The Dutch newspaper De Sumatra Post dated 9 April 1932 published the next small news item dealing with what happened in April 1932 in Ecuador. Guayaquil, 8 April. The navy of Ecuador which consisted only of two gunboats was captured by 100 mutineers who by surprise captured the fortress Punta. A British oil tanker was also seized. The government send regular troops to suppress the mutiny.(1)
Another Dutch newspaper Het Vaderland: staat- en letterkundig nieuwsblad supplied some information. In her morning edition dated 8 April 1932 was reported that the mutineers captured the fortress Punt Pieri and the complete navy of Ecuador consisting of 7 (!) gunboats. The evening edition supplied more adequate information. The mutineers tried to prevent that the banished general Plaza Gutierrez former president (twice) returned to Ecuador.(2) He returned with the Dutch K.N.S.M. merchant ship Bodegraven. The fleet consisted not of 7 but just 2 gunboats! According to some tidings departed both gunboats the Tarqui and the Cotopaxi the harbour just on that moment that the Bodegraven arrived and they take the general prisoner. The garrison of the fortress joined in he meantime the mutineers. According to other sources came the general safely at land. The government tried every thing to suppress the mutiny. The Cotopaxi tried last night unsuccessfully to capture the fortress at the Bay of Guayaquil and departed with the leader of the rebels Idefonso Mendoza. In the evening edition pf 12 April was reported that the gunboats Tarqui and Cotopaxi surrendered and that Mendoza and his main followers were taken prisoner. The morning edition of the next day reported that marines loyal to the government boarded the gunboats and captured these after a fierce fight.
Notes
1. Conway’s All the world fighting ships 1922-1946 mentioned the torpedo gunboat Libertudo, the former Almirante Simpson launched in 1896 and the 300-tons gunboat Cotopaxi of 1884, both ships were discarded that year. Jane’s Fighting ships of World War I confirmed that the Cotopaxi was dating from 1884. With a displacement of 300 tons were her dimensions 135 (between perpendiculars) x 21 x 9’. The armament consisted of two small quick firing guns. The horsepower of 175 ihp allowed a speed of 10,5 knots. Jane’s reported however that she in in 1917 was chartered for commercial purposes and perhaps even wasn’t available anymore! The Libertudo was according to the Naval Annual for 1913 the former Chilean Almirante Simpson. The Cotopaxi was confirmed by the Dutch newspaper which however called the other ship Tarqui.
2. Leónidas Plaza Gutierrez (1865-1932), president 1 September 1901-31 August 1905 and 1 September 1912-31 August 1916.
