The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-02-16
ANARCHY IN NEW GRANADA.
soldiers Let Loose Upon yiilsge--Hor-
rible scenes ef Massacre and Rspsns In
the Streets

soldiers Let Loose Upon villsge--BIor-
| ribie scenes of Massacre aad Ra psns IN
the Streets
| PANAMA, Jan. ia letter to the
Star and Herald, giving the details Of
the recent horrible scenes In the Cauk
Valley, says that General Pena, who
commanded the Liberals, was drunk,
and gave his drunken soldiers five
hours freedom, during which they
gave themselves up to every excess.
Neither age nor sex were spared.
Many Conservatives were dragged
from their hiding-plsces and killed be-
fore the eyes Of their wives and daugh-
ters, who met a worse fate before be-
ing killed In turn. Eighty seven houses
in the center Of the city were plundered
and churches robbed. The murders
number several hundred. Foreigners
lose $3.50, 900 TO $500, 900 i'm Cali alone.
In the suburbs these scenes were kept
up for several days and the country Is
nearly ruined. Palmyra escaped the
fate Ut Cali by paying $20O,OVO ran.
som. The house Of the Italian consul
and OF an American merchant named
McCune were plundered. Fears are
entertained that the civil war will de-
generate into war OF races. Foreign
ers are flying.
The letter detailing the massacre con-
tinues: Crowds OF fures in the shape
of women Of the lowest class, in many
cases with their offspring az their heels,
swarmed in the streets bounding on the
excited mob TO break down ali doors
not Immediately thrown open. All
houses were bedizened with red rags.
shawis, handkerchiefs, table covers.
petticoats, and every thing bearing the
destructive colors Of the invaders. All
trusted TO broken reed for safety. By
midday most of the stores were cleared
OF their contents. Men, women and
were staggering in every d.
rection under the burden of their spoil,
and were in turn nlaltreated, Knocked
down and sometimes even killed and
deprived by their fellow-thieves Of the
proceeds OF their robberies. Barrels
and cases of wine and spirits were turn
ID into the streets, and saturnalia OF
drunkenness began that will never be
forgotten by those who have had the
to witness the deplorable
scene.
After the first rush on the stores had
them an abundance Of drink, !
bands Of frenzied men pstrolled town,
iring and hacking at every living crea.
ure, but unsatiated with slaughter in
he streets they poured into the houses
II Liberals and Conservatives alike.
mostly though the latter, and contin-
led the work Of murder ana destruc-
ion. All Conservatives we're ruthlessly
titled, and many Liberals who tried to
Irrest the barbarians In their progress,
ried to shield friends and relatives. and
'ersons suspected Of sympa.hizing with
he Conservatives or having no decided
pinion in politics, shared the same
ate.
But all the horrors are as nothing
with the still more frightful
xcesses perpstrated in the suburbs and
n the estates in the surrounding coun-
~. The murders, last, robbery and
1cendiarism have continued unchecked
DR. days together. All small shop
eepers have been deprived of house !
nd home; all estates ravaged, cattle +,
riven away or shot, fences torn down, ..
ornfelds burned. and even machinery I,
so as TO render it useless to
8 owners.
The Government at Bogota has con-
emned the acts Of General Pena, but
wing to his popularity and influence
! that region 1t was found impractica-
lie to remove him from his command
here were no foreigners killed, but I,
leir property has been confiscated in !
le most shameless manner.