Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-04-30

Gen. Justo RufnO BarriOs late President
of the Central American State of Guatemala,
was born in that State, July 18th, 1885, at San
Lorenzo. He spent the early years Of his
life amongst the farming class and was sub
sequently sent to the capital (GuatemalO to
receive his education and to study law. In
1862 he returned home after the completion
of his studies, but previously made a tour of
his native country and Mexico. In 1867,
on the 3rd of August, he, with the assistance
of his sympathiZers, who were antagonistic
to the ruling power, stormed the barracks
of San Marcos and routed the garrison. The
movement gained strength gradually until
Barrios became quite power in the coun-
try. He successfully eluded attempts of the
government to capture him. In 1869 Gen
eral Leraphis Cruz rebeled against the
government and his forces and those of
General Barrios were united. In the attack
on Huehuetenago the latter was severely
wounded and was forced to hide from the
enemy until his recovery. The forces of
Gen. Cruz, who continued the war, were
many of the rebels were shot after their
capture. BY this time Barrios, who was
supposed to have died, had recovered, and
gathering remnants of his former army con-
tinued his operations against the govern
ment. Gen. Grenados, who had been eX-
lied, had in the meantime, raised force in
Mexico and entering Guatemala joined the
command of Barrios, giving to the last the
control of the united forces. In 1871 the
revoutionists took Tancana and then issued
proclamation promising to reform the
existing evils of the government On the
10th of May they took San Marcos, and on
the 18th Petalhulen. On the 29th they gain
ed a victory at Chiche, entirely defeating
the government forces. In the early part
of June Barrios took the towns of Antigua,
and PatZical-at which place the Constitu-
ton of the reformers was issued and Gen.
Granados was made Provisional President.
On the Goth of June Gen. Cerna, the actual
President, attacked the revolutionists, but
was defeated, and Barrios placed himself
between Cerna and the capital, causing the
latter to flee for safety to Salvador, neigh
boring Republic. On the Both OF June the
victors entered the Capital. Barrios was
put in command of the West Department
and expelled all the Jesuits therefrom two
months after accepting the trust, and the
President, Gen. Garcia Granados did like
wise for the whole country. This caused
a forming of a new party, but Barrlos de-
feated them on the 9th of September and
then returned to his work in the West De-
partment. In the meantime the govern
HleuG lOuuu llSSll uIlftDlc W lllccG IllC ChiSCH
cies of the situation and Barrios was called
upon to take the reins, which he did in May,
1872, and Immediately suppressed all Jesuit
societies and gave the press uneXampled
liberty besides introducing other reform
measures. On the 4th Of June, 1878, Barrios
was chosen President of the Republic in the
place of GranadOs, who was considered in
competent The new President organized
railroad and agricultural schemes, establish
ed a regular postal service, granted conces-
sions to railroads, steamship lines and tele
graph companies, reorganiZed the Treasury
Department and did everything for the
welfare of his country. He is the Trainer
of its constitution. In 1885 he assumed the
military control of the whole of Central
America, although his sister Republics did
not sanction the scheme. Mexico, who was
appealed to by the lesser States has prom
iSed them assistance and the next few
months may show an active state OF affairs
there. The latest advices give an account
of the battle of Chalchuapa in which the
Guatemalian forces under BarriOs were de-
feated by the Salvad0rians. The Guate-
malians were routed with great slaughter
and Barrios was killed. Hissword was found
on the field after the battle. In consequence
of the defeat of the dictator, hostilities
between the allied States and Guatemala
have been suspended and an armistice of
one months duration has been announced.
The Legislative Assembly Of Guatemala has
annulled the decree promulgated on Feb
ruary 2Sth, 1885, by Barrios, in which a
union of the Central American Republics
was proclaimed and Barrios made dictator
and supreme military chieftain of Central
America.