The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-03
The RevolutiUnists Defeated and Routed After
Severe Engagement, Only Few Of
Preston'S Followers Escaping.
United States Troops Ordered to tho
Scene for Protection of Americans.
BarrioS Has Pitched Battle with the Saliva
dorian Army, and Is Badly Defeated.
Losing Fifteen Hundred Men.
THE BURNING OF AspINwALL.

THE BURNING OF AsPINWALL.
The City q Complete Ruin-Distress Among
the Homeless People.
| PANAMA, April g The particulars Of the bat
tie at Aspinwall and the burning of that city are
still meagerly reported The attack upon the
rebel chief Preston by the Colombian troops was
led by Colonel Ulloa. Preston's forces were
literally routed after severe engagement. AS
soon as Preston became convinced that it would
be impossible for him to maintain his position,
he set fire to the city in various places and then
made his escape Only few of his followers
succeeded in getting away with him. The city
is almost a complete ruin. and only three houses
are left standing. Much distress prevails among
the people who have been rendered homeless
Everything is quiet here at Panama, and no seri-
Gus apprehension Of an attack from the in
surgents is felt. Communication with Aspin-
wall remains open.
United States Troops Ordered to the Scene.
WASHINGTON, April FIN answer to tele-
gram sent last night by Secretary Whitney to
the president of the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company, at New York. relative to the number
of men the companys vessels can take to As
received this morning: 1--WE can carry 200 men
in the City of Para tomorrow at noon, and 600
in the Acapulco next Monday" Secretary Whitney
replied 1--WE will ship 200 men by your steamer
tomorrow noon, with tents and camp equipage.
The Tennessee, with Admiral Jouett, will leave
New Orleans, probably to-day, with an extra
complement of marines for Aspinwall, and with
extra provisions. This will place four ships and
between 400 and 500 available men at Aspinwall
for land service. AS to Mondays steamer will
communicate hereafter
The men will be taken from the Brooklyn and
Portsmouth navy yards. In reply to a telegram
sent to Commander Kane, of the Galena, the
following was also received to-day: Transit is
closed. The steamship property is safe and in my
possession; also, the railroad property at the
north end of the island 1t is advisable to send
another vessel
When it was learned in the Navy Department
this morning that the Secretary had Determined
to protect American interests at the Isthm1s by
force there was considerable excitement among
the naval officers on duty here. A number of
them Immediately volunteered their services to
go to Aspinwall The selection Of officers,
however, has been left to board Of detail, which
convened at 1880. It IS understood that Maj.
Carries Hayward, of the Marine Corps, who is in
charge of the marine barracks at Brooklyn, will
have immediate command of the marines. A
naval officer of rank however, will probably be
detailed to command the expedition.
A prominent naval officer, in speaking of the
Panama difficulty. and the sending of force
from the United States, said to-day: 'It is a
of 80 Al A.
sailors who will probably form part of the forces
to be sent to the isthmus will not be as well
armed as the marines, or even as we'll as the
forces with which they will have to contend
Their arms consist of the short-Inagazine guns,
which will not compare in range with the SPRING
field rifles. Neither are they supplied with bay
onetsr
Government officials are Of the opinion that
the transit will not continue closed for any
length of time. II will depend upon informa-
tion derived in tho meantime. whether any ad-
ditional force will be sent to Aspinwall on Mon
day. The Pacific Mail Steamship Company has
reduced the rate for taking the men to $40 per
man, including the subsistence upon the pass
age, and including the tents and camp equipage.
This covers about the actual cost to the COM
pany for taking them. The four ships war
which will be at Aspinwall by the time the Pa
ci6c Mail steamer arrives have Calling guns for
use on land, and force of sailors trained in
their management.
Preparations at Brooklyn Navy-Yard.
New YORK. April 2--There is a quiet hum Ct
preparation to-day at the Brooklyn navy yard
and at the marine barracks in Brooklyn. The
cause is said to be an intmation from Washing
ton that it would be we'll to have the available
marine corps at this station ready for transpor-
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