The Dillon tribune. [volume] (Dillon, Mont.) 1881-1941, 1885-09-19
NO QUARTER GIVEN.
A Hand-to-Hand Fight in the Streets ant,
Very Disastrous Bayonet Charge.

A Panama dispatch Of September 14th
says: The latest advices from Lima give
the details Of battle at Canta on the 18th
ult. In the morning Of that day detach.
ment of Government troops occupying the
town Of Canta, sixty miles from Lima, in
a valley running parallel to that Of the
Rinca, was surprised by division Of Gen.
Carceres' army, and after sharp action OF
several hours was forced to fly in disorder.
The Government troops operating against
Canta were $50 men Of the line, with one
Calling gun, fifty cavalrymen and fifty
ing commanded by Colonel Torres. Can.
ia had been occupied for several days, the
Monteneros or irregular revolutionary
forces retiring on the approach Of this de.
tachment. On Friday evening news ar
rived Of the approach of considerable
division Of the enemy, and upon Colonel
Rustanentes advice it was decided to de-
fend the town. On Saturday at : a. m. the
hills enclosing Canta were occupied by the
enemy, apparently 1900 to 1000 strong
and without about zoo cavalry. The lat
ter were stationed at the outlets Of the val.
ley, leading toward the coast and interior,
SO that from the first the Government
forces were corraled. Colonel Torres had
placed his men in the barracks situated in
the principal square of the town, having
also small outlying squads outside the walls
in the suburbs. Caceres' cavalry, with
small field pieces, opened fire from the hill
at Hayachullani, at 1890 o'clock, and in a
few moments the firing became general.
The enemy descended the hills and at
tempted 10 enter the town, but were re-
peatedly driven back. For two hours the
positions Of the combattants were unalter.
ed, the fire being all the time very heavy.
AT midday the defenders Of the place be.
gan to slacken their fire, for their ammuni-
ton was rapidly becoming exhausted, and
for an hour they received without reply the
volleys Of the attacking party. At , o.
clock desperate attempt was made to
drive the rebels from the town, which they
had then entered at the point Of the bayo.
net This failed, and then their defeat was
accomplished. The fight was hand -to.hand
in the streets, no quarter being given. and
the most dreadful scenes Of carnage oc.
Cured. Houses, where some Of the dc.
feated soldiers had taken refuge, were
broken open, and all found within mur-
dered without distinction of age, sex or
character, and then they were burned. A
few Of the most determined Of the Gov.
ernment cavalrymen, headed BY Colonel
Peichas, cut their way through their op.
ponents, and made good their escape. Col
onel Bustomente, to whose counsel the de-
feat was due,' seeing that all was lost blew
his brains out on the field Of action. COL
onel Torres escaped carly in the fight, and
the government has named another officer
to command the decimated "Cagamaric."
OF the 500 or Goo men engaged on the
Government side probably 700 escaped by
flying to the mountains or following Pa
chasko. They are still coming in in parties
Of two or three. Very few prisoners were
taken, for, as has been stated, no quarter
was given.
| The Cacerists were commanded by Col
Morales Bermudas, and it is stated that
Cacercs, with HE staff arrived at Canta on
the day after the battle. The losses of the
revolutionary forces are not known. From
the fact that the Cagamaric battalion was
decidedly the finest in the Government
service the partsans Of Cracercs here are
| jubilant over his successes.
The 5000 soldiers in the garrison at
Lima arc not at all affected by the reverse.
and their officers are confident Of their
| loyalty in case of an attack on the city.
Energetic precautionary measures are be-
ing taken. The church towers are occu-
pied at night by strong dctachments Of
rihc,ncn, and the Prefec, has notice offt."-
ing a reward of from 80 to 1000 silver
soles to any one who may announce the
existence Of conspiracies or aid the police
in their efforts. The Govcrnmen, force
has been withdrawn from Cho,ica, and is
now stationed at Santa Clara, fifteen miles
nearer to Lima. Nothing positively is
known rcardins the whereabouts of Ca.
ceres.
Defeated Nearly Seventeen Minutes.
In the thirty eight mile race over the \.
Y. Yacht Club course, last Tuesday, the
"Puritan' defeated the "Genesta" l6 min
utes, 70 seconds, corrected time, or l6 min