SEIZURE OF THE STEAMER 'BOLIVAR' 37 



afterwards informed that this step had been taken without 

 orders. A number of armed police were left on board the 

 " Bolivar " for the night. The result of the affray on board 

 the " Bolivar " was the unfortunate wounding of two men, 

 who were immediately conveyed to the Colonial Hospital ; 

 and the death from drowning of a third, whose body was 

 found floating opposite Mucurapo by a fisherman, on 

 Monday, and was recovered and conveyed to the mortuary 

 at the hospital. The prisoners were taken to the Colonial 

 Hospital to be seen by the two wounded men, who were 

 considered to be in a dangerous state and whose dying 

 testimony it was deemed prudent to take. Mr. Harragin, 

 acting magistrate of Port of Spain, attended for the pur- 

 pose, accompanied by the Hon. George Fitt, who acted as 

 interpreter. Freitas, one of the wounded men, said that 

 he was below deck when he heard the firing ; that he 

 went on deck, and finding that his General was attacked, 

 went to defend him and received a wound. He did not 

 know who shot him. He looked at the prisoners, but 

 could not identify any of them. General Urrutia, the 

 other individual wounded, was then asked if he recognised 

 among the prisoners those who shot at him, and he 

 replied, " No." He was then requested to look at them 

 again well, when he inquired if the law compelled him to 

 reply. He was told " Yes " and he repeated that he recog- 

 nised no one. He further said that what had been done 

 had been done by countrymen of his, and that he would not 

 compromise them by making any declaration. That the 

 exaggerated rumours which reached the police-station of 

 the affair on board the " Bolivar " created a profound sen- 

 sation, there is sufficient evidence from the successive 

 bodies of armed police who were hurried to the wharf ; 

 and that the executive took a serious view of the occur- 



