Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 9, 1891

Mr. Egan to Mr. Blaine.

Legation of the United States,
Santiago, August 8, 1891. (Received October 3.)

No. 191.]

Sir: In the month of May an incident occurred in the town of Concepcion of a nature that might have caused unpleasantness, which I am glad to be able to say I have arranged satisfactorily. On the 15th of that month the intendente of the province, together with a number of military officers, was in the dining room of the intendencia, after a banquet, when suddenly the electric-light by which the room was lit went out, while the lights in other parts of the city, and even of the intendencia, continued to burn. It is claimed, too, that this was the third or fourth time upon which a similar occurrence took place. By order of the intendente, given without any investigation, all of the persons connected with the electric-light plant were arrested and conducted to the police barracks, among them Mr. Herbert C. Stevenson, one of the proprietors, a citizen of the United States. Mr. Stevenson was placed in irons, that is to say, he had grillos, or shackles, welded onto his legs. After an hour or an hour and a half detention in this way, the intendente came to the prison to investigate the case, and upon ascertaining Mr. Stevenson’s nationality he had the grillos removed and put him at liberty.

As this particular intendente, Señor Salvador Sanfuentes, has not only made very strong threats against some of the foreigners, but has on more than one occasion acted with censurable precipitation towards them, I considered I would be acting in the interest of our citizens residing in that province, and would probably prevent like occurrences in the future, by bringing this case promptly before the notice of the Chilean Government, without waiting for special instructions on the matter from the Department. I accordingly did so, and have obtained from the Government a letter expressing regret at what has occurred, of which 1 beg to inclose copy and a translation. I also obtained for Mr. Stevenson a money payment of 2,000 pesos ($2,000), with which he is entirely satisfied.

Hoping my action in this matter will meet with your approval,

I have, etc.,

Patrick Egan.

[Inclosure in No. 191—Translation.]

Señor Zañartu to Mr. Egan.

Republic of Chile, Ministry of Foreign Relations,
Santiago, August 7, 1891.

Sir: I refer to your note of 29th of May ultimo, which was duly received in this ministerio, and to the conferences which were held in regard to the matter, and make it my duty to express to you that the Government regrets the circumstances which occurred in Concepcion during the month of May last in reference to the United States citizen Herbert C. Stevenson; although, on the other hand, same might be explained by the recurrence of incidents in the electric-light establishment of Mr. Stevenson which might be considered culpable, and which were calculated to disturb tranquillity at a time when the authorities were devoting all their care to the maintenance of public order.

At the same time, it being the desire of my Government that foreigners should not experience any trouble without previous and complete investigation, I hasten to beg that you will consider what has occurred in Concepcion as an excess of zeal on the part of inferior agents, which in all cases, but particularly in that which is the subject of your communication, the Government will hasten to reprimand.

Renewing to your excellency the assurance of my high consideration,

M. A. Zañartu.