Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-07
BOLIVIAN WARRIORS.
As Many officers as Men, and All
Arrayed in Motley Colors.
TALES OF A BIBULOUS GENERAL.
How He Started Out One Night to Swim His
Army Over to France.
A POPULAR FOOD MADE FROM CORN

inent feature and in La Paz, since the latt
revolutionary troubles, they seem more
numerous than ever. The rebel army, by
the way, discouraged by the lack of funds
and the refusal of the bank to cash General
Camacho's worthless check for $50, 900, has
temporarily disbanded and for some weeks
past sort of armed peace has prevailed.
The rebels, however, are only biding their
time, waiting the opportunity to spring
upon the Government in some unguarded
moment, like a very small kitten upon a
very large mouse, in which event there is
no telling what the result may be.
Military parades are always frequent
here, doubtless with view to impressing
the people with their prowess, but now
hardly day goes by without a grand dis
play of cavalry and infantry, rank and file,
evoluting round and round the plaza. Mar
tial music is continually in the air. AT
stated intervals during every day COM
pany of soldiers comes sweeping down the
hill from one barrack, or up the hill from
another, marching behind a brass band in
full toot and halting before the Presidents
casa, where they render a selection or two
for the delectatlon of the people. 1t is only
the ceremony of guard-mounring, and al
though it occurs every few hours, year in
and year out, it is invariably attended by
the same flourish of music and musketry.
SOLDIERS IN CHURCH.
All the soldiers are obliged to attend mass
on Sunday mornings, "clean shirt day." as
it is irreverently called, and an interesting
sight it is to see them come marching in with
shining bayonets over their shoulders, each
division headed by its officers. They COM
pletely fill the the body of the church, and
the sound of the organ is drowned by the
blare of trumpets. At a signal arms are
presented, down goes every musket upon
the stone floor with thud which shakes
the building and then the men stand mo-
tionless as statues until the proper time
comes to fall upon their knees
In the Bolivian army a great variety of
uniform is noticeable, each officer having
apparently been allowed to exercise his own
taste in the Equipment of his company
and amazingly have their individual fancies
swung out in the matter of personal adorn-
ments. There are suits in gray and gold,
in black and gold, in blue and gold, In blue
and red, in black and blue, in gray and
black; others all red, all gray, all blue;
and caps of various shapes and colors in the
same regiment. Some of the officers wear
long double-caped overcoats of scarlet
cloth, others gray cloaks not unlike those of
Franciscan friars, and others the graceful
satin-lined circulars of black broadcloth
characteristic of Spanish Hidalgoes.
THEIR LOOKS ENOUGH.
Without disparag1ng the valor of 'Boliv-
ian soldiers their general get-up reminds
one of an historic incident which may per-
hon froto thoir oho
many years ago, in some fracas between
Peru and Bolivia, when the armies of the
two countries rushed forth to battle with
banners flying. So splendidly arrayed were
they and so stunning an appearance did
they make, that when one beheld the
other, both sides turned tail and fled in
confusion. Gathering courage at length,
the rival generals, with such men as they
could rally, returned to face one another,
keeping at respectful distance and talking
through trumpets; when, after considera-
BILE parleying, the war was declared "off,"
both armies marching home in triumph
with flags unfurled, and to this day the
local historians of each country chronicles
his side as victorious. In connection with
the difficulty of placing Bolivia's soldiers
according to their uniform, it may be men
toned that her amies are composed of about
as many officers as men. Thus we see cor
porals fourishing about IN toggery of colo
nels, with pay to correspond; and the leader
of one of the bands wears the full uniform
OF general and receives the honors and
emoluments pertaining to the latter posi-
ton.
A FAMOUS SOLDIER,
One of the most distinguished warriors
Bolivia has produced was General Melgar-
ejo, who appears to have been as original in
character as he was fearless and determined
Evidently he was designed for those feudal
times that have long gone by, and his meth
DDS would not be tolerated to-day in any civ
ilized land. At one time he lived in the
big house at the northeast corner of the GEN.
tral plaza of La Paz, which is now the resi-
dence of the Bishop. He was extremely
fond of "the rosy" which in his case not
only cheered but inebriated. One day when
he had been entertaining foreign minister
and had imbibed considerably more than
was prudent, he Doasted that his troops were
the best drilled in the world and absolutely
infallible in the accuracy of their move
ments.
The statement being received by the guest
with polite incredulity, Melgarejo ordered
ordered up company to drill in the patio
OF his house. After many curious and be-
fore unheard-of evolutions, he formed them
single file and marched them up into the
second story front room where the Minister
and himself had lately break tasted, opened
a window, directly ip 'front.' OF the line and
gave the orde march, Having no order
to halt, every man, accoutred as he was,
stalked straight through the window and
off the balcony, drop of Is feet or more, to
the curbing below. A lot OF broken bones
was the consequence, but the Generals
discipline" was proved beyond cavil, the
unfortunate soldiers knowing that to talter
or disobey meant instant death.
LOYAL TO FRANCE.
Melgarejo had some French blood in his
veins and was very fond OF the land of his
ancestors. On the night that news was re-
ceived in Bolivia of war having been de-
clared by France against Germany, in 1871,
he was, as usual at that hour more than
"half seas over" and at midnight assembled
all the troops in arms In the plaza with Or
ders to march, but with no hint as to their
destination. Great alarm possessed the peo-
pie. vino naturally imagined that some dire
peril threatened them from foreign foes. AT
length Melgarejo himself halted in front of
his brave men and addressed them. with
voice of thunder, with these memorable
words:
SOLDIERS, the integrity of France is
threatened by Prussia. Whoever threatens
France threatens civilization and liberty. l
am going to protect the French who are our
best friends and whom I love as my own
countrymen. You are going across the ocean
with me. II there is not vessel in readi-
ness we will swim to meet one; but let every
man take care not to wet his ammunition"
Neither officers, men nor citizens dare
venture word of protest and with Melgar-
ejo at the head of the column, they filed out