Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-03-12
A CAPrUR ED CITY.
Lfma's Condition as Described by
Newspaper Correspondents.
panama Star and Herald.

newspaper Correspondent.
tPanams Star aud Herald
LIMA, Feb. Calm reigns In Lima, It is true.
but 1t is most suspicious calm. There is no
government, no police, no attempt at organi1a-
ton, no public spirit, In fact, not one OF the
accessories OF well org anized state OF society.
Ia exchange we have martial law, we have fire.
quent ourglaries, frequent robberies from the
person and continual state of alarm which
maintains stores and shops only half open,
ana prevents business running its wontad chan
heis. IL Is true the Chilians are fairly well be
haved. but among $1,000 men there must be
some piack sheep and these men are fast earning
oy no means enviable reputation for the
w s,n army: Al the farms and haciendas In
Tue nelgnOOrhOod OF Lima, with one or two eX-
ceptioDs, have been plundered. Pierola sent
his first proclamation from q place called Choc-
las: theEce he proceeded to Obrajillo. and at
last reports he was at Tarma, three DAYS from
here by rail and horse. Several OF his psrtisans
have been to see him, begging him to cross the
Cordlliera and come to Lima but he Will not
listen 10 them. The last communication re-
celVeo from MIN announces that he feels con-
Vlncta the country requires peace, and that he
Is willing TO treat providing matters be alIo we'd
10 revert TO the position In which they were
prior 10 the battle at Mirahores. This PROPOSE
tlon the Victors refuse to listen to- and so sup.
pose the present state OF uncertainty and alarm
must continue Indefinitely.
The Ch1llan authorities are placed In prP-
dlcament BY not finding single Official who
Will treat, or any group Of Individuals who Will
step forward and accept what they consider the
opprobrium OF signing peace. Two or three
efforts have been made to hold a meeting OF
distinguished citizens TO discuss matters and
form provisional government, but they will
not attend. The majority OF the Peruvians a.
knowledge they are badly beaten, and prlnct-
pally through their own fault aud that they
cannot hope to make Roadway against the
Chlllans but false pride prevents their stepping
iofWaro, acknoWledging this fact, and making
me best terms they can in order TO prevent the
country suffering further loss. Perhaps. also
fear has little to do with their hesitancy.
Many OF them think the lives of those who sign
peace will be 10 danger directly after the Chill
ians leave. After recent events In which bril-
berry and treason are said by the populace TO
nave played conspicuous part, 1t would not
fear. Under any circumstances, l believe
slaughter would follow II the ChllIans were
suddenly TO Withdraw. Party strife is already
r nnW Its bead and anxious
the Chillans, eagerly await their departure to
commence lighting for the skeleton OF a trea-
suIy which may yet remain; The communists
are also on the qui vive, and declare that the
next time they will commit greater damage
and take their revenge On the foreigners who
quelled them the other day.
The fears here expressed OF further trouble
are by no means exaggerated, and that they
are warranted is borne out by Lima, Callao,
Yea, Ptsco, hIachO, Chicla, TrnJ!!lo and other
towns, and more particularly Piura, whence
alarm at the threatening aspect OF affairs now
the negroes are trying to take command OF the
Town. The country really seems to be brea Ak
Ing up; and II Don Nicholas de Plerola does not
recognize this fact and take control OF 1t, am
AFRAID instead OF confederation, we shall see
lighting and trouble In every section OF the re-
public.
Financially, matters are going from bad to
worse. We have now three distinct classes OF
paper mrueSy-and no specie. First, there are
The notes issued by the banks, and the pay
ment OF which depends on government guar
antee; then We have the Inca notes, issued by
Pieroia at eight soles each, tnen run up by him
10 fifteen soles. then reduced to nothiaS py the
entry OF the Chiltans, then given a value o. rem
soles each Dy meeting Of merchants, who
promptly refused to receive them when ten
dered at that value, and now procurable to any
amount at six soles to the Inca. The third
class is poorer in quality than Ell her OF the
former, 1t consists OF five and ten solos, Peru
Wan, notes, captured by the Chilians, and now
being forced into circulation by DEGREES OF Gen.
Baquedano because he has no other currency
In which TO pay his troops.
Arson. Chortllos and Chancay have been
closed to commerce, aud communication is
only permitted through Callao, in which port
the despatch OF cargo and vessels is conducted
by Gillian officials. The Peruvian export and
import tariff has been declared In force, and
customs dues are collected in silver. AS the
tariff was calculated for the deprecated paper
sol, and not for specie, neither importers nor
exporters Will be able to pay this charge and
business Will remain at a stand still. Chilian
produce Is admitted duty free.