The Portland daily press., 1881-02-14
THE FALL OF LIMA.
Details of its Capture by the Chill
ianS.
THE FLIGHT OF THE PRESIDENT OF
PERU.

PANAMA, Feb. 3.-The news received by the
last mail from the South Pacific confirms the
report published in the American papers of the
3lst ult, concerning the fall of Lima Not
single letter of late was received from Lima by
that steamer either from business houses, the
legations or the officers on board the foreign
men-of-war at Callao, although two days inter-
vened between the capture of the city and the
departure Of the steamer from Chimbote. Pas
sengers arriving by the Santiago state that the
fight began January Is at 4p. m. The Chill
ians under cover of a dense fog advanced on
the Peruvian position, advancing in three col
umns They first attacked the Peruvian ecu
tire with the bayonet, pierced it and turned its
diSordered fragments back on the right wing
which, after two hours resistance, was COM
pletely routed and retired in disorder to Cho-
rillos, where they inspired panic and alarm.
The Peruvian left wing held its ground for
some time against the second Gillian column
and then retired to the hills above Chorillos,
where it made another stand till D. m. At
that hour the Peruvian commander was forced
to retire on Mirahores, as he had been out
fanked by the third Gillian column, through
which he was compelled to cut hisfway in
order to unite with a portion of the reserves
occupying strong position behind earthworks
and in redoubts about four miles from Choril-
los. In this retreat about 1000 Peruvian pris-
mander of the Peruvian left wing, Col. Iges-
las, Minister of War. ChoriIlos and the
original Peruvian position, with artillery,
stores, &c., fell into the CHILEAN hands. 1t
only remained for the battle of Mirafores to
remove the last barrier offered by the Peru
VANS to the CHILEAN entrance into Lima
The defenders of Miraflores numbered some
1000 of the regular army, the remnants of the
left wing and 6000 reserve composed of the
young business men and property owners
of Lima. They made brave stand. The
Chilians advanced on the 18th at p. M, and
for five hours an obstinate resistance was MAIN
tanned, which was assisted by the Peruvian
advantages of position. Many Chilians fell,
but the Peruvian force was overpowered by
superior numbers and was finally cut to pieces.
Mirafores, as in the case of Chorillos and Bar
rance, was devoted to the flames.
Pierola, the Commander. in-Chief and Presi-
dent of Peru, was reported to have been in
both battles, but could do nothing to Withstand
the effect of the surprise of the 18th, nor the
and is now somewhere in the interior. Before
his departure he gave orders that if any of the
Peruvian officers in comm and of the ships de-
sired to save them by flight, trusting to their
superior speed, they were privileged to do so.
None made the attempt, and on the surrender
of Lima and of Callao and its forts and batter
les the ships were blown up or burned. Sew
eral forts were blown up with considerable
loss it is said, to the invaders, but there was
not the slightest evidence that the city was so
generally mined as the Peruvians claimed.
Gen La Cotera, commander of the Peruvian
reserve is accused Of treason and fled to Quay
aquil. The city since the occupation by the
Chlians JAN II, has been quiet The Chill
ians organized municipal government The
Peruvian army is demolished.