The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-02-13
COLOMBIA.
A Captains Experience in the Civil Wars OF a
South American State.

is possible to go to sleep under one
form of government and wake up
subject of another" said Capt. Peter
Letournau, punctuating his remarks
with puffis of smoke from Guayaqull
cheroot. Capt Letournau has just re.
turned from the Pacific coast OF the
United States of Colombia, where he
has filled the position of commander
of war steamer. He left Whining
ton, Del. Jan. 3, 1884, in command OF
the Boyaca, built there for the Colon
bian government. Among his officers
were Capt. Charles Miller, Jr., first
officer, and Miller Moore, second en-
gineer, both Baltimoreans. On his
long passage the ports of Trinidad,
Pernambuco, Rio Janeiro, Montevideo,
on the Atlantic, were touched at, and
passing through the straits of Magel-
Ian, Valparaiso, Callao, Ghauaquil and
- Buenaventura were taken in on the
Pacific side. At the latter port the
Boyaca was turned over to the author
tiles, and her name changed to the
Colombia. Then Capt. Letourna1 ana
his officers were commissioned, but be-
cause of the absence of any law to en-
force naval discipline the officers de-
clined to wear the livery of the Colon
bian government. Up to October last
the Colombia was most of the time at
anchor Of Buenaventura. This forced
r idleness arose from the inability of the
government to buy enough coal to
keep the vessel cruising. In the early
part of that month one of the chronic
revolutions of the coast was evolved
from the ambitions of several generals
L al
sent of the general government the
Colombia was placed at the disposal of
the Panama authorities, ana the most
important factors in the expected
naval engagements were two pieces OF
ordinance on the steamer, for which
there were neither powder nor shell.
Previous to the Colombia's arrival at
Panama the steamer Avaralla had
been taken possession of by the rev.
olutionists and started on an expedi-
ton along the coast. Another vessel,
the Moro, was sent after the tilibuster,
but returned defeated to Panama.
The Avaralla put into Aqua Dolce,
landed her handful of revolutionists,
returned to Panama, and surrendered.
The Colombia then prepared to capture
the revolutionists. Capt, Letournau's
material was of the most primitive
character, and his fighting strength
was about fifty Colombian soldiers and
a number of generals.
Upon the, arrival at Aqua Dolce the
revolutionists consented to surrender
conditionally if paid sum of money.
Payment was promised, and the rev.
olutionists embarked and were landed
at Panama and so ended another of
the typical revolutions. One morning,
shortly after, the citizens of Panama
awoke to find that the Avaralla had
taken her departure in the night,
loaded with revolutionists, who were
to attack Ecuador. She was next
heard from as having had an engage
ment with man-of-way of that state
about Nov. 20, off TONNAGE. With the
proverbial good luck of the average
South American reyoiutionists, the |
Avaralla came out victorious, and |
made the legitimate authorities seek |
safety in the Guayaquil river. The |
Colombia, under Capt. Letournau, was
again alive with preparations for
naval fight. Her orders from the |
Panama government were to drive the |
Avaralla out of Colombian waters or |
destroy her. Upon her arrival at
Tomaco it wac learned that the |
Avaralla had landed her men in the
Guayaquil river and was then destroy
ed. At the latest accounts the rev.
olutionists were waiting to be bought.
Returning to Buenaventura, Capt
Letournau resigned, and Capt. Charles
Miller was commissioned commander.
The Colombia returned to Panama,
and as the vessel had burned consid-
cradle coal in her two cruises, it is
supposed she will lie there until tho
country collects some taxes.
II was glad to get away from that
part of the Pacific coast which is owned
by the Colombian government" said
Capt. Letournau. Sat Buenaventura,
where we laid most of our time, there
is almost perpetual rainfall. The
climate is full of fever, having much
the same effect as Chagres. Tomaco
and Buenaventura, excepting Panama,
are the only places of Importance on
the Pacific coast of Colombia, and the
only ports visited by the vessels while
under my command. Buenaventura
has about fifteen hundred inhabitants,
of whom fifty probably are white. 1t
has dozen stores, and derives its
from the market it affords
to the vast country lying back of the
which wall it on the east.
A railroad is being built from it to the !
interior. Nineteen miles have been !
and the work is progress. |
ng very slowly. The enterprise is in {
,harge of n Mr. Connolly and his son, s
Doth of Wilmington, Del, where tho /
.olling-stock and bridges were built. c
The exports of the place are dry hides. c
ndia-rubber, ivory nuts, and cattle to @
'anama. The whole coasting trade is
lone in British steamers, which are :
making money by their extortionate 2
'ates; For example, they charge $40 il
n gold for passage between Buena- a
,entura and Panama, distance of {
hree hundred miles. Salt, on which v
4 cents per pound import duty is paid, C
5 brought from Peru. 1t is sent to a
he interior on mules. The quantity
I American goods furnished along
he coast struck me very forcibly. The
articles are hardware canned al