The Placer herald., 1870-10-22
COOLIE INSURRECTION IN PERU.
[By Telegraph to the s. T. Chronicle. |

Lima letter of September 14th gives the an
nexed details of the coolie insurrecton in the
valley of Supe, $50 miles from Lima, on the
plantation Patioilca and Gulpon Nearly
1,2OO Chinese were employed, and in the
neighboring estates more than 4 900 of the
coolies We're contracted. Several months
since symptoms of dissatisfaction were noted
among these laborers, but the overseers and
owners, trusting to their authority and pow
er, paid but little attention to the manifesta-
tons, and, unfortunately, no precautions
were taken against surprise The Chinese,
left tranquil, were able to mature their plans
and an agent of the estate had arrived from
Lima with large sum- destined for paying
the laborers and the purchase of cotton from
the surrounding planters. While this per-
son, with the overseer, physician, and sew
eral other employees, were at supper on the
night of the 4th, the dining-room doors were
suddenly broken open and crowd of nearly
two hundred coolies, armed with stakes and
every imaginable weapon,
BURST UPON THE WHITES.
In less time than required to relate it, the
Chinese had murdered all their victims save
one, who, being previously wounded, fell
under the table and was thought dead Sack
ing the house and securing the revolvers and
rifles on hand, the insurgents proceeded to
the adjacent hacienda of Gulpon and repeat
ed the same barbarities; not satisfied with
killing the white they encountered the most
revolving atrocities were perpetrated on their
dead bodies, and delicate women and chill
dren were subjected to shameful and cruel
torture. The number of the Chinese amount
ed to l 100, and their movements appeared
to be directed with some degree of intelli-
gence, by one who seemed to be hailed as
chief; and having secured all the money and
valuables to be found on the estate, large
game was anticipated in the sacking of the
little village of Barraria. Meantime, the
owner of an estate which lay on the road to
the village was notified by friendly coolie
of the approach and
DESIGNS OF THE MARAUDERs,
And, hastily placing his wife and family in
chapel belonging to the plantation, he, with
another friend, strongly barred the doors
and received the advancing column with the
fire Of their rifles. The Chinese were vigor-
Gus in the attack, but, unaccustomed to the
use of fire arms, they fell easily before the
defenders of the church, and in less than two
hours these two brave men had killed and
wounded more than sixty of their assailants
So desperate, indeed, had become the at
tempts of the latter, that retreat was de-
termned upon, and accomplished. Inform
ed Of their design to sack the town here, the
inhabitants had time to make some slight
preparations for defense; works were erected
at the entrance of the village, and forty men
well armed were put forward to make resist
ance to the assault. In a short time
THE CHINESE, REINFORCED
To the number of 1000, appeared in 'front.'
actually sent their leader to parley with the
defenders regarding the surrender; he hardly
had opened his mouth, when well-d;rected
rifle ball put an end to his existence. The
Chinese, goaded to madness, threw them
selves upon the baricade; the fight, for a
few moments, was hand to hand, and the
whites suffered severely under the knives
and weapons of the assailants; soon, how
ever, the power of gunpowder began to as
sert itself; the coolies retreated and appeared
celebrating upon their future movements
at this juncture, the defenders of the church,
having placed the families in a place of safe
ty, found some companions, appeared in the
rear and commenced such vigorous fire
upon them, that in short time all order was
forgotten and the insurgents were in head
long fight. kilograms had been sent to
Lima, and on the morning of the 9th, the
Prefect with 200 soldiers arrived at the
scene. The Chinese had dispersed to the
mountains, the soldiers, after securing the
few who could be found, started in pursuit
on forced march.
THE RESULTS OF THIS TERRIBLE TRAGEDY
Are forty murdered among the whites, and
nearly three hundred Chinese killed. But
the crops were destroyed, and the coolies
seeking refuge in the hills, roaming in bands,
and devastating the unprotected hamlets they
find on the way, are not only lost to their
owners, but still form a dangerous element to
peace and security. Great excitement is
manifested at this unhappy event, the num-
Der being so great as to cause general uneasi-
ness and distrust The white planters are
perplexed to find laborers for their estates,
which, if left uncultivated, in an incredibly
short time are about irrecoverably ruined
LATER LETTER,
Dated on the Odd of September, says that
the Chinese insurrection is beginning to be
productive of troublesome results. The
troops have found it impossible to discover
the hiding places of large number of the
coolies, they having taken refuge far in the
interior and in the fastness of the ncighbor-
ing mountains, consequently several Of the
most valuable estates in that section of the
Republic are paralyzed, and will doubtless
continue in that condition for some time to
come One million of dollars will possibly
not cover the damage suffered by the plant
ers.
A bill introduced into Congress to this ef-
feet was not approved, and an amendment
| road To authorizo a comnanv To rarocure ne.