New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-06-04
THE SIEGE OF CARTAGENA.
rARBEp WIRE AN EFFECTIVE MILITARY
Defence.
nr,rH OF rcKRRT-FLrGHr OF TUE REBELS-SiAiA
OLE AFFAIRS on TIE IsTHMUs


OF AFFAIRS on THE ISTHMUs.
,o,, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRIBUNE'l
C.prAcySA. May 16.-Philip Of SPAN, LOOKING
westward from his palace windows at MIMI
evening at sunset repled to an inquiry Oh opo VI m
courtiers that he was trying 10 SEQ those "ah9 %
Ca-tagena which bad cost so much money "
suren said the King :" that they must oe Vi siiNoi
and will reflect the setting sum-" Presldent NuicN
has reason TO be grateful to the Royal Phlhp 'or
building those same walls 80 high and strong iol'
after siege of three months, the rebel army Oh
Cvtsn has retired discounted and baffiod from the
att,mpt TO take the city. Admiral Jouett with the
eagship Tennessee arrived here on the 18TH lie
was accompanied by the Alliance the row,
hatan being already here. Inc Aulhi a.
had been so successful IN his eIorts W
arrange matters between the rebels and the GOV
eminent troops at Panama without bloodsheo 'hS'
he brought General Reyes down here 10 meet ooih
missioners from the rebels who should arrange
terms of surrender for it was known that the
rebels desired to give up the tight IL 'hey couiu
make terms advantageous to themselves.
The Isthmus and the interior being III the haii'iS
of the National forces, the rebels had been making
great efforts TO get into Cartagena in order that
they might hold it as place to treat from oh
the night of MAY z, Gytan mustered all his forces
for a general and final assault on the city. MS
fleet of five armored steamers and bark moNeu
up as near the city tho distractions "outd
allow. and opened fire. The Heet was coiumanoeo
by an American soldier of fortune named Eckert.
About midnight Gytan lan1ed $500 men on the
beach back of the city, and made rush 1or inc
walls which at that point were not moro than III
teen feet high. The attack was intended to be
surprise, and the men swept mp the beach rapidly
and silently. They were In double Inc OF Dattie'
the first being provided with sealing-ladders one
lad nv
Prestan. Along the ramparts not a light was seen
and not a sound was heard The attacking party
was within few yards, indeed part OF II was
within few feet, of the walls when the hrst line
struck some lines of barbed wire which had
been stretched along the beach, and be-
came tangled up in it. Across narrow
causeway leading straight up to the walls no wire
had been stretched, and along this oauseYay nose
who were not eltaDged in the wire poured IN
solid column. Instantly hundred locomotive
headlights flashed oIt along tho rampars ald
Calling gun, trained full on the causeway opened
its murderous fire. A thousand rifles and several
pieces of artillery opened fire at the same tl:he;
Thirty of the attacking party scaled the wal : ana
fell dead where they stood. On the causeWay ana
entangcd in the barbed wire dead 5odles lay thtoR
when tho sun rose next morning. IN kilec
wounded and prisoners the rebels lost 800 men
Gytan withdrew the remnant OF his forces 10 tue
impregnable fort Of San PHILIPPE and OF me porn
ing of May Is embarked on his dotiiia 1Sr bailah-
quila. The first gun that was fired against the
CITY of Cartageaa was fired by Eckert The last
gun that was irod from the city on May kIl!ed
him. - a.,
AS Gytan was steamng out Of the Boco Chico he
met Admiral Jouet coming ill., The Admiral se2t
for him to come aboard the flagship. he came,
surrounded by his chiefs, but not accompanied Dy
Prestan That rebel and incendiaTy, lie SAID, was
at Barrapqula. The Admiral told him that the
entire country was in the hands OF the National
troops Ii he went TO Barranquilla and continued
the fight he would cause the death of many people
and the loss of much property, but would III a
short time be compelled TO surrender ana De ~
the mercy of his cOnquereTs. Ii he surrendered
now he would get honorable terms Gyt9n SAID ne
would go to Barranquilla and send back csnmls,
sioners empowered to arrange terms with General
Reyes. SO hero We are now. waiting ior the com
missoners who are expected 10 be hero tomorrow:
When the forces of Cyan raised the siege OF
Cartagena the inhabitants were en- the verge OF
starvation. Cats were selling at Us apiece ia the
parke5 the morning we arrived here. Hahto
Domipg 90 Villa was not captured by the reDels as
was reported but escaped the interior ana Jl1ed
the National army winch moving 10 the relieI
of Cartaeena This army, 1000 strong, Is now
within days march Of the city.
In regard to the present state OF aDair7 az the
Isthmus ii is the opinion OF every one that every
American sailor and marine VINO possibly car 20
home should go. rhe Government troops are Iuiy
able to take care Of the transit and the removal OF
the American troops would not only be acceplaDIe
to Colombans but would save the lives OF the
troops themselves.