Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-05-12
PAUL BOYTON IN PERU.
Adventures in the Gillian Wa

Adventures in the Chilian War.
WASHINGTON, May ll.-Captain Paul
Boyton was in Washington to-day and
gave the following account Of his adven-
lures:
"I've been down in South America
helping the Peruvisns fight their eRe-
miles," said the intrepid swimmer,
bronzed and swarthy, "and | sm glad |
got out with whole skin to nv back. !
tell you it was perfect HI down there.
In few days, as soon as l am rested, /
intend TO swim from the head OF the
Mississippi to st. Louis, a distance OF
1900 miles. Then l will finish my
book, 'Roughing 1t In Rubber; or, Ten
Thousand Miles in a Life-Saving Dress
l expect to make enough money out OF
my boek to live like lord for the rest OF
my days"
''Let's get out OF the water and talk
about terrestrial affairs. How did they
treat you in Peru?"
81 went into the Peruvian service last
fall. in the torpedo squadron. sailed
under the assumed name OF Paul Della.
port. Had been allowed to carry my
plans into execution, l think could
have destroyed the Chilian fleet. with
10000 troops aboard, that landed the
invading army on Peruvian soil.
sunk my torpedo boat
10 M onH thnn
Joined the Peruvian land forces defend
ing Chorilos. The enemy, with bombs
and shells. drove us out and we retreat
ed to Mirafores. The enemy acted
brutally at Chorillos; they butchered
thousands of men, women and children
in cold blood. The Peruvian Indians
were just as b!ood.thirsty. saw one Of
them murder young German, a
wounded prisoner, who fought with the
Chilians; he was a nephew, am told,
OF Gen. Won Moltke, the great general"
"Were the Peruvians game birdsf"
"Not over game, and some few of them
towards. The battle OF Mirahores was
TIE hottest kind OF a fight. The air WAS
filled with bullets as with a swarm OF
flies. The foreign ministers were scared
almost to death. | saw Minister Chris.
tiaucy running under full sails across
the fields towards Lima. lie was in
his shirt sleeves. Ii was a go.as.you-
please race for life. The Peruvans
were utterly routed. Even the mules,
with the ammunition in sacke on their
backs, stampeded, and the powder for
the fighters ran short. All steered for
Lima. There murder and rapiue reign.
ed with bloody hands. / was placed at
the head OF company of Americans,
and, with other foreigners, fought for
order. The negroes were the most
savage portion Of the mob. The poor
Cinnamon were indiscriminately butch.
cred and robbed"
do you have any hope for Peru, now
under the heels OF her conquerorsW
at is hard TO say. Pierola, the dicta-
tor, is brave and good man, and an ex.
cellent general. With few good men,
of-war he could, l think, restore the re.
public. Let the Chilian fleet be de.
stroyed, and the PeruvIans would soon
annihiate their invaders"
"How were affairs in Lima when you
leit?"
"Words cannot paint the HORRORS. The
Chilians are in occupation. They are
brutal. Ii was common sight TO
see squad OF Chiliau soldiers wheel out
of the barracks, followed by a few
wretched, hollow-eyed Peruvians, bare
headed and in chains, priests in their
robes besides them, holding up the cru
cifix and Offering consolation. At the
first public square they would halt,
fastsn the poor devils to posts or trees,
and shoot them down like dogs.
Even rts.martial were ignored. |
have seen the Chilian soldiers tie
up the poor PeIuvians in the main
streets and fog them until their backs
were covered with blood. The women,
thank God, were not molested; they are
very pretty and braver than the men.
They intensely hate the invaders, but
generally keep IN doors. Asl left Lima
| saw irightiul, horrible scene. On
the battlefield OF Mirahores there were
many dead-5,000 Chilians and $500
Peruvians. The vanquished had fled; the
victors were teo intent on plunder and
rapine to turn grave-diggers. The corpses
were swollen into enormous proportions
under the tropical sun, and emitted the
ioulest odors. Something had to be
done; so the Chilians hired lot OF
Cinnamon to burn the bodies. The
heathen would punch holes in each
dead body, pour in coal oil and then
apply fire. AS | passed by the battle
field at night, blue flame issued out OF
each corpse, giving a still ghastlier hue
to the swollen and distorted faces OF the
dead. The horrid sight will be with me
to my dying hour"