The New York herald., 1875-07-19
SAN MIGUEL THE SCENE OF THE DISTURBANCE.
General Espinosa and the Men Of
the Garrison Assassinated.
Dwellings Fired by Petroleum
A Million Dollars Damage.
PASSPORTS TO HEAVEN. f"

The nne city OF San Miguel IN Salvador. has
been almost destroyed, not by earthquake, as
were the cities In the valley OF Cdcuta, in Colom-
Dla, but by the violence OF a mob, infuriated by
ianatclsm and inspired by Communism. This ex-
ploslon OF SORT OF moral volcano was preceded
and brought ABOUT IN the following way
THE QUESTION OF THE cHURcH-AN EXCITING CAUSE
OF TERRIBLE RESULT.
The active hostile attitude OF the Roman Gath
oc Church authorities in salvador has not been
wanting against the government thereof as we
see and hear OF IL in so many other quarters OF
the world. Some time ago decree was issued
allowing the municipalities TO receive small tax
for burial grounds, so as to keep them in orcer
The Ecclesiastical Council OF tne Republic pro-
tested against this as all infringement OF the rights
OF the Church. The Capltular Vicar issued
A PASTORAL,
ordering all the curates 10 have it read to the peo-
pie from the pulpit AS 1t contained hostile senti-
ments toward the government 1t was at once pro.
hiblted by the President.
A PRIEsTLY PROPAGANDA AGAINST CONSTITUTED
RULE.
An active propaganda was at once set on foot
by the priests TO nfiame the passions or the peo.
pie against the constituted authorities OF the
State, watch eliminated in savage outbreak
among the lower classes OF the city OF San Miguel
Advantage was taken OF an attempt by the city
new market place which was distasteiu 10 them.
In this state OF fermentation priest, called Padre
Jose Manuel Palacios, assisted by famous bandit
named TInoco, managed to get together u band of
the worst characters in the Locality and led them
on to ar.
OPEN REBELLION.
They proceeded first 10 attack the Cabildo and
liberate some 200 conyicts. With this additional
force they then went and overcame tue small gar
rlson OF the place, where, seeing the danger Gem
erals Espinoza aud Castro betook themselves in
defence Of the law. General Esplnoza was cut In
pieces and the pieces thrown among the crowd.
Castro was wounded In the head with machete
and thrown over wall, where he was picked up
by his mother, but died three days after
The rest Of the small garrison were assassina ted
Having finished win the soldiers, the mob pro-
ceeded to plllage the shops and storehouses
killing good many honorable citizens merely
because they were well TO 40 In the community
Women that could not get out OF the way were
violated.
KEROSENE.
IN imitation Of the famed Paris Communists,
was then resorted TO for the destruction OF the
best houses in the place. With the CabIldo
eighteen houses and other property destroyed,
the damage is estimated at not less than
100000
AFTER A SERMON.
The day OF the outbreak goth ult.) violent ser
mon had been preached IN the morning by The
Priest Palacios, instng IDEAS OF hostility TO the
govern nment and hatred to the rlch or the in1u-
ence the prizes thood mad in this diaDolical affair
we have testimony from of1cial puolic ana pri-
vate sources the Very Rev. Bishop of Sal
vador had ordered the curates OF the parish
en- urches to read on three consecutive feast days
the pastoral issued by him. This the governments
h,,a .ta tol
the curates, under penalty, that the reading or
the pas soral would not be allowed.
soRRowFUL FACT.
What share religious ianaticism had In this mel
ancnoly chapter In the history OF Central America
is proved by another well substantiated fact,
wnich would scarcely be believed at TINS advanced
period OF the nineteenth century, and which
Is this :-On the persons OF dead rebels, says the
Ell Untperso, OF san salvador, were found
PASSPORTS TO HEAVEN, osf
signed and sealed by the Bishop of San Salvador,
which read as follows:-
Pedro, abre las puertas del clelo al portodor que
JORGE. Obspo de san Salvador
That is, "Peter, open the gates Of heaven to the
bearer who died for religion"
1t was known that some days before the out
break there were distributed at the Eptscopal
Palace scapuaries of the Virgin OF Carmen and
tne Sacred Heart, the former being recommende
as rendering the bearer ban proof. An ultramon-
tame sheet, called La Terdad is accused OF DIFF
fusing anarchy and subverslve IDEAS throughout
the lower and ignorant classes, the lruts OF which
are seen In the atrocities OF San Miguel.
ENGLISH NAVAL RELIEF
When this TOOK place in the latter city IL fortu-
nately happened that Her Britannia MsJesty's
ship Fantome Captain Long, was in the neighbor-
tha NJ I nj tba
the English Consul and the psope there Captain
Long brought the snip In, ana landed hts marines
for the protection OF the place, which enabled the
garrison there, in union with force OF Honduras
troops from Amapala. to march at once TO san
Miguel, where tney arrived just Ia time to put a
stop to further atrocities and crimes, aud relieved
the terrified Inhabitants from mob ferocity ana
saved what was left OF the city from being con-
sumed,
That there was deep premeditation among the
potters OF this diaboical afair is SHOWN by .helr
cutting the telegraph wires round San Miguel
THE PRESIDENTS ACTION.
As soon as the news could reach tie capital
President Gonzalez hurried on with eco men, and,
on his arrival, declared the country In o state OF
siege, made some thirty arrests OF insurgents ana
caused sixteen 20 be saot. The Curate Palacos
was arrested and another iriar called Padre Juan,
ard az last dates from there order was being re-
stored BY the energy OF President Gonzalez. What
his character IS IN emergencies OF the sort he
showed during the terrible earthquake which
ruined san salvador.
THE SCENE OF THR DISASTER.
san Miguel, whose sad fate we have attempted
TO describe, is a town Of some 10000 Inhabitants
and lies fortY-two miles distant from the port Of
La Union. IL Is place Of great commerce and
has been celebrated, even In the time OF the
Spanlards. ior IT'S yearly grand lair. to which
merchants nocRed from all parts OF the world 10
purchase indigo and other productions
OF the country. That the elements
OF such social as well as physical
volcanoes were latent about IT no one dreamed OF.
Genera Barrios and the present liberal admin.
istration OF Guatemala have had their troubles
win the Churcn, but reaction and reactlonisJs
were pnt down with hign hand ana schools now
abound instead OF hostile churches and monas-
teres. 1t Is now the turn OF President Gonzalez