Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1870-05-05
Particulars OF the Death of Lopez.

A New York dispatch ofthe 21st
says: The Tribune has special cores
pondence from Rio Janeiro, March %,
giving details of the death of Lopez and
end of the Paraguayan war. The son
of Lopez would not believe theuews uu-
til he read the particulars in the Tribune
office this afternoon, where he remained
several hours. He was considerably af-
fected at learning the news. The Iri.
June's letter says early on the morning
of the LIST Of March, Lopez, witt 1000
men. was surprised by BraziIin force
of the same size, while encampe on the
left bank of the Aquidayan, q stream
twenty leagues to the south of tie Apa.
and, like the latter a tributar, of the
Paraguay. The Aquidavan rive is the
same as the Aquidayaneger trace on the
map of the north part of Para:uay.-
To the north of the position when Lopez
fought his las. battle is the town Of San
Salvador, and to the south that 4 Con
cession.
The attaching force, commanded by
General Camara, was the same Which set
out from Concession on or about Febru
ary 10th to overtake Lopez, upon the re-
ceipt of the news that the Dictator had
already crossed the Apa, and was hurry
ing his flight to Bolivia. 80 sudden and
impetuous was the attack of the Brazil.
ians that the Paragraphs who guarded
the artillery had no time to give the
least warning. Lopez, with those Of.
ficers who happened to be about him,
tried frantically to form his troops iato
line to repel the assault, but before this
could be done to any extent the Rio
Janeiro Horse were upon him, and bis
little party routed and driven to the near
est woods, where but few escaped. Lo-
peg himself was killed in sight Of Gen
eral Camara, who in vain called upon him
to surrender. The ex dictator, already
severely wounded, obstinately refused to
Weld, and meanwhile tried to escape. -
The thurst of lance brought him to the
ground. Caminas, Minister of Lopez
met similar fate. Vice President
Sanches was killed before being recogniz
ed. Colonel Aquiar, Majors Vargas,
Ascuray, Estigarribia. Carloso, Infante
Sails, and various others also were killed
as they were trying TO escape with Mrs
Lynch's party.
Many chefs were taken prisoners, in
Guiding Geico, Resquin, and Deigaldo
and various other superior officers. -
Four priests were also taken. One o
them was the celebrated Maiz. Genera
CapaIIero, with some forty men, almos
all officers, had the day befor gone on
from Cerro Cora 10 gather up cattle
They were ATTACHED and beaten by Col
enel Benito Martins. The General
however, succeeded in escaping afte
abandoning everything he had, even t.
his sword. Valla and Sousa, who wer,
in charge Of baggage train at Cheri
guils, managed to escape, although thei
force was routed. Rocha, who was il
the advance with eight pieces of artillery
was also promptly beaten. Averis tool
advantage of the general confusion anC
made good his escape.
A few hours after the fight. Mrs
Lynch, who could not first be found, wa
oyertaken on the road as she was endeav
oring to escape with her four sons, ant
the mother and two sisters of Lopez. -
The three last, Minister Parapas states il
his despatch, had been condemned Il
death, and the mother of Lopez was t.
have been been executed on the very day
on which the Brazilians made their at
tack. The families of Caballero, Carnin
has, and Gil were also taken prisoners
aud all were to return with the Brazilian
forces to Concession. Seventeen pieces
of artillery are also reported to have
been captured. Up to very short tim'
before the battle it was believed that Lo
peg would escape to Bolivia. and thi
was, without doubt, his intention wher
he was overtaken by the Brazilian forces
He saved the allies from grave respon
sibility by not surrendering himself, blu
preferring to die sword in hand.
AN the newspapers of Rio exult owe
the event. One of them says: "The
Paraguayan people are reduced to al
eighth part bf their original number
The wealth of the country mas been ex
hausted and there are not IN cans sufficien
to sustain the few that survive. The
prediction of Lopez which he made t.
Gen. Milne during their interview a
Jataycara, that Paraguay would be Z
mountain of ruins before it should fal
into the hands of the allies. The Para
guayans who died in combat gave VI
their lives with valor and abnegatior
seldom rivalled. Others died from sick
ness and want, others wasted away il
prison, and finally others persisted on thu
gallows, sacrificed without pity by the
order of Lopez himself. The history o
the sufferings of this perple is the his
tory Of a msrtyrdom without example.