla who had left Siuna on the 3rd., coming overland, that bandits numbering from eighty to one-hundred-and twenty, including some Wanki Indians had eight days previously visited that town and also Uani, raided the shops and other places, destroyed one building and were bent on general destruction and murder. Two of the village’s inhabitants had been killed and one badly chopped up – this last was not expected to live. After the main force had left with the spoils of their raid, some few of them returned to Siuna, got drunk and started to molest the women folk, and as a result of which two of them (bandits) were killed with machetes by two of the Tungla men. The others of this small gang left to go and consult their leaders, said to be Ramon Rivera – Caracas and others, as to what reprisals should be taken for the loss of two of their number. It was reported more than a week later that the bandits had visited this village a second time, and it was said that they would visit Tungla, but as far as I could gather, there had been no further killings, or destruction of property to the place, nor had Tungla been visited.

Curiously, it is said that one of the Chinamen’s shops was not cleared out and it was apparently left to continue business. The other Chinamen are reported to have fled and come down to Prinzapolka; some five to my knowledge did so.

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All the inhabitants of the river at Tungla and lower down, as well as those further up-stream were greatly worried at the reported killings of civilians and the molestation of their women folk, which did not take place in any of those parts on any of their previous raids.

When returning down the Yauya Creek, the second largest tributary of the Prinzapolka, below Tungla, on the 15th we (Mr. Leeming and the writer) met an old miner, Peterson by name, who was watchman at the La Luz Mine, and who has passed many years in that part of the country. He said that he and his family had had to leave their house and take to the woods just prior to the bandits’ first visit to Siuna and that a man, a member of his household had been one of those killed. He also informed me that the bandits had apparently a complete list of all the inhabitants of any importance both foreign and native in the surrounding country, and that he understood that none of these were to be spared if they got into the hands of the bandits. He mentioned that most of the inhabitants of the villages in that part of the country had been seeking refuge hidden in woods as it was claimed that the bandits were bent on a general destruction of both life and property.

Later, on the above data (the 15th) returning to Tasbapowni we met a man called Lawrence, about the most intelligent negro member of the Tungla village. He said that the latest reports from around Uani and Siuna were that the bandit gang numbered between three and four-hundred and that they were expected to visit Tungla; so he had fled with his goods and chattels as likewise many of the others, and I might say, that the exodus from this village commenced on the Sunday afternoon that we first learnt of the first raid on the two towns above mentioned.

Later, on the 17th, I, in company of Mr. Leeming went up the Bambana River getting as far up this as the Walpatera Rapids, on the morning of the 18th inst. While enroute, we called in to see a Mr. Albert Kirkland, whose home is at the junction between the Banacruz and Bambana Rivers. We found him at home, as he had on the Tuesday previously, due to the reported bandit activities, left his post at the Neptune Mine. Having once been in the hands of these people and having escaped, he did not wish to run the risk of being captured a second time and, therefore, wished to get as far out of their reach as possible. While on his journey from the mine he had to pass Tuesday night in the village of Tunkey some 145 miles from the sea at Prinzapolka. Next morning, Wednesday, he was informed by his host that three strangers; unknown to any of the inhabitants of the villages, had made the rounds of same that night winding up their inspection by sitting in front of the house in which he passed the night and were overheard in subdued conversation by his host. That night (Wednesday) a small party of bandits, number unknown, visited the town and raided the few small shops therein. Their number must have been few as it is reported that loot they could not carry away they strewed in the so called streets. Curiously, likewise the Neptune Bodega, which is situated at this village, and said to contain perhaps some $4,000.00 in

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merchandise was not destroyed, neither was there damage to any property of life there.

This, of course, was my reason for going no further than to the Walpatera Rapids some two hours from Tunkey, or roughly 15 miles. It was also reported that many of the inhabitants of Tunkey had taken to the woods and other people of the surrounding country had come down-stream to get as far away as possible from the center of activities in this district.

Up to the time of my leaving this vicinity no trouble had been reported in connection with the Neptune Mine. This mine, I am told, is guarded (10 Guardia and 25 civilian guardsmen with machine guns, etc.). I may also say that some of the shopkeepers of this village (Tunkey) also left for Prinzapolka on the morning after the raid; having taken to the woods on the day previously.

I learnt from Mr. Kirkland while spending Saturday night in his house that he had received news from the storekeeper of the Neptune Mine’s storeroom that bandits had left for their headquarters, Bocay, with 18 boats, 12 mules and 30 head of cattle. This information, apparently from the mines, was dispatched prior to the raiding of Tunkey.

It was also reported that the bandits operating in this vicinity and led by the leaders already mentioned plus some others and the Official Executioner of the gang, Julio Castro, are making their headquarters in a village being formed by them at a place called Asa, at the junction of Uli and Asa Rivers, both tributaries of the Prinzapolka. Here, it is said, they have amongst them both women and children and much of the loot gotten in their recent raids. It was reported, or perhaps better rumored, that a party of bandits had left for their headquarters at Bocay on the Wanks River where they can easily get by going up the Uli River from which, with a day’s walk, they can connect with one of the principle tributaries of the river Bocay, emptying a the village of this name on the Wanks.

It was also rumored that one of their leaders, Pedron, was supposed to be crossing overland from Bocay to the town of Rama on the Escondido. The leader, Caracas, was, I understand, at one time and not so long ago a timekeeper of one of the Farms on the Vance Tract and who, I have heard it said, was one of the principle men mixed up in the trouble that took place in the district in the raids of April past. Shortly after the occurrence alluded to, I am informed, that he passed through the Neptune Mine with two of the Company’s mules. One he left behind, and which is still at the mine; the other he took along with him.

It is generally reported that the bandits were short of arms and ammunition, and to bear this out, that not a shot was fired in all the raids, with the exception of two at Tunkey.

               Yours very truly,

f-M:MD C C

                    Actg. Division Manager
                         (written) Nicaragua

                                        FFM

RG80, Sec. Navy Gen. Correspondence, 1925-40, EF-49, Box 2008.

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