The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-25
Events Which Led to the Capture
and Bombardment Of the
Place.
A Furious ConflaRration Ragged for
Several Days, Causing
Great LOSS.
Tho Fight Was Stern and Bloody Trax.
edy-Arrangements Between the
COntendIn0 Leaders.

PANAMA, March 16.-H. N. s. Warspits
is ut Callao. Tho following Is cleaned
from her officers: The vessel left Iquiaue
Feb. -, subsequent to the different events
which led to the capture Of that fort by tho
rebels and the FIRE which caused the de-
struction OF property valued ut 81 600.
1t appears that when tho rebels captured
the fort the government troops took up .
position some distance from it. The rebels
returned on board, leaving only fifty men
in charge. The troops soon heard OF this
and marched on the place 200 strong under
Col. Soto. Firing commenced and the
shore fusilade led the ships to promptly
open fire. The Blanca, .Encalada,
Esmerelda and Huascar used heavy
guns while the transports kept
the mitrialleuses busily employed. IRE
mendous destruction followed, and the
flames spread until the whole central part
OF lquirque, where the best stores and
buildings were situated, was IN ruins. Up
to Feb 26, when the Warspite left, the
ldulque ruins were yet burning
The tight which resulted in the fire was
stern and bloody tragedy, and it would
have been more prolonged had it not been
Tor the arrangement reached by the chiefs
OF the two parties, and under which the
opposition leaders agreed to pay Col. Soto
$4,000 to deliver over his men, WHO were
then to join the rebels. The government
troops abandoned their arms and soon dis
persed. subsequently Soto was arrested
and sent on board the Amazon, accused of
having distributed only $1,000 among the
men, and having retained the remaining
$4,000.
Those on the Warspite were also in
formed that Col. Robles had 1900 of Bal
macedas troops on the pampas and IL was
possible they would again attack Iuuiuue.
IN which port, and its vicinity the revoiu-
tionists stated they had 5000 men. They
were, however, short of ammunition but
were expecting some by steamer. Iquiaue
is IN an abnormal situation and the inhab-
ltants have taken refuge on the island
Wnere tney previously had been stationed
The French steamship Vile de Belfast
reports 500 killed and wounded were the
outcome of fights on the Tarapaca pampas.
The Lima Diario said, Feb. 25: '"The pres
ent revolution threatens to result in serious
international conflicts Peruvian territory
mas already been violated by Gillian gov
eminent troops" The report reached Pan
anna on March that when the Valparaiso
forces nred on the Blanca Enclada, killing
several Of her crew. that the commanding
Qtilcerssoliclted perrnission from the shore
authorities to bury them and the answer ho
received was that he might bury then, in
the sea. The commander of the Blanca
Enclada thereupon referred to the captain
OF her majesty's other ship, Champion, and
the latter significantly replied: "Request
me to bury them and l shall do so'' The
request was formally made, whereupon the
British commander had the Chiliausseamen
taken ashore under the protection of the
British flag and buried with due military
honors in graves he had ordered prepared
for them.