The New York herald., 1877-02-04
The Town of Cali Sacked and Over Three
Hundred People Massacred.
TERRIBLE seen ES.
General Pena Gives Unlimited license 10 uh
drunken Troops
DANGER TO FOREIGNERS.


his men, asking them but TO reake CALI and the price
their victory would be SIX hours OF sack and saugh
which purpose he charged them TO spare the women
branch.
From his published report 1t appears he had over
1880 mon, organized into Ave corps, and with these
he attempted to surround the town, which Is open on
all sides At daylight, on the N,h OF December, tho
small body Of conservatives observing peha's APP
proach, iuriously attacked his advanced guard
that they we're soon cut to pieces.
What followed is indescrbabIc The inhabitants
awakened by the firing, tho liberals pouring into
the by all the principal streets leading into tho
"'.puza," with loud cries Of death to the Goths."
Goths." In dense mass OF mingled horse and foot
they advanced OH the municipalities dusky crowd Of
streancrs, made mad with drink and thirsting fof
While q few wero breaking down the doors Of the
prison where the liberals who had been taken tho
18th Of December conhned, the majority spread
IN every direction in search Of plundsr .nomon.ary
creased tenioid by tho shrioks Of the prisoners
In that building. II soon appeared that the
conservatives, anticipating the probability Of defeat
had determined to blow up the magazine and bury
fortunately for the town. only few boxes Of cartridges
igned-siil the shock blew out one side Of tho muni-
cpay causing tho death OF the reckless partisan who
deliberately fred the train.
INHuMAN oRDER
AS these events taking place General Peha rode
In after his men Like them he was the worse for
drink and he deliberately ordorod the town TO be
sacked, giving his banditt five hours license 10 slay,
10 rob and to outrage the defencaess inhabitants at
discretion.
1t is needless say his but enthusi-
BY this time crowds OF turies in the shape Of women
Of the lowest classin many cases with their hopeful
offspring at their heels-swarned in the streets,
bounding on the excited mob 70 break down oil tho
doors that were not Immediately thrown open.
Tho scene of terror was at its height All
the houses werc now bcdzened with red
rags, shaws, handkerchiefs, table covers, petit
coats, everything bearing the distinctive colors
of he
doors and windows Such foreigners as could boast OF
flags among their effects also hung them out, but Il
appeared that all trusted to broken reed for
safety Long before the plaza was taken the work Of
plumber had already begun IN tho side streets, and
tents before The hiring had ., commenced. .n.s.s Cd
fore the attack only four remain and IN other parts
OF the town two three by pure accident, escaped
whether the owners were liberals, conservatives or
foreigners Property destroyed belonging to the lat
ter amounts about $15U, 900 or $780, 900, among
English, German and Italian nationalties.
Robbery and worse had been licensed by general
OF the Colombian Republic and why should the plum.
dcrers spare any ono when all were equally at their
mercys Tho commerce OF Cali Was doomed 10 suffer
shock from which 1t will never recover few
merchants, favored by the exceptional position OF
their premises and by the assistance oil friends among
the Invaders, succeeded In saving their goods,
at tho expense OF the liquors they had their post
session. but the majority OF cases tho mere ascmp-
has caused the loss OF many valuable lives BY mid
Men, women and children staggering in
every direction u0der The burden OF their spoil and
| were In turn maitreatcd. knocked down. and some
times killed. and deprived in turn by their fellow
| thieves OF the proceeds OF their robberies
DRUNKENNESS AND ROBBERY.
Fortunately perhaps, for tho town, happened that
the piundered contained largo quantities Of
liquors. Barrels and cases OF wine und spirits werc
turned into the streets, and saurnalia Of drunken
ness began that will never be forgotten by those who
have had the misfortune TO witness tho deplorabc
scenes originated Tho obstruction continued IN all
its fury Everything that could not bo removed
or was not thought worth removing was
cnoppSa and
among them several foreigners not only lost their all
but even their books and papers we're DESTROYED The
bank Also whose preservation was OF the utmost i'm
portance to the government and to the existence OF
State where nothing but paper money had circulated
for months past, was entered and robbed Of many
securities and OF large sum In notes. II
must not be supposed that the private houses were
all this time neglected. Alter the drst rush on the
stores had secured them abundance OF drink bands
OF frenZied men patroled the town, reeng shouting,
on se,r way: but, still unsalacd with the
IN tho Streets they poured into the houses OF liberals
and alike, mostly though OF the latter.
and continued the work OF robbery, murder nnd
destruction
All tho conservatives they met ruthlessIy
Killed. and many liberals who tried to arrest the bar
barans their progress or 10 shield friends rea-
lativcs persons suspected of sylnpathizng with
ion In politics, shared the same fate. Neither
age nor infrmty constituted the
least safeguard. Most OF tho conservatives thinkng
perhaps rashly selshly, that the persons Of
| men alone danger, nad abandoned their
|
households Others, when the risk grew imminent,
had endeavored to hide themselves indoors and were
dragged out 10 be slain under tho ,vsry eye:
OF the terrified women On the other hand
the unfortunate wives and daughters Of
the conservatives wero pitiIessly hunted from
house to house, meeting with the most shameless OUT
RACES the hands OF their nendsh pursuers In tho
centre alone OF tho town eighty soven houses have
been sackcd gutted and turned into shamblos and
the owners rendered dependent charity Tor their
immediate support Nothing has been neld sacred.
not even the churches, since they also were robbed
| AM
SUBURBS
But all the horrors are us nothing compared wtn
suburbs and the estates In tho surrounding country
There murder, lust. robbery and incendarism have
continued unchecked Tor days together. All tho small
snopkeepers have been deprived OF house and homo
all the estates ravaged; their cattle driven away or
shot; tho hedges torn down; the cane holds burned
and the machinery destroyed, so as to render Il
useless TO Its owners a
lives in defending their fellow citizens, and at least
have to be thankful that band of 1900 wild Indians
o w hs
TO complete the murdcrous exccssos Of Peha
and his men. Indeed, the panic was at its
made preparations to resist tho expected attack
as best wc could; but 1t seems tho marauders over
como with drink not ablo to continue the work
Of destruction Tranquility hardly be said TO be
rccstabshcd cvon yc Notwithstanding the efforts Of
the tnat seeing its existence threat.
cned mas thought 10 express disapproval Of the
acts OF Peha's banditti In very mild terms, leaving
him, however, In command OF the reserve and taking
no steps whatever to remedy the evils wantonly
accustomed
1t is almost a miracle that the foreign community
has not lament loss Of ie, we'll the great su
fcrrng caused TO many by the destruction OF their
property and robbery OF their goods All have spon
tancousy resolved loave tho country ut tho earliest
opportunity, but meanwhile they are entirely al
the mercy OF tho populace. As 1t rs, the
condition OF foreigners here Is simply deplorablc
For days together they could not even 90 into the
streets without decking their hats with tho coors
the conquerors-neuraity being here deemed crime;
and US the government will not cannot render tho
protection required by the public treati,s would
ask how tar II Is responsible the losses incurred by
foreigners, who thus unable move step for the
protection Of their interests?
ALFRED DE MTrSCET If4